São Paulo Health and Safety

It is best to drink bottled water while traveling in São Paolo as with anywhere through South America to prevent contracting any harmful parasites or water-borne illnesses.  If no bottled water is available, be sure to travel with water purification tablets or boil water for 15 minutes to eliminate any harmful bacteria.

Travelers should be wary of thieves in São Paolo as with any city large or small in South America and the world. Some choose to deploy the usual tricks against tourists, creating a distraction while an accomplice robs an unattended bag or slips a hand into your pocket.

When traveling at night the safest form of transport is taxis though travelers are advised to keep this to a minimum.

As a general rule, only those who have a compassionate and interest in the poorer and darker side of São Paolo should even consider entering the favellas – even then, they should contact an organization with experience and knowledge of visiting these deeply impoverished slum towns.