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There is an increased, global risk of terrorism. No country is immune from a terrorist attack, and no person is immune from becoming a victim of an attack. Terrorists have little regard for civilian casualties and in many cases, attacks are designed to maximise casualties.
Although New Zealand travellers are unlikely to be targeted deliberately, they are usually indistinguishable from any "western" tourist, and frequent places where other western tourists are found. This puts New Zealanders at the same risk as others.
Wherever you are, you should keep yourself informed about the latest alerts and stay aware of your surroundings in areas where large numbers of people congregate, such as shopping malls, markets, monuments, demonstrations and on any public transport.
Foreigners have been caught up in kidnappings and bombings in a number of Central and South American countries, most notably in Colombia and Peru where the Shining Path is active in remote coca growing areas in the central region. The FARC, which conducts frequent bombing campaigns, is active in Colombia.
"Express kidnappings" where foreigners are abducted and forced to withdraw money from ATMs are on the increase in Brazil.
Drug cartels also have a major presence across South America and the extreme violence associated with them can occur without warning. Recent violence driven by criminal elements in Sao Paulo is evidence of this.
| Extreme risk |  |
Ecuador Town of San Lorenzo in Esmeraldas province, the provinces of Carchi, Napo, Sucumbíos and Orellana. Pichincha Volcano area.
| High risk | |
Colombia rural areas bordering Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador; towns of Buenaventura, San Jose del Guaviare and surrounding areas, the Parque Nacional Natural de La Macarena in Meta; areas of intensive coca cultivation including Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, areas of north-eastern Magdalena, south-western La Guajira, southern Cordoba, southern Bolivar, northern Antioquia, southern Meta, northern and central Guaviare, central Aranca, central Vichada, western Cauca, eastern and western Narino and western and northern Putumayo.
Guatemala in the department of Peten (including the tourist site of Tikal) in the north of Guatemala.
Mexico city of Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua
| Some risk | |
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia except rural areas bordering Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador; towns of Buenaventura, San Jose del Guaviare and surrounding areas, the Parque Nacional Natural de La Macarena in Meta; areas of intensive coca cultivation including Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, areas of north-eastern Magdalena, south-western La Guajira, southern Cordoba, southern Bolivar, northern Antioquia, southern Meta, northern and central Guaviare, central Aranca, central Vichada, western Cauca, eastern and western Narino and western and northern Putumayo (high risk).
Costa Rica
Ecuador except the town of San Lorenzo in Esmeraldas province, the provinces of Carchi, Napo, Sucumbíos and Orellana. Pichincha Volcano area (extreme risk).
Guatemala except the department of Peten (high risk).
Honduras
Peru
Page last updated: Thursday, 22 December 2011, 13:53 NZDT
