If you ever find yourself with the travel bug, it’s now easier than ever to visit almost anywhere you want to in the world. Yet dangerous conditions mean that not all parts of the world are places you want to visit. Yet certain dangerous places double as tourist destinations. Are you wondering where you should or shouldn’t go? I recently came across an article that lists the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, listed below. Although the list is 10 years old, and crime in certain
Caracas, Venezuela: With 116 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, the capital of Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates per capita in the world. Venezuela itself is facing political upheaval, and the city itself is currently facing a crisis with drug gangs. Such street crimes as muggings and theft are common, making this an undesirable place for most tourists to visit. Sadly, most other cities in Venezuela have high crime rates as well.
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: Turf wars between rival Juarez and Sinaloa Cartels have led to increasing violence in the city. The police department here is particularly unreliable, as many of them are being paid off by drug gangs, and the situation has gotten so messy that vigilante groups have begun to spring up. While violence in the city has decreased since this article was written, with “only” 300 homicides being reported last year, Juarez is hardly an ideal vacation spot.
Cape Town, South Africa: Although it remains a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and proximity to nature preserves, drugs have led to gang violence and violent drug-related crime in this South African city. Yet if you can avoid the more dangerous sections here and don’t travel alone at night, you should be okay here.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: While there are more dangerous cities in Brazil than Rio de Janeiro, the city’s popularity as a tourist destination makes it worth noting. While it’s safer than it was a decade ago, street crime remains an issue. As long as you stay in the resorts and beaches here you should be okay, but always be sure to take common sense precautions.
Guatemala City, Guatemala: Although it has many tourist attractions, Guatemala has no shortage of drug violence. Political instability in the country has led to mass migration to the capital from rural areas, leading to such issues as chronic traffic congestion and a shortage of safe water. Such elements are a recipe for crime, and sure enough Guatemala city has no shortage of murders, street robberies, bus holdups and carjackings.
Acapulco, Mexico: While this was once viewed as a safe and luxurious resort area, drug violence has made this tourist spot a dangerous place to be. Recent stats reveal that this city has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and people visiting Acapulco are advised to remain on the property of the resorts where they’re staying.
Baghdad, Iraq: Surprising nobody, the situation here remains unsafe, with such violent events as bombings and gunfire being commonplace. With ISIS sweeping through the country, the future of Iraq is uncertain, and the violence here is characterized by unpredictable acts of terrorism.
Kabul, Afghanistan: This has remained a dangerous city for quite some time now. Although the region is a lot safer than it once was, and Afghan expatriates have begun to return and lead to positive developments in the city, it’s still characterized by periodic suicide bombings carried out by various terrorist groups.
Karachi, Pakistan: Although it’s been growing rapidly, serving as a hub for various industries in Pakistan and the Muslim world as a whole, the picture in Karachi is far from perfect. Violence, poverty and a lack of clean drinking water remain major issues here, which are only exacerbated by political unrest.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras: Its role as a hub for cocaine trafficking has led to a surge in homicides in recent years. For two years in a row now, it’s had the highest murder rate in the world, with an average of over three homicides per day. In addition to cocaine, arms trafficking is a big problem here, with illegal firearms to be found throughout the city.