Is Manaus safe?
Fine in the main visitor areas with city caution. Phone snatching and armed robbery happen outside them, especially at night and near the port.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-28.
- Homicide rate in Brazil: 19.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Brazil: 16.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
Safety in Manaus at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching in Centro and around the port, robbery on quiet streets at night, and theft from rooms. |
| At night | Centro empties after business hours. Take Uber or 99 door to door and keep phone and valuables out of sight. |
| Solo women | Solo women get attention but most trips go fine. Use ride apps at night, and book lodge tours only with licensed operators. |
| Other risks | Mosquito-borne disease (dengue, malaria) in the jungle; Extreme heat and humidity year-round; Swimming near caimans and piranhas on river tours |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unlicensed touts selling jungle tours at the port; book through registered agencies
- Street guides offering cheap tours then adding charges on the boat
- Card machines showing a higher amount; check the screen
Take care
- Centro after dark: deserted streets and robberies
- Port area and Rio Negro waterfront at night
- Walking with a phone in hand anywhere outside Ponta Negra
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carry ID: your passport or a certified copy; police checks happen.
- Any alcohol before driving is illegal, and Lei Seca checkpoints are common.
- Racist or homophobic insults are crimes that can bring prison terms.
How Manaus compares in Brazil
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Fernando de Noronha | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Foz do Iguaçu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Florianópolis | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jericoacoara | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ilha Grande | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Paraty | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Búzios | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pipa | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Itacaré | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Morro de São Paulo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chapada Diamantina | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lençóis Maranhenses | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bonito | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ouro Preto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Balneário Camboriú | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Porto de Galinhas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gramado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rio de Janeiro | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| São Paulo | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Salvador | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Recife | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Fortaleza | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manaus | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Natal | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Maceió | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Belo Horizonte | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Brasília | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Curitiba | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Porto Alegre | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Belém | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Manaus safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women get attention but most trips go fine. Use ride apps at night, and book lodge tours only with licensed operators.
Is Manaus safe at night?
Centro empties after business hours. Take Uber or 99 door to door and keep phone and valuables out of sight.
What is the crime rate in Manaus?
Phone and bag snatching in Centro and around the port, robbery on quiet streets at night, and theft from rooms. Nationally, Brazil records 19.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Manaus?
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
More about Manaus
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Eduardo Gomes Airport (Infraero)
- Prefeitura de Manaus
- Hospital Samel
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.