I originally started writing this as a shared summary between my Cartegena, Colombia and Bogota, Colombia reports. After seeing that I had written a decent amount of opinion specific to danger factors, I decided to create this topic and link to it instead.

In our hobby we discuss the danger factor quite frequently. A point often made is that the likeliness of being a victim of crime when traveling in "CountryX" is relatively low. I believe this to be a fair assessment. Understanding the need to stay aware of your surroundings and a little research into how one should behave also reduces your risk further.

My travels have taken me to the following countries. I have listed them in order of my personal assessment of crime risk. This is opinion only, I am sure others may rank countries differently.

1. Colombia
2. Guatemala
3. El Salvador
4. Dominican Republic
5. Peru
6. Argentina
7. Panama
8. Costa Rica

I can fortunately say (knock on wood) that I have not personally been the victim of nor experienced crime abroad. Most people I know can say the same. Yet we all know the crime exists.

Although I respect the opinions and experiences of travelers and even the expats in any given country, I put more weight on other factors when assessing risk, that is the cautions and warnings that come up in conversations with locals, particularly taxi drivers.

The circle of people that an expat knows is likely to remain relatively small. Logically the circle for a tourist is even smaller.

A fluent local will know many more people and will be familiar with much more of the city/country. They are more likely to know the people and circumstances in which the very real crimes have taken place.

For Colombia I received multiple warnings from taxi drivers to be careful after dropping me off. In Guatemala I was actually warned to be careful of the taxi drivers. Both Guatemala and El Salvador had many heavily armed security guards. Colombia (Bogota) had plenty of police, but I didn't see a lot of firearms.

Other factors I've taken into consideration:
*I consider "surprised" looks to indicate more risk. This means I'm not blending in, I'm more "noticable" and probably standing out more as a tourist.
*People on the street at night. Fewer people likely ='s more danger.
*Mentioned before, but to reiterate armed guards = more danger. Shop owners know if they need the protection.

I should also note that despite ranking Colombia as the most dangerous, it is also the country I most look forward to visiting again.

Outstanding words of wisdom. I always try to "read the locals" as well. You can usually pick up if the locals are at ease and confident with there surroundings. Then I relax a little. When the locals are nervous, overly vigilant or are taking countermeasures I get nervous. Even if no threat is apparent.

Funny quote from Tanjung Pinang Indonesia beer girl.

BG "Aren't you afraid being here at night?"
IAS "No.......should I be?"
BG "Well most foreigners are afraid"
IAS "I am not afraid....(nervously looking around)

Somehow putting Costa Rica last on the list (least dangerous) doesn't seem right. At least around Gringo Gulch I felt there was more risk than in Buenos Aires, for example. Then again, perhaps Costa Rica as a whole is less dangerous than Argentina as a whole, I just don't know.

Actually you are right Laguy. The list was originally a preference list and I didn't get around to reordering the last part of the list when I changed it. My list should be...

1. Colombia
2. Guatemala
3. El Salvador
4. Dominican Republic
5. Peru
6. Costa Rica
7. Panama
8. Argentina

Great thread Vlad, I've not been to all the destinations you listed, but I have to give my vote to Mexico as being one of the top places of concern. Mexico City and Nuevo Laredo are off limits due to travel advisories, kidnapping has surpassed Colombia numbers, and crooked cops are the norm. Costa Rica had a spat of attacks on tourists awhile ago near the airport rental car facitlities, and you often hear about muggings in gringo gulch.

Although many outlying parts of Colombia are dangerous, the cities or the parts where you monger did not particularly cause me concern like some places in San Jose, RIO, or TJ. Plus, I never had problems with authorities or cops in Colombia and CTG is probably safer than most cities listed in Latin America.