Colombia has generated a bad reputation over the years for safety in the country. Unfortunately, recent history is to blame for this. Much of the country was embroiled in conflicts over drug trafficking. Battles between the central government and cartels brought violence to many of the cities throughout the country. When anyone sees an itinerary or travel plan to the country, it is only natural to ask: “Is Colombia Safe for Travelers?” While the violence was going on as recently as the 1990s, Colombia has made a big push to clean up the country. Today, some dangerous pockets still exist around the country. However, leaders have cleaned up many of the major cities and tourist areas. In this post, we will take a look at the safety of Colombia today and how tourists can stay safe during their travels.
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Colombia’s Dangerous History
Colombia’s dangerous history has created an unsafe perception of the country today. Throughout recent history, Colombia has trafficked significant amounts of illicit drugs, primarily cocaine. Colombia’s cocaine trade is the largest in the world. Roughly half of the world’s supply of cocaine was produced within the country’s borders as recently as 2011. This brings with it a certain amount of cartel and gang activity. The picture above is from a bombing that took place in a Medellín central square.
Prior to 2016, a large number of kidnappings and robberies also plagued Colombia. Gangs and guerilla groups often kidnapped rich businessmen and tourists who appeared to have significant resources. These kidnappings would force individuals to withdraw all their money from an ATM and then forfeit anything of value on their person. These kidnappings rarely resulted in physical harm to the person kidnapped as the guerilla groups are trying to finance their operations with this type of activity. Between 2002 and 2016, Colombia embarked on a major crackdown on street and gang crime. This resulted in a 90% reduction in these types of kidnappings and robberies.
Finally, it is important to recognize that Colombia’s government carries some blame. It has been susceptible to corruption at many times in its history. Cartels had significant financial resources. This was used to obtain favors from some politicians as well as pay off police officers. It is not as much of an issue as it once was, but corruption in the government still exists today. While this is unlikely to impact travelers, it contributes to the overall crime and gang activity in the country.
Is Colombia Safe to Visit Today?
Answering this question is more complicated than just a “yes” or “no”. As with any country, there are both safer and more dangerous areas. The main tourist areas tend to be safe. For people traveling to these areas, practice common traveler sense and you will be fine. However, getting off the beaten path in Colombia can be more dangerous and is best avoided.
Safe Cities like Cartagena
For example, Cartagena is one of the safest cities in Colombia. Tourism is a major part of the Cartagena economy. As it continues to grow, Cartagena pours more resources into maintaining a safe environment. There is a police presence every couple of blocks within the Centro and Getsemani neighborhoods. Cartagena is also blanketed with CCTV cameras which provide 24/7 surveillance of all the main areas. While this amount of police presence may be disconcerting, it is a major part of why this city is one of the safest in Colombia. However, petty crime is still an issue as it is in most places with large amounts of tourism. Pickpockets, minor burglary, and pushy vendors are all present throughout Cartagena. The key is to not make yourself a target for any of these activities.
Dangerous Regions of Colombia
The opposite end of the spectrum is also present in Colombia. Frontier areas near Panama, Venezuela, and Brazil are still fairly dangerous areas. The influence of the Colombian central government doesn’t extend very far into these areas. Plus, they aren’t very touristy areas; therefore, this shouldn’t cause any concern for visitors to Colombia.
In addition to the frontier areas, some cities still have a dangerous reputation. Some of these cities are Cali and Barranquilla. They still have a lot of gang activity and little to offer tourists. Therefore, I would recommend staying away from these cities. Medellín will also sometimes appear on the list of cities that have a crime problem; however, there is a significant amount of tourist activity here. The criminal activity has dramatically decreased from the 1980s & 1990s when Pablo Escobar was the leader of the criminal activity in Medellín. Even so, there are still pockets within Medellín that tourists should avoid. Tourists can travel smartly, avoid these areas, and still see the history and culture that cities like Medellín have to offer.
Objective Crime Statistics
Very often the crime statistics of foreign travel destinations get exaggerated and escalated in people’s minds. For comparison, the criminal activity in Medellín is less than that of Detroit, Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland. It is also on par with that of London, England. This goes to show that it’s important to stay within the safer areas of these cities, and most people will be fine. Crime can be found all around the globe. Therefore, in order to enjoy traveling, take care, use common sense, but realize that crime in cities like Medellín are not so far out of line with many other cities most people would readily visit.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Colombia
The main tourist areas of Colombia can be traveled safely without much worry. Travelers to any destination should exercise care and common sense. Colombia is no different. In addition, visitors to countries, especially where a foreign language is spoken, should take extra precautions. Below is a list of safety tips that can make for a more enjoyable and safe trip to Colombia:
- Know Some Spanish – It’s helpful to know some basic Spanish like yes, no, help, basic numbers, etc… Being in a foreign country where you can’t understand anything makes a visitor more helpless. The more that you are able to find your way around and display confidence, the less you will be a target for petty crime.
- Stay Away from Illegal Activity – This one should be fairly obvious, but don’t tempt fate by engaging in any illegal activity. No matter your opinion on the legality and morality of drugs like marijuana and cocaine, they are generally illegal in Colombia. Therefore, any attempts to purchase these will require engaging with individuals linked to the gangs. Don’t tempt fate with the gangs or the Colombian police.
- Keep Eyes on Your Belongings – As with any city, keep eyes on your belongings, especially on public transit and in crowded places. Don’t carry valuables in your back pockets. Instead, put them in a front pocket where you are more likely to notice them. Carry bags, like purses, on the front of your body as well.
- Plan Your Travels/Know Where You Are Going – Try to avoid looking like a lost tourist. Obvious tourists, especially those who look lost, attract unwanted attention. Anything you can do to blend in with the local population is helpful.
- Don’t Flaunt Valuables – This will be a more difficult one for many given the definition of valuables in Colombia. Colombia is a much more financially poor country than most western countries like the United States. Therefore, items like a DSLR camera, a smartphone, or a nice watch are extremely valuable in Colombia. Thieves target these enticing items when they are exposed. Obviously, you can take out a phone in public, just be purposeful in its use and don’t leave it out for extended periods of time.
- Avoid Sketchy Areas (and Most Areas at Night) – Understand what the safe neighborhoods are and stick to those areas. Many areas that are perfectly safe for tourists during the day aren’t as safe after nightfall. Take extra care at night as criminals are more emboldened under the cover of night.
- Leave Valuables in the Hotel Room – If you keep your eyes on your belongings, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Bottom Line
Colombia has earned a reputation for not being a safe country. Unfortunately, this was true for the lifespans of most people alive today. However, in recent years, Colombia has made great strides to turn this around. In fact, many of the most popular and tourist cities are statistically safer than many major cities of first world countries. Therefore, with the right planning, precautions, and common sense, most people can have a safe and successful vacation to this emerging South American country.
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