Safety in Valparaíso

Some safety tips for traveling in Valparaíso

1. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you. Many tourists wear a "kangaroo pouch" (fanny-pack) under their clothing. Also try to separate your money into several pockets and keep your wallet in your front pant pocket. Pickpocketers sometimes have a lot of experience and skill.

2. Do not carry anything valuable in your outside pockets of your backpack.

3. When getting onto a micro, have your money with you. I heard of a gringa who took her money out of her wallet to pay the driver, and then put it back into her backpack, later to find that someone followed her off the micro and went into her backpack as she was waiting at a traffic light.

4. Do not wear expensive looking items like jewelry, sunglasses or watches. I have heard of stories of people coming up behind women and tugging their necklaces off of them.

5. If you're going to a bar, take your cell phone, ID and just enough money that you will need. You'll save time and money not going through the checked items line, but you'll also be a lot safer walking to and from the bar.

The most important thing that I learned was to be aware but not to be scared. Valparaíso has a pickpocketing culture, but don't let that keep you from taking some pictures and enjoying yourself walking around. There is a surprisingly low crime rate in the city, so know that a small robbery is a lot more common than a violent act.