Yes it is safe to travel to Colombia; in fact I haven’t experienced any unsafe moment in the whole 4 weeks that I traveled through Colombia. In this travel blog tips, inspirations and information to stay safe in Colombia, South America.
Please check the current situation of a country with your local embassy, or in the Neterlands we have an app where we can see situation by color. Red is a no go and yellow is fine. This is also important for your travel insurance!
How to Travel Safe in Colombia
I am a women traveling by myself, so you could say a bit vulnerable….but not at all. Of course I am an experienced and cautious traveler. For example pay attention to your belongings in the buses and taxis. Don’t show and bring all your valuables when you are walking through the city. But on the other hand, how could I make these awesome pictures? Indeed I carried my smart camera wherever I went. Please check my separate blog on how to travel safe in general here.
Colombia has a violent history we cannot ignore that. Drug cartels and military caused a lot of scars in the mind and bodies of people and created damage to the building and rest of the country. You could literally see the pain and harm that the country has been trough. But despite all of this the people are so positive and friendly; they welcome you with open arms! We “the tourists” are the evidence that the country is going into the right direction and opened up for tourism.
Some Safe Tips
- Don’t wear all your jewelry and expensive watches on you, don’t show off with your wealth.
- Don’t behave vulnerable or drunk; for them you look like an easy target!
- Be carful walking the streets at night, ask around and use your common sense what streets and places are safe to walk. I always ask in the hotels when and where its safe to walk.
- Try to dress properly and don’t show too much skin…. it’s Latin America don’t forget that!!
- Never put your bag in the overhead luggage during you travel; always on your lap or underneath your legs on the ground. When you are asleep; they will try to get in.
- Put locks on your bags; I always use number locks of good quality the bigger the hurdle the less chance they get in. I even lock my bags in my hotel when I leave for a day or tour: gives me better feeling.
To conclude, just pay attention and show confidence that will help a lot. I did not go to the border areas; I travelled the main and touristy places. During my traveling I haven’t heard any stories from other travelers that were robbed or attacked anywhere. Just keep using your common sense!
