Is Colombia safe right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a great family trip this summer to Colombia. Mostly stayed in Bogota. Has to be careful, but it felt reasonably safe. Really enjoyed the views, the architecture, the art, the culture, food.

This sounds great, would you mind sharing the highlights of your itinerary, and your lodging? Did you rent a car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a great family trip this summer to Colombia. Mostly stayed in Bogota. Has to be careful, but it felt reasonably safe. Really enjoyed the views, the architecture, the art, the culture, food.

This sounds great, would you mind sharing the highlights of your itinerary, and your lodging? Did you rent a car?

NP. I wouldn't recommend renting a car. Even if I lived there, I'd probably rely on taxis and public transportation. You can use Uber even though it's technically illegal. You can just take a regular taxi if you don't have the patience to wait for an Uber. Some say that you should call for a taxi, but I've never called for a cab and have never had an issue. Criminals used to pose as taxis and rob unsuspecting customers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If something happened to someone, they would likely not be posting on this forum. The state department currently has a travel advisory for Colombia. You should look at that.

I am not entirely dismissive of State Dept travel advisories (save your Brittiany Griner jokes). I take them seriously. But if you look at the advisory, it centers around Arauca, Cauca, and Norte de Santander Departments, which is Venezuelan/Colombian border territory.

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

I wouldn't recommend any average American tourist to be hanging around in the Venezuelan/Colombia border territory. That's high organized crime territory. But the cities are fine.

[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

As I just posted, that advisory focuses on the Venezuelan border territory, which is rife with organized crime groups. Yeah, a good idea to stay away from there. But if you're in Bogota, Cartegena, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, or other larger cities, you'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
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.

I stayed in both El Poblado and Laureles when I was in Medellin. The Manila neighborhood in El Poblado is really nice, lots of trendy restaurants with a wide variety of food. Make sure to stay away from Parque de El Poblado as that is the center of the nightlife district and it is very loud until 3 am there. The mile south of the parque on Carerra 43A is really nice, but it's also a little more spread out and less "walkable".

I stayed near Suramericana metro in Laureles and liked it. Was a little more middle class than El Poblado and I liked being closer to the center of the city. Also walked to Estadio Girardot for a soccer match so that was nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I too took the cable cars to one of the hillside neighborhoods. The views are amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This sounds great, would you mind sharing the highlights of your itinerary, and your lodging? Did you rent a car?

I am not the OP you are asking, but I have stayed in Bogota many times and can share my itinerary. I like Hotel Vilar America in Chapinero. It's the business district and is close to nightlife/restaurant district Zona T, so it's quiet. The hotel is a great value, you get apartment style rooms for good prices. There are a wide variety of hotels so if you want upscale (JW Marriott, Four Seasons), you can have it in this part of Chapinero.

I also enjoy the neighborhoods around Parque de la 93 and Parque El Virrey. Most of north Bogota is nice.

There's a great brewery chain called El Mono Bandito that has great beer. Also good food. The one near Hotel Vilar America has a cool old house vibe as it is indeed a bar inside what appears to be a big old house. The location near Parque de la 93 is largely outdoors and is an awesome place to be when the weather is nice.

I would never rent a car in Bogota, even if I could speak Spanish. Just take cabs and ubers and the BRT, which is basically 60 cents per ride.

[Anonymous]

I went to bogota and medellin this summer (white Spanish speaking female). No safety problems but I was pretty careful with my phone and took a lot of Ubers instead of buses (we’re very cheap). I would
Go back

[Anonymous]

Cali is still dicey, but other Colombian cities are safer than St. Louis, Baltimore, Philly, Chicago, or New Orleans.

[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

As I just posted, that advisory focuses on the Venezuelan border territory, which is rife with organized crime groups. Yeah, a good idea to stay away from there. But if you're in Bogota, Cartegena, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, or other larger cities, you'll be fine.

The state department also has travel advisories for places like Denmark and Spain. So I wouldn’t let that deter me from travel.

[Anonymous]

No, thanks. Even the anecdotal comments about it being "safe" in Colombia speak of being careful about cell phones, purse snatching, complying with "strong arm robbers," and taking "normal precautions" to remain safe. As to the comparisons with NY, DC, Baltimore, NOLA, all of those cities have deteriorated in recent years, plus SF, LA, Seattle and Portland. I would not recommend them to families either until there is some improvement. It also sounds like many of the positive respondents are travelers with family in Colombia and/or speak fluent Spanish, which probably helps with their comfort level. I guess it depends on whether you want a vacation in which you have to watch your back or one where you can relax and be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

No, thanks. Even the anecdotal comments about it being "safe" in Colombia speak of being careful about cell phones, purse snatching, complying with "strong arm robbers," and taking "normal precautions" to remain safe. As to the comparisons with NY, DC, Baltimore, NOLA, all of those cities have deteriorated in recent years, plus SF, LA, Seattle and Portland. I would not recommend them to families either until there is some improvement. It also sounds like many of the positive respondents are travelers with family in Colombia and/or speak fluent Spanish, which probably helps with their comfort level. I guess it depends on whether you want a vacation in which you have to watch your back or one where you can relax and be comfortable.

You do realize that some of us live in DC, right? And that we have families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No, thanks. Even the anecdotal comments about it being "safe" in Colombia speak of being careful about cell phones, purse snatching, complying with "strong arm robbers," and taking "normal precautions" to remain safe. As to the comparisons with NY, DC, Baltimore, NOLA, all of those cities have deteriorated in recent years, plus SF, LA, Seattle and Portland. I would not recommend them to families either until there is some improvement. It also sounds like many of the positive respondents are travelers with family in Colombia and/or speak fluent Spanish, which probably helps with their comfort level. I guess it depends on whether you want a vacation in which you have to watch your back or one where you can relax and be comfortable.

You do realize that some of us live in DC, right? And that we have families?

lol! Seriously. This board is called DC UrbanMoms and Dads. This isn't a board for people from rural Nebraska.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, thanks. Even the anecdotal comments about it being "safe" in Colombia speak of being careful about cell phones, purse snatching, complying with "strong arm robbers," and taking "normal precautions" to remain safe. As to the comparisons with NY, DC, Baltimore, NOLA, all of those cities have deteriorated in recent years, plus SF, LA, Seattle and Portland. I would not recommend them to families either until there is some improvement. It also sounds like many of the positive respondents are travelers with family in Colombia and/or speak fluent Spanish, which probably helps with their comfort level. I guess it depends on whether you want a vacation in which you have to watch your back or one where you can relax and be comfortable.

Then stay out if you're scared. More of Colombia for us to love who aren't afraid of Latin American countries.

[Anonymous]

I found the biggest challenge in Bogota was the high elevation. I really felt the altitude and kind of had a continual dull headache.

It is a beautiful country. I still remember the miles of flower stands that line the roads when you drive out of the city.

One of our group members had valuables stolen from their hotel room. We were staying in a 4 star hotel. I've never known anyone else, anywhere to have had things stolen from their hotel room.

The women are beautiful. (I'm a woman and I felt very plain.)

I would definitely return.