Journey Through Your South America Trip: Safe Travel Brazil
Brazil is not the most dangerous of travel destinations that you may encounter on your South America trip, but you should always take standard safety precautions when you travel Brazil, as you would in most major cities. The vast majority of Brazilians are friendly and honest people, but the fact that there's a lot of poverty in Brazil means that there is a higher risk of foreign tourists becoming targets for muggers and thieves. To avoid being an easy target, you should never carry large amounts of cash on your person.
Carry only the amount you think you'll need for your daily activities, and if you don't need your credit cards you should leave those behind too. If you won't be using your expensive camera, consider leaving it in the hotel as well. It's wise to make xerox copies of your passport picture and Brazilian visa page, and carry only those with you for ID.