For a Brazilian metroplitan area, Salvador is very safe. Most of the touristic areas are well guarded, and the people in general are  extremely friendly towards tourists. In nearby destinations such as Praia do Forte or Morro de Sao Paulo, you would proably have to beg someone to steal from you. Most of these villages live off tourism and everyone understands that for every $10 stolen, they lose $400 in lost clients.

Given that Salvador’s nightlife are spread out, you’ll be cabbing safely back and forth at night. However, care should be taken in the  neighbourhoods around Pelourinho and the historic center, as those are less policed.

Beware on empty streets just as much as at overly crowded events. The new age in pick pocketing (some new Eastern- European  techniques are now arriving in Brazil) is to create a situation in a crowd where your hands are distracted while they go for your pockets.

A common trick here in Brazil is the “fight breaks out” trick, when right in front of you there is a scuffle in the middle of a crowd. While  everyone is being pushed away from the scuffle, and while you are holding someone who is being pushed onto you, someone behind  you (sometimes a woman) goes through your pockets.

Don’t be a hero: if you are held at gun point, slowly pass over the money, turn around and walk fast (don’t run) and leave it at that.

Get the hell out after any dangerous situation: if you managed to stop a pick pocket in his tracks, get out, as his partners may come after you.

If you are passing by a shady character in an empty street at night, wave an eager “Hi! I’m over here!” to your imaginary friend  that’s a block away. This should throw a monkey wrench in his scheme at the last second.  

If you get pick-pocketed, say what-the-hell and go on with your tour instead of getting caught up in reporting incidents and other red tape. Not only is that an exercise of futility, but it will eat up your time and mood. Like a friend of mine said after getting $200  pick-pocketed in the north of Brazil: “Fuck it, I consider it a small tourist tax” and went back to drinking. Not the best point of view as a longterm philosophy, but it worked fine that week.

How to avoid being a target

As a general rule, you want to dress down. The grungy look will do you good. Since you are on vacation, you don’t need to worry  about your reputation or poor service. Here are some general rules to abide by, to better guarantee your safety (specially when  anywhere between Flamengo and Centro or the north side):

Baseball Caps Dead give-aways. Hair cut Leave the “out of control” waxed hair style for the trendier clubs. Accent When in a crowd of dubious types, keep your talking to a minimum. Back-pack Another dead give-away. Do you really need it? You don’t need to carry a 2 liter water bottle, specially when they sell a chilled one  in every corner. Shirt T-shirt instead of a hawaiian shirt. Leave the Brazilian soccer team shirt for back home. Money & Ids Don’t bring too much nor too little money, as they will shake you down till they get something. Don’t carry a passport, nor all your  credit cards or more than R$200. bring one major cc and one form of ID: student, drivers’ license or state. Don’t trust your pockets, keep them zipped or buttoned up. Camera Don’t walk around thinking the strap will guarantee your camera’s safety. Bermudas You can wear bermudas, but wear the styles the Brazilian boys wear (beach bermuda), not what’s in style back home (the one with a  built-in belt). Sandals Wear shoes or flip-flops instead.