COLOMBIA TRAVEL SAFETY

Is It Safe To Travel To Colombia For A Female Solo Traveler?

For all the solo female travelers out there wanting to visit Colombia, know that it is safe to travel here alone. When you are traveling alone in Colombia, especially for females, it is important to be very diligent about your safety no matter where your international travel takes you. It is unlikely, but if you were to encounter any problems, most occur when the victim appears to be an easy target (alone on a dark street, drunk or incapacitated, etc). Do your best to keep yourself out of vulnerable situations and you shouldn’t have any problems in this wonderful country.

Safest Places To Travel In Colombia

Generally, the large parts of Colombia that you want to avoid are on the borders of Venezuela and the Pacific coast. Neither of these is a typically touristic area anyway, so you won’t be missing much. You’ll also want to be careful when visiting rural areas because drug cartels and illegal armed groups do still exist in some places, but if you’re visiting the traditional touristic small towns, you shouldn’t have any problems.

The Coffee Region

The Coffee Region is one of the safest and most beautiful areas in all of Colombia and consists of towns like Periera, Salento, Filandia, Manizales, Armenia, and Santa Rosa de Cabal.

Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is one of the most adorable little towns in Colombia as well as one of the safest tourist locations in the country. It is a couple of hours north of Bogota by bus, but the beautiful colonial Spanish charm is definitely worth seeing.

Guatape

Guatape is the most popular day trip destination from Medellin so thankfully this little tourist town is one of the safest places you can travel to in Colombia. The surrounding lakes and the giant rock are the highlights of this town.

North Caribbean Coast

Northern Caribbean Coast areas like Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta are known to have some of the best beaches in South America where you can relax and enjoy your time knowing you are in a safe place.

Bucaramanga

Bucaramanga is one of the lesser visited cities in Colombia (in comparison) that is closer to the Venezuelan border. But it is known as a very safe destination for tourists and is also known for its parks and adventure activities.

Popayan

Popayan is another one of the lesser traveled destinations in Colombia but this major religious center is also one of the safest places to travel to in Colombia. It takes a little bit more effort to get to, but the white-walled city and nearby national park make Popayan worth the visit.

San Agustin

History fans will love the town of San Agustin which has archeological sites predating the Incas in Peru. It has become a popular tourist destination in Colombia so it is generally very safe and even has a number of vegan or vegetarian restaurants because of all the foreign visitors.

Southern Colombia

For an Amazonian adventure, you can visit the furthest south corner of Colombia, bordering both Brazil and Peru. Leticia is the town that you’d fly into and stay in, and thankfully it is known as a very safe place to visit.

The island of San Andres and Providencia

Although it is located off the coast of Nicaragua, the island of San Andres and Providencia is a safe and extremely popular beach destination for Colombians. It is still part of Colombia and you can fly there from Bogota in about two hours, Medellin in under two hours, and Cartagena in just over an hour.

Major cities in Colombia

Major cities in Colombia like Bogota, Cali, and Medellin all have lots of safe areas to visit and of course, they are all major tourist destinations. In each city, there are definitely parts of the city you’ll want to avoid, but overall they are all great places to visit on your trip to Colombia.

Is It Safe to Travel To Medellin?

Medellin, also known as the city of eternal spring, is one of the larger cities in Colombia and the capital of the region of Antioquia. Despite its current size and its violent past, Medellin is one of the safest places to travel to in Colombia. The biggest thing to watch out for in Medellin is petty theft in crowded places.

Is It Safe to Travel To Cartagena?

Cartagena is one of the major cities for cruise ship tourism on the northern Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Beaches and popular public places in the city are generally very safe for tourists but you should stick to these areas and avoid drifting to other parts of the city.

Is It Safe to Travel To Bogota?

Bogota might be one of the most dangerous cities in Colombia compared to others but it is not one that needs to be or should be avoided. Being the capital and largest city in Colombia, it makes sense that there is more crime here, the same way that New York City is in the United States.

Colombia Travel Safety Tips

The best way to be as safe as possible in Colombia is to be smart and aware like you would in any other country in any other part of the world.

• Eliminate or limit late nights out, especially when traveling alone.
• Avoid overdoing it with alcohol or avoid it entirely.
• Avoid taxis whenever possible; use certified stands or hotel-arranged transport.
• Do not take your phone out obviously while walking on the street.
• Do not take your eyes off of your food or drinks.
• Stay away from tap water.
• Keep a credit card in a safe place at your hotel for emergencies.
• Use a money belt to keep your valuables safe.
• Do not give your passport to anyone; carry copies instead.
• Learn a little Spanish before traveling.
• Get travel insurance before starting your trip.

Is Colombia Safe To Travel? Bottom Line

Despite its past problems, Colombia is one of the best South American countries to visit and a safe place to travel for tours. It is one of the most beautiful places with some amazing outdoor activities, wonderful people, and fascinating history. Be smart and cautious but enjoy your time in this incredible country! Book your Va Expeditions Colombia Vacation here!