Our world is mostly a beautiful and safe place; travelers love to visit different cities and countries in the world just to get that once in a lifetime experience. However, on the flip side, it would be oblivious to assume that the danger doesn’t exist whatsoever. So, while it is exciting and enjoyable to travel to different corners of the world, it is just as wise to be aware of a few facts about the city or country before visiting it.

In this article, we have mentioned the top ten cities in the world that are not only high in the crime rate but also are not safe for travelers to visit. Unfortunately, the cities we have listed down below are from only three countries. The violence in these cities is mainly associated with drug dealing, murder, and violent gang activities. Many travelers, primarily US citizens, have found themselves caught in these activities. In fact, sometimes, they are accused of such illegal activities.

In such a situation, they will have to hire a criminal lawyer to handle their case. Compared to other big cities in the world, the justice system in these cities is not great. The lawyers are expensive, and the process is too long. What you will have to pay here will be equal to what you will have to pay for lawyers in your country. But the service will not be half as good. So, travelers from the US can hire a Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer. You can avoid getting into any such trouble if you consider not visiting these cities mentioned below.

1.     Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos, which is a Mexican city, has topped the ranking as not only the dangerous city of the country but also the world’s most violent city after a rise in its homicide rate, as per Citizens’ Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice report. For American tourists, vacationing in Mexico is a common thing. However, Los Cabos is one of those cities in the country, which every tourist should avoid going to.

With a murder rate of 111.33 per 100,000 inhabitants, it will be safe to say that Los Cabos is the murder capital of the world. In 2017, the population of the city was 328,245 individuals and reported a total of 365 homicides. In the years 2017 and 2018, the resort town of Los Cabos has made headlines due to the alarming number of murders. The violence in the city was mainly related to the drug trade, and tourists have not been the target.

2.     Caracas, Venezuela

This city of Venezuela is the second most dangerous city in the world. With a slightly lower rate of 111.19 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, it formerly was sitting at the top position. Since the 1990s, crime has increased significantly in Venezuela, and since then, Caracas has never been away from the top of the list. In fact, in 2017, it is named as the most dangerous capital city in the world.

Venezuela is particularly dangerous for foreign travelers and investors who are visiting the city. This is due to political and economic problems in the country. Both the United States State Department and the Government of Canada have warned foreign visitors to visit the city because they may be subjected to kidnapping, homicide, armed robbery, and murder. Even today, these crimes are increasing annually.

3.     Acapulco, Mexico

Acapulco is another Mexican city that made it to the list. With homicides rates ranging between 104 and 113 murders per 100,000 people, this city has made headlines as one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico. In 2017, the population of Acapulco was 853,646 and reported 910 homicides. Just like many other dangerous cities in Mexico, the crime rate has increased over the years.

The violence in the town was mainly around drug trafficking, and organized gangs have been accused of the persistent abuse in these cities, though the factors are usually somewhat complicated. However, the danger doesn’t seem to have an impact on tourism, maybe in part because the city has launched a public safety initiative that primarily focuses on supporting visitors.

4.     Tijuana, Mexico

We are not surprised why Tijuana made it to the list. Tijuana is referred to as the world’s busiest land border crossing, with more than 50 million people passing through it annually. This city is also the world’s one of the most dangerous cities, and a report by the Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice backs this statement. In 2018, Tijuana witnessed 138 homicides per 100,000 residents.

The surge in the crime rate has been experienced during the spring break. The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico published a warning to individuals traveling for spring break. The warning was mainly related to dangers like sexual assault, unregulated alcohol, medical emergencies, and breaking the law in Mexico. Every year, thousands of U.S. citizens visit Mexico during their spring break. For the majority of travelers, the trip is always enjoyable, but for some people, sometimes there can be some unexpected problems.

5.     Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, is another city you should never travel to unless your life depends on it. The probability of you being the victim of any crime is very high in numerous places in Mexico, but this is one of the worst cities you can go to. Victoria’s homicide rate jumped to approximately 86 murders per 100,000 people, and there are more than a few alarms about armed robberies and attacks.

Moreover, there is a lot of corruption in Victoria that is directly associated with the drug trade. If you think of wandering the streets at night, then you will not be safe at all. The violence is mainly a result of shootouts between criminal groups, also their clashes with soldiers and police around the city. In fact, violence, even in prisons, is a common thing in the city. In 2017, a shootout inside a jail injured 13 and killed seven people, according to The Guardian.

6.     Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

In 2017, the population of Ciudad Juarez was about 1,448,859 people, and the reported murders in the city were about 814. While the homicide rate was less between the years 2011 and 2015, it began to increase again in 2016. In 2018, the homicide rate per 100,000 people was 86. It is the reason why this Mexican city was declared as one of the most dangerous not only in the country but around the world as well.

Every year, the city comes in the top 10 dangerous cities in the world. The city needs to be guarded against carjacking, robbery, theft, and burglary. Forbes typifies Ciudad Juarez as “a gritty industrial hub that became famous as Mexico’s ‘Murder City’ during an eruption of cartel violence from 2008 to 2012. According to experts, the increased violence is also a result of political changes in Mexico.

7.     Irapuato, Mexico

In 2018, Irapuato debuted in the list of most dangerous cities in the world, with 81 murders per 100,000 residents. This beautiful and lush city situated in the center of Mexico’s Guanajuato state was known for its scenic gardens. Suddenly, after the year 2018, it became one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico and then, later on, made it to the list of most dangerous cities in the world.

Today, Irapuato is known as a symbol of rising violence in Mexico’s mid-sized cities. According to a recent report by the Consejo Ciudadano para la Seguridad Pública y la Justicia Penal, which is a non-governmental organization, the city’s murder rate in 2018 declared it the sixth deadliest city in the Western Hemisphere.

8.     Natal, Brazil

Natal is the largest and capital city in the Rio Grande do Norte and the second-largest oil-producing state in the country. This city might have five-star resorts and a stunning beach, but the area it is in is not safe at all. In the past, Natal used to be one of the safest places to stay in Brazil; however, like several other cities in the region, the drug cartels have taken over its safe image.

This city experienced a decline in the homicide rate from over 103 murders per 100,000 individuals in 2017 to 75 per 100,000 in 2018. According to the 2017 Atlas of Violence, assembled by the Institute of Applied Economic Research, between the years 2005 and 2015, the number of murders in the state increased by 232%. Only in the first eight months of 2017, over 1,558 individuals were killed.

9.     Fortaleza, Brazil

The state of Ceará, which is situated in the North-Eastern coastal region of Brazil, has experienced a substantial increase in violence, mainly gang violence. This particular region had much less gang violence as compared to other cities in the country. Over the past few years, gang violence has increased in this region.

A few of the most dangerous of these gangs are the Red Command (CV) from Rio de Janeiro, the First Capital Command (PCC) from São Paulo, and a group Guardians of the State (GDE) (Al Jazeera, 2019). In 2017, gang activity in prison had resulted in the murders of hundreds of prisoners. When it comes to the crime in the city, the murder rate is alarmingly high, with 69 homicides per 100,000 residents.

10.  Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela

Unfortunately, Venezuela is in the process of collapsing into a failed state. It is the reason why the crime rate has increased so much in the country. With homicides rate of over 69 per 100,000 people, Ciudad Bolívar is another city of Venezuela that made it to the list due to its high crime rate.

Therefore, Ciudad Bolivar should be entirely avoided by travelers. Not only because there is a high risk of robbery, but heavy rain can lead to flooding in crowded slums, particularly on hillside development.