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Latin Security Index: Measuring
Your Safety
 | Chile is among Latin America's safest nations.
Photo: Flickr-joselathrop
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Haiti, Venezuela and Honduras are the most dangerous countries in the Americas for foreign executives, according to the Latin Security Index.
By LBC STAFF
Haiti, Venezuela and Honduras are the most dangerous places in Latin America and the Caribbean for foreign multinational executives, while Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay are the safest, according to Latin Business Chronicle's Latin Security Index.
The rankings show little change from last year's Latin Security Index, which our sister publication Latin Business Chronicle develops annually with FTI Consulting. The index measures a country's level of insecurity with an emphasis on the business community.
Sources of Danger
Haiti suffers continued insecurity following the 2010 earthquake, with poor infrastructure affecting government control of key parts of the country, especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
In Venezuela, crime has worsened considerably in recent years, even becoming a major issue in the country's most recent presidential race. That has led Caracas to become the most dangerous capital city in the world, with 112 homicides per 100,000 people. The country itself registered 73 homicides per 100,000; in comparison, violence-plagued Mexico registered 19 homicides per 100,000 last year.
Honduras also continues to be a center of insecurity due to violence resulting from the international drug trade, with 2012 being the country's worst on record in terms of homicides. The nation is home to an estimated one-third of all illegal weapons circulating in Central America, and some fear the country could end up like Colombia in past decades. In fact, San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city in the world.
The study recorded worsening security situations in Guatemala and Mexico, although both nations remain safer than Haiti, Venezuela and Honduras.
Security Improves in El Salvador
The biggest improvement on the Latin Business Chronicle list this year came in El Salvador, which is notably safer following a truce between  the country's largest gangs last year, which was brokered by the government and the Catholic Church. That truce resulted in a 41% drop in homicides from the year before. However, the country still remains fairly unsafe, although it has fallen out of the most dangerous countries category. It's in the same safety range as Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia.
The study is based on statistics from Public Security Secretariats, local police, governments, NGOs and Institute of Crime Investigation from throughout the Americas. It measures the level of crime and insecurity in the various countries and efficacy of state institutions in combatting that insecurity. The study is also takes into account the reliability of public information, and reinforces it with academic research and the feeling of local businesspeople in assessing their security.
Read more about the region's most dangerous and safest countries at LatinBusinessChronicle.com (subscription required)
View the full Latin Business Chronicle Latin Security Index (subscription required)
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News from our Partners
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Restaurant favorites around the region from a food-focused wine and spirits importation expert.
By Mark Holston
Alejandra Maluff of Asunción, Paraguay, works for Wines and Spirits, a liquor and wine importation firm. Having taken cooking lessons since the age of 12, she sees travel in the region through the lens of her favorite topic, food.
What are your favorite restaurants?
I have many in several countries, and here are some of the most
interesting. In Asunción, the best "street" style lomitos (sirloin steak sandwich) are from a famous place called Lomilitos. They are great and
super inexpensive! In Ciudad del Este (Paraguay's second largest city and an important trading center), the best Milanese sandwiches in the country are at Frankonia.
In Santiago, Chile, a fascinating place is Coquinaria, which is a gourmet food emporium and superb restaurant all rolled into one. In Montevideo, Bungalow Suizo features very good fondue and wine, and in Lima, Astrid y Gaston and Cevicheria La Mar have, by far, the best Peruvian food I've ever enjoyed. You eat well just about anywhere in Lima.
What's your favorite hotel and why?
La Alondra in Corrientes, Argentina is a beautiful boutique hotel with great amenities. It's like going back in time, and the breakfast is a winner. Another is Loi Suites in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina where its amazing pools have a jungle river view.
What's your favorite airport?
Like most people, I mostly don't enjoy airports, but Montevideo's Carrasco International is nice. I appreciate good airport restaurants and Montevideo's Patria is very good.
 A Hidden Gem in São Paulo's
Guarulhos International Airport
Like most Latin American travelers, Maluff lists Guarulhos as her least-favorite airport, noting that "it's boring, has bad food and lackluster duty free shops."
But there is a bit of good news in the giant airport: For weary travelers facing a long layover, Maluff recommends Fast Sleep, which rents pod-style rooms inside both the international and domestic terminals on an hourly basis. The little rooms have bunk beds, a shower and toilet, and free Wi-Fi. "You can get a bath and some needed sleep during long layovers," she says.
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Travel News
New Airline Routes and Route Changes
Ethiopian Airlines will begin service between Ethiopia and Brazil, via a three-times-a-week route of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Lomé, Togo - Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo - Lomé, Togo - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Colombia-based Avianca Group has cancelled additional LACSA routes from San Jose, Costa Rica: As of June 16, it will reduce its San Jose - Guatemala City service to 7 weekly (from 14), and will reduce its San Jose - Lima, Peru service to 7 weekly (from 13).
Avianca Group will also cancel its daily service between Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Miami (Florida, U.S.), as of June 16.
Copa Airlines will begin daily nonstop flights between the U.S. city of
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Copa will fly direct to Boston's Logan International Airport.
Photo: @istock/kortemeyer
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Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Logan International Airport) and
Panama City's Tocumen International Airport, where Copa has its "Hub of the Americas." Service will begin July 10, and will be only the second city in Latin America served direct from Boston (several airlines fly to Cancun, Mexico).
Avianca will begin weekly round-trip service between Bogota, Colombia and San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 17.
U.S.-based Silver Airways will begin weekly service between Jacksonville, Florida (U.S.) and Marsh Harbour, Bahamas on June 15.
Aeromexico avoided a strike with its flight attendants' union, which agreed to the airline's last-minute offer to raise wages and benefits for current attendants. However, the airline and union are still negotiating contract conditions for future hires.
The 507-room Riu Yucatan in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, plans to reopen on July 27 after a $15 million renovation. Renovations at the all-inclusive resort, which is part of a complex that includes the Playacar Conference Center, include new guestroom furnishings and a new Italian restaurant.
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