Most Dangerous Countries to Visit (and Safe Alternatives)

Travel at its best can be exciting, stimulating, thrilling and breathtaking. Discovering new places, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures often requires an effort to break out of your comfort zone, and, in doing so, travel becomes a learning experience.

Some of that education may come from things going wrong. A bus breaking down in a remote rainforest in Mexico or an airline losing your luggage for a week-long vacation to London can teach you a lot about patience, how to make the best of a bad situation and to travel lighter.

But travel can also be dangerous, especially if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories keeps tabs on the world’s “danger zones,” listing the most dangerous countries you should avoid.

These are the most perilous of them, so you can skip the dangerous places and keep the exhilaration of travel on the positive side.

The Travel Advisories list rates countries on a scale of one to four, with Level 4 being the most dangerous, “do not travel” advisory. Haiti has been given a Level 4 rating in recent years because its socioeconomic and political crisis has not gotten any better, with kidnapping, crime and civil unrest listed as key reasons for not visiting. Those came to a head when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021. 

Add to that another huge earthquake that happened in August 2021, and the country’s economic conditions have only worsened, with protests and violent crimes continuing to increase.

Note: U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories are subject to change. Make sure to check for the latest information about countries before making travel plans.

The Caribbean is made up of 28 countries, a majority of which are perfectly safe to visit and are very much worth the trek. Take the sister islands of Saint Kitts for example. The rainforests here are particularly impressive, alongside an abundance of beautiful beaches. 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is another country that attracts visitors from all over the world. In fact, it’s where Princess Margaret vacationed, as highlighted in the television show, “The Crown.”

In Central America, the State Department urges Americans to reconsider traveling to Nicaragua, which has limited healthcare availability and arbitrary enforcement of laws that lead to more crime, while San Salvador has a higher level of violent crimes. Honduras has a heightened alert due to crime, but it isn’t widespread across the country and tourist-centric zones may be safer than off-the-grid travel. Same can be said for Guatemala.

If you do decide to visit these countries, stay aware of your surroundings, avoid walking and driving at night, keep expensive jewelry and signs of wealth hidden, and only use certified tourist authority companies and guides.

Stories about travelers catching a taxi, only to be whisked off somewhere remote and left stranded after being robbed in Mexico circulate in the news, as do reports of bloody cartel wars. The dangers are real.

However, the U.S. Department of State has different advisories for different parts of this vast country, mainly because the most dangerous areas are not actually frequented by vacationers. You can still delve deep into Mexican culture in safer states like Oaxaca, which is home to the city of the same name. Here, you’ll find multicolored colonial buildings dating back to the 16th century as well as colorful foods in open-air markets.

Experience a lively central square, shop for handmade arts and crafts, and dine in intimate, authentic Mexican restaurants that won’t even know what queso dip is — Oaxaca is worlds away from overcrowded tourist destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. With a mountainous setting, you won’t find beaches and all-inclusive resorts, but you will learn about the history of the region, particularly when reviewing the murals at Palacio de Gobierno.

Of course, Mexico’s beaches and coastal cities are also worth a visit. Just check to see which ones are the safest.