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We stayed in different parts of the city and really enjoyed ourselves. Just like anywhere else in the world, be mindful and aware or your surroundings. It is helpful to speak some basic Spanish, although many speak English at Hotels and restaurants.
Honestly,I felt safer in Cartagena than I do in Mexico. We loved it and would return. We fell totally in love with this country!! Second time we explored everything around and between Cali, Bogota, Medellin and all of Coffee triangle by motorbike.
Finished off in Santa Martha and in a beach hut further up the coast of Tayrona National park. Only had fantastic experiences and friendly locals and stunning scenery all around!! If you are more of a show off looking for others to recognise and serve you for your dollars, pick a more superficial destination. I had gone 4 different times over the years. Twice I have been robbed on two separate trips. My last being the final straw when everything was taken from me. Maybe it depends on who you go with, what you look like, and how much income you have?
I am not sure. I do have a good experience of most of Colombia. Since i have lived together with a charming colombiana. She is now my wife. Colombia is a country filled with adventure and also history and culture. You can find just about anything here from tropical beaches and parties with salsa and cumbia to colonial provincial retreats and experimental theater which you must see. I never went alone so that could be a different experience entirely. I was paying attention and managed to protect my phone from being stolen.
So these things can happen it was daytime but this happens regularly in the US and in many, many countries. Cartagena should be your first stop or one of the first. Every time I went on a walk in this city, I felt like I was truly back in time.
It felt amazing to me. Medellin should be your next visiting spot. It was once known as a very dangerous city but things are much better today. Imagine palm-shaded beaches with clear waters close to imposing mountains. Snorkeling is great here. These days, Medellin is at the forefront of safety and urban rejuvenation.
Popular with travelers both Colombian and foreign, Cartagena is safe, fun, and exciting. Cartagena can be touristy, which means getting local advice can introduce you to a side of the city that most tourists miss. Although very rarely dangerous, Colombia is home to some of the most creative scam artists around. Ranging from the run-of-the-mill to the ridiculous, these scams are easily avoided if you know what to look for and use common sense.
Don't travel blindly— benefit from local advice. Colombia is a safe and welcoming place for people who travel by themselves. But being a solo traveler doesn't mean you have to go it alone! Get advice from Colombian locals before you even arrive. When it comes to safety as a solo traveler in Colombia , our trip planners advise to:.
While catcalling and sexual harassment certainly remain an issue the patriarchy knows no borders , Colombia is no worse than any other country in that regard. Many of our trip planners are women and they can describe how they navigate their hometown. Avoiding sketchier areas like lonesome rural highways can also dramatically reduce your risk of danger. Bogota and Medellin are known for their excellent water quality.
However, locals tell us that drinking tap water in the Colombian countryside can be a bit more hit-and-miss. In January , customers were informed that they could no longer use Uber in Colombia. However, Uber returned to Colombia less than a month later. There's a new set of rules.
Basically, you can rent a car that comes with a driver. You'll have options like hourly rentals and choice of car. Don't worry. Locals tell us you'll find plenty of other transit options. So get an insider's perspective on how to best navigate in Colombia. Locals can let you know how they get around their country. If you are pregnant or may become so, however, you should still talk to your doctor before traveling to Colombia.
And while it depends on what you'll be doing in Colombia, many travelers don't need to get any extra vaccines. Just in case, be sure to read up on vaccinations for Colombia and talk to your doctor before you fly.
For now, Colombia has not said anything about requiring the coronavirus vaccine. From the gorgeous beaches and lush rainforests of its Caribbean coast to the coffee-rich slopes of the Andes, Colombia offers something for everyone—especially families.
Foreign authorities might not recognize or accept proof of vaccination issued by Canadian provinces and territories. You may need to obtain a translation, a notarization, an authentication, or the legalization of the document. The situation could disrupt your travel plans. You should not depend on the Government of Canada for assistance to change your travel plans. Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. We have obtained the information on this page from the Colombian authorities.
It can, however, change at any time. Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada. Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Colombia.
Official travel. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination. Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days Business or work visa: required Student visa: required. The immigration officer will determine the permitted length of your stay when you enter Colombia.
As a tourist, you may be granted a stay up to 90 days. You will be fined if you overstay the specified period on your entry stamp. You may extend your stay up to a maximum of days per calendar year. The final decision remains with the immigration authority. Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.
Colombia employs strict screening measures at its international airports to detect narcotics smuggling. Canadian citizens who also hold Colombian citizenship must enter and exit Colombia using the following documents:.
Although local immigration authorities will allow dual citizens to enter without Colombian documents, they will stamp their foreign passport indicating that they must leave using Colombian documents.
Whether travelling to a domestic or international destination, underage Canadian-Colombian dual citizens must present:. Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever vaccines section.
Be sure that your routine vaccines , as per your province or territory, are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination. Some of these vaccines include: measles-mumps-rubella MMR , diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella chickenpox , influenza and others.
You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines are right for you. Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito. Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.
About Yellow Fever. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination s you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements. Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person.
All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated. Rabies is a deadly illness spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal.
Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure e. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease.
It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.
Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles. Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed e. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air. It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling.
Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide.
The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza flu is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.
Get the flu shot. Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.
In some areas in South America, food and water can also carry diseases like cholera , hepatitis A , schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in South America. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions. The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration drinking lots of fluids.
Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling. Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.
Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination. In some areas in South America, certain insects carry and spread diseases like, American trypanosomiasis Chagas disease , chikungunya , dengue fever , leishmaniasis , malaria , onchocerciasis river blindness , West Nile virus yellow fever and Zika virus.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites. There is a risk of chikungunya in this country. The risk may vary between regions of a country. Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years. Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times.
There is no vaccine available for chikungunya. Cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis causes skin sores and ulcers. It is caused by a parasite spread through the bite of a female sandfly. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from sandfly bites, which typically occur after sunset in rural and forested areas and in some urban centres. There is no vaccine or medication to protect against leishmaniasis. Zika virus is a risk in this country.
Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.
Pregnant women and women planning a pregnancy should visit a health care professional before travelling to discuss the potential risks of travelling to this country.
Why is colombia dangerous. Risk Levels
I heard footsteps pacing behind me. They started to speed up. Too nervous to look behind me, I kept focused on what lay in front of me. As the footsteps drew near, I had to turn around. Somebody was almost right behind me. Was I about to be robbed in Colombia? They seemed to happen out of the blue. Shit occasionally goes down in Colombia.
So I was concerned as I turned around to confront the person running towards me with a full head of steam. Luckily, it was just a crackhead who had made his way out of the El Bronx neighborhood and into Zona T. He was damn near out of breath, but way too energized for 2 AM. His English was near fluent with little accent. An English-speaking homeless crackhead. This was a first. Used to live in South Florida until they sent me back here. I turned back to the pharmacy window. Bring me my damn drugs and let me go home.
I was in no mood for conversations with crackheads. The English-fluent crackhead continued on with his life story. He praised the USA for awhile until finally begging for some coins or food. My drugs finally showed up along with some yogurt and granola bars.
I paid the pharmacy, handed the crackhead a granola bar, and walked home. No real issues for me after spending over a year in the country. Sure, Colombia is dangerous. Make no mistake about it. Both areas are filled with people nearly hours a day and continually have police patrolling the streets — often with dogs. Violent crimes are nearly non-existent in these areas. But nice neighborhoods in Colombia are a lot like the nice areas back home.
Fairly safe and secure. Is Colombia dangerous? In my personal opinion, living in Colombia can be just as safe as any big city in the United States. While the United States has a significantly larger population, the USA still has more cities that make the list. Colombia is certainly more dangerous than the United States in most areas. Even the U. Well, maybe not entirely.
While the U. Government has issue a Level 2 Travel Warning to Colombia for the time being, things have gone downhill since a few years ago. According to Travel. Gov :. Exercise increased caution in Colombia due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Violent crime, such as homicide, assault, and armed robbery, is common.
Organized criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping for ransom, are widespread. While the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC terrorist group, some dissident groups refuse to demobilize. Hell, it sounds downright scary when you read it. But when you compare the above to the advisory the U. Department of State offers for a truly dangerous country, Venezuela…. Reconsider travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.
Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Demonstrations typically elicit a strong police and security force response that includes the use of tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, and rubber bullets against participants and occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism.
There are shortages of food, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies throughout much of Venezuela. The U. Consular access to detained U. Embassy may not receive access in these cases. Security forces have arbitrarily detained U.
Embassy may not be notified of the detention of a U. On January 24, , the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency U. Department of State. Department of State is just a little off with their assessment of safety in Colombia.
The stuff is scary. You start drinking and then you spot a cute girl. She looks back at you and gives you a smile. You buy another round of drinks. You wake up the next morning in your apartment. Neither is your cell phone, laptop, bank cards, and camera. You were drugged. Scopolamine got the best of you.
And the stuff is more popular than ever in Colombia, especially in Medellin. The criminals generally slip the stuff into your drink or beer.
You take a few sips and it hits you quickly. The girl who was all over you. Your friends think you got lucky. One you have to be paying attention to every single night you go out to the bars or clubs. Make sure bartenders open beer bottles and liquor bottles in front of you. They stole his PayPal, Gmail, and bank accounts…along with all his physical items. Colombia is a dangerous country, but many areas offer similar levels of safety as big cities in the United States.
I know it can be dangerous here. I also know you can minimize risks of danger with a few simple precautions. The easiest way to eliminate any risk of danger in Colombia is to stay in a safe zone. Each of these zones are upper class and offer a decent level of safety.
I prefer apartments over hotels in Colombia, as they offer a greater level of privacy while being significantly cheaper than a hotel with similar amenities. Make an effort to blend into the local culture a little bit. Just take Uber while in Colombia.
Make no mistake about it — Colombia can be a dangerous country. However, with a little planning, you can minimize these dangers. Is Colombia safe? The best way to find out is to book a flight and experience the country firsthand. Travel junkie turned blogger. Location independent. From the Midwest, but often based in Latin America. Big on beaches, rumba, and rum. Addicted to the gym. Committed to showing a different style of travel – one that involves actually interacting with locals and exploring different cultures.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you want to know more about the culture, check this […]. You can walk around many streets at night and never have to worry. I felt safer here than in most places, as the city knows its economy relies heavily on tourists. Learn more about safety in Colombia here.