Like you guys didn't already know going to Columbia was dangerous. I included Nepal since it came up a few weeks ago.
Nepal. Political groups eager for a parliamentary democracy are vying with a Maoist insurgency, making tourist treks there now a risky proposition.
"There's a lot of activity in Nepal's eastern half, which is a favorite trekking area for tourists," said Ira Russ, iJet's regional manager for the Middle East and North Africa.
"You have strikes in Kathmandu that shut down the capital for three or four days on end. Random attacks on tourist locations. Shoot-outs with rebels," Russ said.
"The tourists who go to Nepal to see the beautiful mountains and assume there's no problem: You might be better off waiting a couple of years before you go trekking."
Ecuador. Like some of its neighbors, the drug trade is making Ecuador potentially dangerous ground. "The U.S. is really pushing cocoa eradication projects. The cocoa growers are getting very upset. You're seeing demonstrations and violence is getting worse," LeBlanc said. "It's very similar to what's been going on in Venezuela and Columbia."
Bolivia. Anti-drug efforts and a tenuous political situation make this country a risky tourist destination. "You're seeing larger and larger demonstrations that have the ability to turn violent very quickly," LeBlanc said.
"It's been very oppressed from a worker standpoint and they're very poor. When you mix a poor culture with one that feels things aren't getting better, things can turn violent very quickly. That's what you see in La Paz," he said.
Brazil, Guatemala and Nicaragua. In all three countries, travelers are increasingly targets for crimes, said Sarah Slenker, senior security analyst at iJet.
"Many countries have a high level of crime (but) it's not a direct threat to travelers. In these countries, it's a direct threat," Slenker said. One trend is the "express kidnapping," where criminals kidnap tourists for about 36 hours and during that time force them to empty their bank accounts.
"Most people get released unharmed, but it's extremely prevalent particularly in cities like Rio and Sao Paulo," Slenker said, as well as in Guatemala, Nicaragua and some African countries. Avoid outdoor ATMs, dress modestly, and limit jewelry, she said.
