Is Colombia safe right now?

[Anonymous]

Colombia is my favorite country in the world, and I've been to lots of places. I've mostly been to Medellin and Cartagena- loved them both. It's safe!

[Anonymous]

My Colombian friend goes there but says that I should not. She is not comfortable there but goes to see family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes - less of a murder rate than Baltimore

+1.

I think a few posters don't know what year it is, or anything about domestic politics in other countries.

Colombia is a great place to travel and very likely one of the safest places to visit in all of Latin America. I'd much rather be walking around downtown Bogota than DC, Baltimore, or NOLA. 100%.
It's a great, family friendly destination, OP. And Aviance has a direct flight from IAD to BOG which makes for a quick, easy trip. Shorter than going to LAX actually

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colombia is my favorite country in the world, and I've been to lots of places. I've mostly been to Medellin and Cartagena- loved them both. It's safe!

Medellin is becoming a destination spot for the cost-conscience traveler. Lots of Americans and Europeans. Why? The perfect year round weather, beautiful, and everything low cost. DD just came back from a girl’s long weekend there and loved it. Said they took the normal precautions and felt perfectly safe.

Statistically, it’s safer than the US.

[Anonymous]

We spent a week in Medellin last spring and it felt relatively safe for Latin America. You do have to watch out for petty crime like getting your phone stolen, and I would recommend using Uber to get around. Take normal precautions and enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, I hate when people ask this question because safe is such a general and broad term that it encompasses an infinite number of different explanations. 320 million Americans each have a different perspective on what safe is.

Anyway, I'm a 40 year old man. I've been to Colombia three times in the last three years, alone, and nothing has ever happened to me. I have only maybe once or twice had fleeting concerns about whether a neighborhood or a situation was safe or unsafe. Colombia is a beautiful country with beautiful and friendly people and unless you get into prostitutes or drugs, it's extremely unlikely that you would be the victim of a violent crime.

I've spent roughly 16 days in Bogota and six in Medellin over the years. I just got back from Medellin a month ago.

Bogota is amazing. It's so affordable, it's easy to get around as a tourist with BRT and cheap cabs. Wide variety of ethnic food. North side of Bogota around Parque el Virrey and Parque de la 93 are some of the nicest neighborhoods in the Western Hemisphere. Medellin is fun too but is a little rough around the edges with a lot of visual poverty.

Gringos do stick out in Colombia, so get used to having people constantly asking you for money in the big cities. Other than that, it's a real shame that Colombia has such a negative reputation among ignorant Americans who have been brainwashed with what they see in movies and on TV.

Yes exchange rate is VERY good right now as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone would vacation there.

Responses like these make me sad. Privileged & ignorant/fearful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone would vacation there.

If this was asked about of curiousity instead of willful ignorance it might be acceptable but you should really go read up on the many many beautiful and interesting places to visit in Colombia, from the coast to the highlands

You must be under 45. Years ago, I had a good Colombian friend and met so many other Colombians who had family kidnapped and held for ransom. I think that doesn’t happen now. But you can’t blame people for asking about safety.

But to OP, I would suggest visiting the State Department or CIA web page on the country to check for safety issues.

NP

[Anonymous]

Those of you saying Americans are ignorant think the State Dept is ignorant, I guess.

“Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism.


Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, assault, and armed robbery, is widespread. Organized criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, are common in some areas.

On June 23, 2016, the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary…”

From:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/colombia-travel-advisory.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colombia is my favorite country in the world, and I've been to lots of places. I've mostly been to Medellin and Cartagena- loved them both. It's safe!

+1

Been going to Colombia for 25 years and love it! It's quite tame compared to what it used to be, which is both good and bad. OP, Medellin has about the same crime rate as DC. The biggest threat to tourists is getting run over by maniac drivers. The other issue is dumb Americans not complying during strong armed robberies. Cell phone theft/robbery is a big thing, but don't let that disuade you. The state dept warnings are a joke...basically fiction.

If you prefer the beach, get an AirBnB in Laguito and take a taxi (flag down or InDriver app) to El Centro at night. Vendors at the beach can be annoying. Places like Wala Beach Club are worth checking out if the vendors bother you. Go to the marina and take a boat ride to playa blanca and/or Rosario islands. Those beaches are MUCH better than the beaches in Laguito or Bocagrande.

I prefer Medellin and it's much more of a liveable city than Cartagena. The best place to stay is in the Laureles neghborhood near Primer Parque or Segundo Parque. There are tons of great restaurants, bars, cafes, etc within walking distance. Most tourists and expats stay in Poblado but you are isolated and it's not walkable because it's so hilly. There are quite a few day trips you can take just outside of Medellin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you saying Americans are ignorant think the State Dept is ignorant, I guess.

“Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism.


Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, assault, and armed robbery, is widespread. Organized criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, are common in some areas.

On June 23, 2016, the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary…”

From:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/colombia-travel-advisory.html

Imagine what the State Department would write about the United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you saying Americans are ignorant think the State Dept is ignorant, I guess.

“Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism.


Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, assault, and armed robbery, is widespread. Organized criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, are common in some areas.

On June 23, 2016, the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary…”

From:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/colombia-travel-advisory.html

Imagine what the State Department would write about the United States.

I was thinking the same thing.

The state departments warning used to basically say the same thing for Afghanistan and Colombia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colombia is my favorite country in the world, and I've been to lots of places. I've mostly been to Medellin and Cartagena- loved them both. It's safe!

+1

Been going to Colombia for 25 years and love it! It's quite tame compared to what it used to be, which is both good and bad. OP, Medellin has about the same crime rate as DC. The biggest threat to tourists is getting run over by maniac drivers. The other issue is dumb Americans not complying during strong armed robberies. Cell phone theft/robbery is a big thing, but don't let that disuade you. The state dept warnings are a joke...basically fiction.

If you prefer the beach, get an AirBnB in Laguito and take a taxi (flag down or InDriver app) to El Centro at night. Vendors at the beach can be annoying. Places like Wala Beach Club are worth checking out if the vendors bother you. Go to the marina and take a boat ride to playa blanca and/or Rosario islands. Those beaches are MUCH better than the beaches in Laguito or Bocagrande.

I prefer Medellin and it's much more of a liveable city than Cartagena. The best place to stay is in the Laureles neghborhood near Primer Parque or Segundo Parque. There are tons of great restaurants, bars, cafes, etc within walking distance. Most tourists and expats stay in Poblado but you are isolated and it's not walkable because it's so hilly. There are quite a few day trips you can take just outside of Medellin.

Completely agree. I had some great meals and enjoyed knocking around Laureles and that is where I would stay again. The metro seemed much cleaner and safer than DC for instance. I rode the metrocable up to one of the poorer hillside neighborhoods just for the view and observed many people courteously cede their seats to pregnant women and elders. Though rather than Medellin, I prefer some of the outlying villages. You definitely need passable Spanish.

The bad and the ugly: According to my Colombian family, you do need to be aware of purse snatching if you are riding in a taxi with the windows open. (Usually it's 2 guys on a motorcycle.) Personally, I'd avoid the places that cater to tourists because I don't enjoy being asked for money and it's not as interesting to me. Also, the people who travel to partake in the legal sex trade offend me. Unfortunately it seems to attract the dregs of American (and other nationalities) men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone would vacation there.

It’s in vogue - the new cool place

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone would vacation there.

If this was asked about of curiousity instead of willful ignorance it might be acceptable but you should really go read up on the many many beautiful and interesting places to visit in Colombia, from the coast to the highlands

You must be under 45. Years ago, I had a good Colombian friend and met so many other Colombians who had family kidnapped and held for ransom. I think that doesn’t happen now. But you can’t blame people for asking about safety.

But to OP, I would suggest visiting the State Department or CIA web page on the country to check for safety issues.

NP

Actually I'm a decade older than that and had a great visit to Colombia maybe 5 years ago.