Beyond Snake Island: The 5 Most Dangerous Places You Can Actually Visit

Not many people visit Snake Island each year, and there is a very good reason for that. Ilha da Queimada Grande, as it’s known in Portuguese, is a rocky island located off the coast of Brazil. At just over 100 acres, the island is named for its massive snake population, which is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 snakes. These reptiles are not your everyday garden snakes; their bites can be fatal. Is there any place on earth deadlier than Snake Island?

How Dangerous is Snake Island?

The golden lancehead is a species of pit viper that can only be found on the island. It has evolved in isolation on Snake Island for the past 11,000 years. The golden lancehead has a reputation for having potent and fast-acting venom, and its rarity and isolation have contributed to its fearsome status among snake enthusiasts.

Not just anyone can visit Snake Island.  It’s closed to the public, and the Brazilian government only allows authorized scientists and the military to enter. This isn’t just to protect people from the snakes, but also to protect the snakes from people. Golden lancehead vipers are considered critically endangered. Poachers have been known to try to enter the island. Their goal is to capture snakes for the illegal pet trade or extract golden lancehead venom to sell on the black market.

If you somehow found yourself on Snake Island, wildlife experts say the snakes won’t attack unless they feel threatened. But the sheer number of snakes would make them hard to avoid. If you’re bitten by one, you would need medical attention immediately.

Snake Island may be overrun with venomous snakes, but there has never been a confirmed death on the island. This could be a different story if the Brazilian government didn’t keep such tight control over who goes there. It is difficult for the average person to access. We’ve rounded up some of the scariest and most dangerous places on the planet—perhaps even deadlier than Snake Island—where tourists like to travel.

1. Lake Natron

In Tanzania, there is a beautiful and serene lake with pink water located at the base of a volcano. This eerie lake has a deadly reputation for turning animals into stone. Lake Natron is unique with its mix of caustic soda and hypersaline water. The water does not flow out of the lake; instead, it evaporates, leaving behind natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). When an animal that has not adapted to the salty water falls in, it dies, and its body becomes calcified. Although the animals do not actually turn to stone, the salty water causes their bodies to harden.

The pH levels in the lake have been measured at 10.5 (for perspective, common household bleach has a pH level of 11). Additionally, the water temperature can reach as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit, making this a very inhospitable place for most living things, including humans. The high temperatures could cause burns, and the slippery lakebed could lead to falls and injuries.

Amazingly, lesser flamingoes thrive in Lake Natron. The caustic water keeps predators away, allowing millions of the birds to safely breed here. Thick and leathery skin on their legs allows them to wade in the water safely. They lay their eggs by the shore and eat the cyanobacteria that turn the water pink.

2. Death Valley

Death Valley lives up to its name. Located in California and part of Nevada, the beautiful tourist destination is perhaps deadlier than Snake Island. For one thing, the weather is extreme. Temperatures can reach higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and even overnight, it may only cool down to 90 degrees. Hikers who aren’t adequately prepared, and even those who are, can easily suffer from heat stroke and dehydration.

There are more dangers lurking in Death Valley than just the extreme heat

But hot and dry weather isn’t the only hazard in Death Valley. The park is also home to venomous rattlesnakes, scorpions, and spiders. While these creatures aren’t likely to seek out humans, they will bite or sting when threatened. If you remove your hiking boots, be sure to shake them out before putting them back on, or you risk a nasty bite.

There are also a number of abandoned mining shafts in the park. These mines are not safe to enter and could collapse on anyone who tries to explore them. Even if you stay out of the mines, you need to avoid mine tailings. These are residual materials from mine operations, and they can contain toxic chemicals.

Finally, when it does rain, Death Valley often experiences flash floods. The National Park Service warns visitors, “There is no public transportation to or within the park. There is no cell phone service along most park roads. Help may be many hours away; travel prepared to self-rescue.”

3. Cliffs of Moher 

This beautiful and rugged landscape is located in Ireland. There are safe ways to view the cliffs, including paved pathways with railings. However, there is also a more dangerous side to the Cliffs of Moher. A 2018 study found that 66 deaths occurred on the cliffs from 1993 to 2016. Tragically, deaths have continued. In 2024, a 12-year-old boy vacationing with his family died after he fell from the cliffs.

As of March 2025, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre has announced that large sections of the coastal trail, including the southern section from Liscannor/Hags Head, are closed to the public for maintenance and safety reasons. While tourists can still get amazing views from the protected walkways and viewing areas, the entire 12-mile path is no longer accessible. Despite the closures, people still venture into off-limits areas to take selfies at the picturesque landmark. Not only is it easy to trip and fall on the slippery cliff edge, but the ground is also unstable. Occasionally, entire sections of the cliff collapse into the sea.

4. Angel’s Billabong

Angel’s Billabong is a beautiful and scenic tourist destination in Bali. It’s a natural infinity pool with crystal-clear blue water, formed by the erosion of the volcanic rock shelf. The tourist hotspot is located on the West Coast of Nusa Penida Island (one of the three Nusa Islands off the coast of Bali).

However, if you go there, no matter how inviting the water looks at low tide, and how many people you may see swimming in it, don’t follow them in. It’s not worth the risk. First of all, when high tide comes, waves cover the pool. Even during low tide, a strange phenomenon can occur in which large waves suddenly crash into the pool, dragging people out to sea.

Tragically, you don’t even have to be swimming to be caught by the massive waves. In 2024, a tourist was killed while simply standing on the cliffside when a massive wave swept him out to sea.

5. Madidi National Park

Madidi National Park in Bolivia is the setting for the 2017 film “Jungle.” Starring Daniel Radcliffe, “Jungle” tells the true survival story of a backpacker who was separated from his friends and lost in the Amazon rainforest. After weeks, he made it out alive, but no trace of his companions was ever found.

Despite the natural dangers, Madidi National Park is a must-visit for wildlife lovers. With over 7,000 square miles, this park is one of the largest protected areas in South America. It is home to a diverse ecosystem found in the upper Amazon River basin of the Bolivian jungle. The park is home to around 270 species of mammals, 125 species of reptiles, 110 species of amphibians, and tens of thousands of insect species