- Before booking your next South American vacation, it's worth checking which countries are the most dangerous and why.
- The US State Department ranks countries as levels 1 through 4, from least dangerous to most dangerous.
- While Venezuela is the most risky level 4, the rest of the countries in South America are levels 1 or 2.
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South America may be a perfect destination for your next holiday. But it's worth checking the US State Department advisories for each country to learn more about any risks before you get there.
The State Department uses four levels of travel guidance to offer Americans advice, set boundaries, and describe the risks of each country:
Level 1 - Exercise normal precautions
Level 2 - Exercise increased caution
Level 3 - Reconsider travel
Level 4 - Do not travel
Only one country, Venezuela, is classified as a Level 4, because of the ongoing conflict there. The other countries on the continent are all Level 1 or 2.
Here are the travel advisories for every country in South America, ranked from least to most risky based on the State Department's designation levels.