COLOMBIA TRAVEL SAFETY

 

Colombia has a somewhat bad reputation from the not-so-distant dark past, but the Colombian people and the Colombian government have gone to great lengths to change that in recent years. Like any country in any part of the world, Colombia does still have its issues but it is not at all like it used to be. The local people are generally very happy to have tourists visit their hometowns, in fact, tourism is a great source of income for many in Colombia. Although unlikely, if you were to run into any trouble while in Colombia, the most common issues are petty crimes such as pickpocketing or opportunistic theft. You might have to be a little more cautious or on guard than you normally would in your own city, but Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America that is definitely worth visiting. 

 

Cartagena Balconies

 

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. 

 

Female Admiring a Mountain Lake

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. 

 

Villa de Leyva

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.

 

Santa Marta Honeymoon

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. 

 

Popayan

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. 

 

Southern Colombia

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.

 

San Andres

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. If you’ve heard anything about Pablo Escobar or Colombian drug cartels, then you know that Medellin was the epicenter during this time in history. It was one of, if not the most dangerous city in the world with horrific violent crime and crime rates through the roof. The good news is that they have moved far past this period of chaos, and Medellin is a beautiful city to visit with wonderful people. But while in Medellin, you should be careful mentioning anything related to Pablo Escobar or the drug trade because it is still a very fresh and terrible memory for so many in the city. the biggest thing to watch out for in Medellin is petty theft in crowded places.

 

Guatape, Medellin

 

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. Cartagena is one of the more expensive places to visit in Colombia so you will notice the extra cost to stay in some of the nicer areas of the city. Cartagena is not the place to do things on the cheap, and you’ll have a much better time staying in a nice hotel in a nice part of town. 

 

 

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.

 

Bogota

 

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

Certain situations, like major sporting or cultural events, might require late nights out, but stick to the populated areas and upgrade your ride if necessary to avoid being left out on the street in a dark or isolated area. 

Avoid overdoing it with alcohol or avoid it entirely, especially when traveling alone. Besides the dangers or possible vulnerable situations associated with alcohol, it is also one of the most expensive items in Colombia. Anything imported into Colombia will be more expensive than it is back home.

Avoid taxis whenever possible and definitely do not hail them from the street. Some towns won’t have any other options so be sure to get one from a certified taxi stand (like at transportation hubs) or have a hotel or restaurant call you a taxi. 

Avoid taxis or Ubers from airports in Colombia. That applies especially to El Dorado International Airport in Bogota and Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena. Hotel shuttles or private transfers are a much safer, cheaper, legal, and better option. 

Do your best not to take your phone out very obviously while walking on the street. Take photos but don’t stare at your phone or even a map while walking around in a city. Not only do you look like a tourist, but this keeps you from being fully aware of your surroundings. 

Don’t leave your phone or other valuables out in the open for everyone to see. This is especially important in restaurants because it could be very easy for someone to walk past the table and swipe your phone without you noticing.  
 

Do not take your eyes off of your food or drinks, especially for solo female travelers

Not that this is typically a problem in Colombia, but it is always good to make sure no one is putting anything in your food or drinks. 
 

Stay away from tap water

Stay away from tap water or anything it has touched (ice, lettuce, etc). It’s the same issue as above, the bacteria may be fine for those that live there but it could cause you problems since you’re body is not used to it.
 

Have at least one credit card with you

Although many places in Colombia do not even accept credit cards, we suggest bringing at least one credit card with you but keeping it in a safe place at your hotel for emergencies. It is not a good idea to carry all of your money or credit cards with you at once. 

Use a money belt to keep your valuables safe

Even while walking around or touring a city, it is a good idea to keep the money you do have with you in a few different places (pocket, shoe, bag, wallet, etc). 

Do not give your passport to anyone

Make copies of your passports and carry those for identification purposes, but leave the original in a safe place at the hotel. If someone were to get a hold of your passport, they could use it to “hold you hostage” until you pay them money. 

Learn a little Spanish before traveling to Colombia

A lot of Colombians know or are learning English but they are also very kind and encouraging to those trying to practice Spanish. Knowing a few words or phrases will help you, especially in those smaller towns. 


Get travel insurance before starting your trip

Among all the multiple reasons why you should get travel insurance, is the peace of mind it gives you! Knowing that whatever happens, from medical emergencies to lost bags, canceled flights, theft, and more, your bills are taken care of.

 

Trekking in Cocora Valley

 

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!