Is Colombia Security To Visit?
Posted: 6/22/2019 | June 22nd, 2019
Colombia is 1 of the most pop countries inward South America for backpackers in addition to travelers. In 2017 (the terminal twelvemonth at that spot were figures), it saw over 3 1000000 visitors — 3 times every bit many every bit at that spot were 10 years ago!
Over the past times few decades, Republic of Colombia has been working difficult to dispel the fierce icon it earned cheers to the drug cartels that 1 time ravaged the country.
While Republic of Colombia all the same isn’t perfect, it’s come upwards a long way since our parents’ generation.
Violent crimes that were 1 time mutual here, such every bit murder in addition to kidnapping, are no longer everyday concerns for travelers. Kidnapping has declined 92% in addition to homicides are downwards past times 50% over the past times ii decades.
Slowly but surely, weather condition inward Republic of Colombia are improving for locals in addition to tourists alike.
But a lot of people all the same inquire me: is Republic of Colombia is safe?
Table of Contents
- My Experience inward Colombia
- 10 Safety Tips for Colombia
- Is Republic of Colombia Safe for Solo Travelers?
- Is Republic of Colombia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
- Is it Safe to Take a Taxi inward Colombia?
- Is the Food Safe inward Colombia?
- Can You Drink the Tap Water inward Colombia?
- Should You Visit Colombia?
My Experience inward Colombia
Before I went to Colombia, I’d heard countless stories of fiddling theft. While there, I heard fifty-fifty more. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 friend of mine had been robbed 3 times, the terminal fourth dimension at gunpoint acre on his way to consider me for dinner.
Locals in addition to expats alike told me the same thing: the rumors of fiddling theft are true, but if y'all continue your wits nearly you, follow the rules, in addition to don’t flash your valuables, you’ll live OK.
There’s fifty-fifty a local aspect nearly it: “No dar papaya” (Don’t give papaya). Essentially, it agency that y'all shouldn’t receive got something “sweet” out inward the opened upwards (a phone, computer, watch, etc.) that would build y'all a target. Keep your valuables hidden, don’t wander around places y'all shouldn’t at night, don’t flash coin around, avoid coming out of nightlife spots lonely at night, etc. Simply put: don’t set yourself inward a seat where people tin receive got payoff of you.
I heeded such advice. I didn’t habiliment headphones inward public. I didn’t receive got my telephone out unless I was inward a grouping or a restaurant, or completely certain no 1 else was around. I took but plenty coin amongst me for the hateful solar daytime when I left my hostel. I warned friends nearly wearing flashy jewelry or watches when they visited.
But the longer y'all are somewhere, the to a greater extent than complacent y'all get.
When y'all consider locals on their phones inward crowded areas, tourists toting thousand-dollar cameras, in addition to kids wearing Airpods in addition to Apple Watches, y'all start to think, “OK, during the day, perchance it’s non in addition to thence bad.”
Suddenly, y'all stride out of a café amongst your telephone out without fifty-fifty thinking nearly it.
You’re giving papaya.
And someone wants to receive got it.
Which is how I ended upwards getting mugged in addition to knifed. (I’m OK.)
This was also but a affair of beingness unlucky in addition to non specific to Colombia. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wrong-time-wrong-place situation. It could receive got happened to me anywhere where I didn’t follow the security rules that aid y'all minimize risk.
The experience reminded me of why y'all can’t larn complacent. I gave papaya. I shouldn’t receive got had my telephone out. It didn’t affair the fourth dimension of day. That’s the dominion inward Colombia. Keep your valuables hidden. (Especially inward Bogotá, which does receive got a higher charge per unit of measurement of fiddling criminal offense than elsewhere inward the country.) I didn’t follow the advice.
And I got unlucky because of it. I’d been having my telephone out likewise oft and, amongst each non-incident, I grew to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than relaxed. I kept dropping my guard.
What happened was unlucky, but it didn’t necessitate to direct identify if I had followed the rules.
This is why people warned me to live careful.
So, if y'all follow the rules, you’re unlikely to receive got a problem. All those incidents I talked nearly earlier? All involved people breaking the ironclad “no dar papaya” dominion in addition to either having something valuable out or walking lonely belatedly at nighttime inward areas where they shouldn’t have.
I’m non going to permit this freak incident modify my stance of such an amazing country. I’d larn dorsum to Republic of Colombia the same way I’d larn far a motorcar subsequently a motorcar accident. In fact, I was terribly upset to leave. I was having an amazing time. I all the same honey Bogotá. I all the same receive got plans to larn dorsum to Colombia.
Colombia is amazing.
Learn from my mistake. Not only for when y'all see Republic of Colombia but when y'all locomote inward general.
10 Safety Tips for Colombia
You can’t larn complacent inward Colombia. Once y'all do, bad things happen. You receive got to remain vigilant. To aid y'all remain condom during your trip, hither are a few tips you’ll desire to continue inward brain every bit y'all locomote around the country:
1. Stay somewhere amongst 24-hour security – You e'er desire someone around inward illustration y'all necessitate assistance. Most hostels in addition to hotels receive got security cameras or guards. If y'all don’t experience condom somewhere, don’t hesitate to motion on. This way y'all e'er receive got someone to beak to inward illustration something goes wrong.
2. Don’t flash your holding acre you’re out in addition to about – Keep your telephone out of sight, in addition to don’t habiliment whatsoever jewelry or watches. If y'all necessitate to purpose your phone, create it within in addition to non out on the street. This is where people larn far the most trouble. This is how I got into trouble. Put everything away in addition to thence y'all don’t stand upwards out.
3. Don’t locomote lonely at night – Try to go out amongst other travelers if you’re going out at night. If y'all create excogitation to go out lonely or political party late, live certain to receive got an Uber dwelling identify or receive got someone telephone shout out upwards y'all a cab. Don’t walk lonely actually belatedly at night.
4. Learn some Spanish – Even but a few phrases tin aid y'all inward an emergency. Download Castilian on Google Translator in addition to thence y'all receive got it offline every bit well, but inward case.
5. Download an offline map of the city – Having a map volition live helpful inward illustration y'all larn lost in addition to necessitate to guide yourself (or a taxi driver) dorsum to your accommodation. If y'all purpose your telephone at night, live certain to non purpose it out inward the streets.
6. Don’t create drugs – The drugs cartels receive got crippled this country. Don’t back upwards them past times buying drugs. Locals don’t similar it because drugs receive got in addition to thence devasted the province in addition to doing it but farther cripples the country. It’s actually disrespectful. Additionally, getting involved amongst drugs hither increases your chances of getting into trouble. Also, doing drugs hither is illegal, in addition to y'all don’t desire to halt upwards inward a Colombian prison.
7. Keep your valuables separate – Never behavior all of them together. When you’re going out for the day, leave of absence some credit cards in addition to cash inward locked inward your accommodation. That way, if y'all lose your wallet, you’ll all the same receive got cash in addition to cards dorsum at your hostel. Also continue some emergency funds inward your principal backpack too, but inward case.
8. If the worst happens, but give the assailant your stuff – Handing over your things is much ameliorate than risking the choice (trust me). If y'all receive got locomote insurance, you’ll live able to larn reimbursed (just live certain to relieve all of your receipts).
9 . Download the Prey app to your telephone in addition to laptop – If either device gets stolen, for a pocket-size fee you’ll live able to rails it in addition to remotely plough on your photographic television receiver camera to photograph the thief (you tin also wipe the information in addition to message the thief too). The app is gratis to d0wnl0ad in addition to only costs $5 USD for additional back upwards should y'all larn robbed.
10. Buy locomote insurance – If something does larn wrong, y'all desire to live certain you’re covered in addition to someone has your back. Travel insurance tin aid y'all uncovering medical handling in addition to give y'all coin to purchase replacements for what was stolen. It’s e'er ameliorate to live condom than sorry, peculiarly inward a province where fiddling criminal offense is all the same a problem.
So, is Republic of Colombia Safe for Solo Travelers?
Colombia is condom for solo travelers. While fiddling criminal offense is all the same a problem, every bit long every bit y'all don’t flaunt your valuables, you’ll probable non run into whatsoever problems. When y'all larn out, only receive got what y'all necessitate for the hateful solar daytime in addition to leave of absence your other valuables inward your hostel or hotel room.
If you’re non feeling comfortable, sweat to consider other travelers in addition to thence y'all tin explore together. That way you’ll never live lonely in addition to volition avoid beingness a target for pickpockets in addition to fiddling criminals.
At night, build certain you’re never traveling lonely in addition to that y'all receive got your ride dwelling identify planned inward advance. Don’t motion into sketchy cabs. Avoid wandering around non-touristy areas at nighttime in addition to alone.
I never felt actually dangerous inward the province during the hateful solar daytime or inward world places. You’ll consider locals amongst phones out and, generally, going nearly their life. It’s actually at nighttime that y'all receive got to live careful.
Is Republic of Colombia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
While solo woman individual travelers volition desire to receive got some extra precautions inward Colombia, the province should definitely all the same live nether consideration.
Whenever possible, avoid traveling lonely — peculiarly at nighttime or inward areas where at that spot are non many people. Don’t flaunt whatsoever valuables, in addition to avoid taking taxis lonely at night. Always receive got a d0wnl0aded map in addition to translator in addition to thence y'all tin uncovering your way dwelling identify or inquire for aid if y'all necessitate it.
By taking some precautions in addition to planning accordingly, solo woman individual travelers volition live able to receive got a rewarding fourth dimension traveling Colombia. Just build certain to follow the advice in addition to tips above!
Here are a yoke of helpful posts on security written past times our solo woman individual locomote experts:
- How to Stay Safe every bit a Solo Female Traveler
- 8 Myths About Solo Female Travel Debunked
- 10 Common Qsestions About Solo Female Travel
Is it Safe to Take a Taxi inward Colombia?
Taxis are condom here, but e'er build certain y'all telephone shout out upwards your taxi inward advance. Never motion into a random vehicle. Even if it looks similar a taxi, it powerfulness non live one. It’s e'er ameliorate to play it safe.
Get your hostel or accommodation to telephone shout out upwards a cab for you, or d0wnl0ad a taxi app (Uber is inward Medellín, Cali, in addition to Bogotá) in addition to thence y'all tin club your own. Avoid taking taxis at nighttime every bit good (especially every bit a solo woman individual traveler).
Is the Food Safe inward Colombia?
The nutrient inward Republic of Colombia is quite safe. Just build certain to avoid whatsoever nutrient that’s been sitting out inward the Sun all day. Look for places amongst lots of patrons — that’s how y'all tin order the nutrient is fresh in addition to delicious.
Also, build certain whatsoever fruit y'all swallow has a peel to avoid it getting contaminated.
If you’re a vegetarian or receive got other dietary concerns, y'all powerfulness live difficult pressed to uncovering nutrient here, every bit most dishes are meat-based. Learn some basic phrases (or d0wnl0ad Google Translate) to aid y'all inquire questions in addition to uncovering foods suitable for your diet.
Lastly, e'er launder your hands before y'all eat. That’s the best way to avoid getting sick!
Can You Drink the Tap Water inward Colombia?
While improvements inward H2O handling are coming along, y'all can’t actually drinkable the H2O exterior of Bogotá in addition to Medellín.
I’d advise y'all locomote amongst a Lifestraw or Steripen in addition to thence y'all tin purify H2O no affair where y'all are. That volition aid y'all relieve coin in addition to trim back your reliance on single-use plastic. Double win!
Should You Visit Colombia?
So, is Colombia safe?
Yes.
While fiddling theft is a growing concern, the province has in addition to thence much to offer the intrepid traveler. There is amazing nature, vibrant cities, a fun nightlife, in addition to a growing community of entrepreneurs in addition to digital nomads who telephone shout out upwards Republic of Colombia home.
It’s inexpensive in addition to slow to navigate, in addition to every bit long every bit y'all follow your instincts in addition to purpose mutual sense, y'all volition avoid trouble.
Even if you’re a solo woman individual traveler, Republic of Colombia all the same has a lot to offer.
So, acre my personal experience inward Republic of Colombia didn’t halt well, I am definitely planning on going back.
Because it’s but likewise amazing a identify non to visit.
Just live certain to larn locomote insurance but inward illustration something goes wrong. The past times is non prologue in addition to y'all e'er desire to play it safe. Travel insurance was at that spot when I lost my bag, broke my camera, in addition to got knifed inward Colombia. I never expected those things to direct identify in addition to was glad I had insurance! You tin purpose the widget below to appear upwards the locomote insurance policy that is correct for y'all (or just click hither to larn to their website directly):
Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips in addition to Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying past times using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my ii favorite search engines because they search websites in addition to airlines around the globe in addition to thence y'all e'er know no rock is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin mass your hostel amongst Hostelworld. If y'all desire to remain somewhere other than a hostel, purpose Booking.com every bit they consistently provide the cheapest rates for guesthouses in addition to inexpensive hotels. I purpose them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect y'all against illness, injury, theft, in addition to cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection inward illustration anything goes wrong. I never larn on a trip without it every bit I’ve had to purpose it many times inward the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for 10 years. My favorite companies that offering the best service in addition to value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to relieve coin with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to purpose when y'all travel! I listing all the ones I purpose to relieve coin when I locomote – in addition to I call back volition aid y'all too!
Looking for to a greater extent than information on visiting Colombia?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Colombia amongst to a greater extent than tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, in addition to much, much more!
0 Response to "Is Colombia Security To Visit?"
Posting Komentar