I went to the rio right after the Drydens were attacked by four drunk punks in a cayuco. They are all dead, except for one, i think, and the Rio is quite safe. There is a Naval patrol, instituted and funded by the
marinas and businesses of the Rio Dulce and believe me, it is safe.
You still have
outboard theft, as you do everywhere, but there has been no violence since those terrible times.
I have kept my boat, unattended (locked tight) for almost two years as I have to care for my cancer-stricken Mother. Not a problem.
The Rio is the best
Hurricane Hole anywhere in the Americas. It is the best place to leave your boat if you have to travel somewhere and the natives and the cruisers I have met are very friendly.
The "powers that be" in the Rio took the Dryden murder very seriously.