The Most Dangerous Tourist Destinations Around the World
Vacations are meant to be a fun and enjoyable time, either on your own or with friends and family. While there are hundreds of great vacation spots around the world, there are also certain ones that should be avoided. Let's look at the most dangerous tourist destinations in the world and why you should steer clear.
1. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Mexico is famous for having some of the most affordable and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the world. However, it's also famous for having some of the most violent drug cartels and gangs in the world.
Ciudad Juarez is among the most dangerous cities in the country when it comes to drug cartels. There are also high rates of carjacking, robbery, murder and kidnapping. World Atlas ranks it as the tenth most dangerous city in the world, easily making it one of the most unsafe travel destinations for tourists.
2. Caracas, Venezuela
Historically, Caracas, Venezuela, has been one of the most beautiful and affordable tourist destinations in the Eastern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, it has become a hotbed of crime and political unrest, making it one of the most dangerous tourist cities in the world.
The U.S. State Department has even added it to its Level 4 Do Not Travel list, "due to the high risk of wrongful detentions, terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."
3. Baghdad, Iraq
Historically, Baghdad, Iraq, was one of the most popular cities in the Middle East for culture, history and tourism. For the past several decades, however, it has been known for terrorism, social unrest and warfare.
As such, although conditions are slightly better than in the early 2000s, Iraq is still on the State Department's Level 4 Do Not Travel list, making it one of the most unsafe places to visit in the world.
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4. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa is famous for the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, nature preserves and much more. However, it's also known for having one of the largest gang populations in the world, as an estimated 100,000 people have gang affiliations.
Cape Town also has a high poverty rate and frequent political demonstrations, which add to the dangers. If you plan to visit Cape Town, be sure to stay in the safer parts of the city and avoid going out at night on your own.
5. Death Valley, California
Getting a little closer to home, you should also be careful when visiting Death Valley, California. Unlike the other places on this list so far, Death Valley doesn't have issues with crime or gangs. Instead, it's one of the hottest places in the world, and temperatures can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit!
Heat stroke and dehydration are very real dangers in Death Valley. Car accidents and breakdowns are also extremely common due to the high heat and hot pavement. Therefore, if you visit Death Valley, make sure you take plenty of food and water with you and visit during the winter months when it's cooler.
6. The Danakil Desert, Ethiopia
The Danakil Desert between Ethiopia and Eritrea is another one of the most dangerous vacation spots on earth. As with Death Valley, the main dangers in the Danakil Desert are heat exhaustion and dehydration.
However, the area is also known for hot springs and geothermal pools. While these may look cool, they emit acid and poisonous gases, so be sure to keep your distance!
7. Mount Washington, New Hampshire
New Hampshire is known for its fall foliage, quaint towns and expansive White Mountains. It's also home to Mount Washington, the highest mountain peak in the eastern United States. While Mount Washington has some of the best fall views in the country, it's also one of the most dangerous to hike due to its harsh weather conditions.
In fact, Mount Washington has claimed more than 150 lives through hiking and mountain climbing accidents, as well as exposure to the elements. As such, it's best to hike and visit Mount Washington between spring and fall and avoid it during the winter months.
8. Kingston, Jamaica
When people think of Jamaica, they often think of a tropical paradise, Bob Marley and sunny beaches. While Kingston, Jamaica is home to sunny beaches, all-inclusive resorts and a laid back culture, it's also home to some of the worst criminal activity in the world.
The addition of high poverty rates makes Kingston one of the most dangerous places for tourists worldwide. Therefore, if you visit Kingston, Jamaica, don't stray far from your resort and avoid going out late at night.
The Importance of Staying Safe and Healthy on Vacation
Despite the known (and unknown) dangers of each of these cities, they remain popular tourist destinations, especially for U.S. citizens. If you plan to travel to any of these places, it's important to stay safe by using common sense, traveling in groups and not going to unsafe parts of the city at night.
Regardless of where you go on vacation, it's also a good idea to purchase travel insurance. That way, you'll get reimbursed for any damaged, lost or stolen luggage on your travels. Travel insurance will also help pay your medical bills if you get sick due to food poisoning, dehydration or other mishaps while visiting these dangerous vacation spots.