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- Ultimate Guide to Safety in Colombia
Whenever I tell somebody who doesn’t know me that I live in Colombia, the usual response is normally the same — that there isn’t a lot of safety in Colombia
“Colombia eh? Don’t they have drugs there? Isn’t it dangerous?”
In a more funny sense, some people have actually asked if I am “scared of Pablo Escobar.”
Well, I do believe in ghosts, so it would be unfortunate if Pablo Escobar’s ghost started haunting me….
But in all seriousness, safety in Colombia is one of the primary concerns that any person would have when it comes to traveling to Colombia
On the other hand, I have also met some folks who have traveled to Colombia who like to say that “it is so safe here, nothing to worry about”
Well….that’s not so true either
The reality is somewhere in between to be honest in that there is danger here but that it is not likely something bad will happen to you
It’s important to not be delusional or paranoid about safety in Colombia
And throughout this website, you will find several different articles that explain some of the specific scams that happen here that come with advice on how to be safe
However, I believe it is important to also have a broader overview of safety in Colombia
So that way you can have a better understanding of the security situation in this country and know how to better protect yourself if you ever decide to visit
So let’s get started….
Broad Security Situation with Safety in Colombia
In this section, some broad information about the overall security situation will be provided.
First, it is well known that Colombia has had historically for many decades issues with domestic terrorist and drugtrafficking organizations.
Some of the more notable ones include the FARC and the ELA.
There were ongoing efforts to bring about peace between the Colombian government and the FARC
Which resulted in a peace agreement
All good, right?
Not entirely
There are still plenty of armed groups in Colombia that refuse to demobilize
For example, one of the more active groups is called El Clan de Golfo, which is one of the more powerful drug cartels in Colombia right now
And bombings still occur occasionally
For example, 3 people, including a French woman, were killed in a bombing at a mall in Bogota in 2017
Another 8 were killed at a bombing at a police academy in Bogota in 2019
At the same time, incidents of kidnappings and other crimes occur all the time in different parts of Colombia
Taking all of this into account personally, it should also be said that I have seen crime myself in Colombia
Fortunately…
I have never seen a bomb occur here and have never been kidnapped
Mostly related to muggings and theft after all the time spent in this country
And of all the friends I have in Colombia, all of them that I can think of right now have never been violently hurt and only had stuff stolen occasionally
So while you should keep into consideration the broader security situation absolutely…
It is not likely to impact you as directly unless you are getting involved in shady things down here like buying or selling drugs
Definitely be cautious down here and be aware of your surroundings but keep in mind that the broader security in Colombia has improved drastically from decades before
For more specific information on the broader security situation, I’d also recommend to always check the latest updates by the US State Department
What Causes Trouble
Back when I was younger, I met a Canadian down here who was named Darrell
He was an active traveler and had spent considerable time in Latin America
One thing he mentioned often was that “90% of the people he met who had gotten themselves in trouble in Latin America were drunk at the time.”
Now, in my own experience, I wouldn’t say 90% necessarily but the idea behind that statement is absolutely true
So many people get into trouble or some bad situation because they had too much to drink down here
And as we discuss how to safety in Colombia, it is absolutely important to understand how to avoid putting yourself in a bad situation
In my experience living in Latin America, almost everybody who has gotten into trouble down here got into trouble because of….
The Main Reasons Why Foreigners Get Into Trouble in Colombia
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Pussy
- GettingInvolved in Something Shady
- Lackof Preparation
- Lackof Awareness of Surroundings
- Lackof Common Sense
- BadLuck
- PoliticalIssues
- Corruption
Let’s break that down….
First: Alcohol, Drugs, Pussy and Something Shady
All of this can be thrown together and doesn’t need much explanation.
Basically, you have people who have gotten too drunk for example
Or people who get themselves into shady situations looking to buy drugs
Maybe they get into trouble after already consuming drugs
Maybe the trouble comes from buying from the wrong person
Or the cops show up
Whatever it may be
And getting into shady situations where you are just doing something illegal anyway obviously brings more risk
Then there is pussy
I have never seen a foreign woman come down to Colombia looking for dick
I’m sure it happens with some but I just haven’t seen it
Plenty of men though come to Colombia looking for casual sex or someone to marry and have a long term relationship with
Nothing wrong with either one
After all, I encourage it to some degree as it can be a lot of fun and bring more happiness to your life
However, you have to be careful
As mentioned elsewhere on this website, some shady people get a chick to flirt with a guy and try to bring him into a dangerous situation with the false promise of having sex
More often is the case that the woman in question is making herself too easy and the guy is often either drunk or desperate
Which makes him easy to hit and steal money from
So always watch your drink when with a new woman (or anyone) and always be cautious with women who make themselves too easy
Most of the time they just want sex but every once in a while there’s a guy out there who gets scammed by a woman promising sex….
But leaving him with an empty bank account
So be careful when choosing to look for something casual or serious down here with a Colombian woman
Second: Lack of Preparation
Very simple – sometimes people just are not prepared for their trip.
I met one guy for example who didn’t know which neighborhoods to avoid in Bogota
Ended up in a bad neighborhood from what he told me and got robbed
Just do your basic research
Third: Lack of Awareness of Your Surroundings
You should always be aware of your surroundings.
For example, I met a Canadian guy a long time ago named John
A tall young guy who was in college back when I was studying abroad in Barranquilla
He was having a meal outside with some people he met and some other foreigners at a restaurant
When suddenly he noticed his backpack was gone
Some guy had snatched it when he didn’t notice
The backpack had, in his own words, easily over a $1,000 in electronics in it
A laptop, his phone, some other things
In other cases, I have heard stories of criminals approaching people sitting down at a café or restaurant
In order to talk with you or whatever and simply snatching something from you when you don’t notice
And walk away like nothing happened
In another case, I was walking down the street in Bogota about a few years ago when I saw some guy looking a friend’s backpack in a weird way
Like he was planning on taking it or robbing him in some way
And that happens
And my friend didn’t notice but I warned him
So fortunately nothing happened to him but he wasn’t aware of his surroundings when he needed to
Therefore, a lot of problems can be taken care of if you are just aware of your surroundings
Fourth: Lack of Common Sense
You walk into a bad neighborhood at midnight with a thousand dollars in your pockets and an expensive phone in hand for all to see
Some girl you don’t even know is promising you sex IN YOUR CITY RIGHT NOW if you go to some dangerous neighborhood
Some random Colombian approaches you promising something great and too good to be true
Among so many other scenarios…
Just use common sense
If whatever you are about to do just seems plain stupid or whatever you are being told is too good to be true….
Just use your head and use common sense
So any problems could be avoided doing this
Fifth: Bad Luck
You are walking down a completely normal street that isn’t known for crime or anything
With very little on you and not much to steal
It’s not too late at night
And you are not drunk or on drugs
And you are not making bad decisions because of desperation to get laid or lack of common sense
Completely aware of your surroundings
Then you turn the corner
And…..
Someone on a motorcycle drives up to you and another guy gets off with a gun pointed at your face
Give him everything you got or die!
Well, shit….
Sometimes bad luck just happens when it comes to motorcycle thieves — as I described in greater detail in this article
Sixth: Political Issues
This is very rarely the case for most foreigners that come here
However, I have met the occasional foreigner who comes here to be an activist and work with local Colombians when it comes to protests or to support whatever political cause
If you get involved in political issues down here, you can set yourself up for problems by making some random Colombian angry
Someone who disagrees with you or whatever else
Most of you won’t have this problem but the rare foreigner here and there who I have met did have problems with the cops when working with local activists here
Additionally, some foreigners will visit Colombia and happen to stumble across a protest happening here
They may not have had plans to participate in the protest but they are curious as to what is happening
So they stick around and then things get chaotic and some of them end up getting hurt by the chaotic scene
So I’d recommend you avoid protests all together and try not to get involved in the politics of this country personally
Seventh: Corruption
As outlined elsewhere on this website, sometimes a cop is going to mess with you because he needs a bribe
If you are spending limited time in Colombia, this is not likely to be an issue
However, for those thinking of living here long term, you will eventually bribe a cop
I’ve done it multiple times now and it just comes with living down here
Usually about 5 to 10 bucks is more than enough to pay off a bribe.
Safety in Colombia Tips
Having identified some of the main reasons for why foreigners get into trouble….
What are some general safety in Colombia tips that will help you stay safe with everything else mentioned kept in mind?
Safety in Colombia Tip 1: Learn Spanish
You don’t have to speak Spanish fluently to have fun here and avoid trouble
However, the more Spanish you speak, the better off you will be
For example, it will be easier to negotiate with the police here on how much to pay for a bribe if they target you
In my experience, the police respect more a foreigner who speaks their language to some degree and will assume you mighthave more experience in Colombia
Which means you might have a better understanding of how much a person would normally pay in a bribe
Among other reasons, speaking some Spanish can help you in this situation
Additionally, you may find yourself lost in some part of a city here
Speaking Spanish will help you get help with someone who can give you directions that you need
And given that these are just a few of the situations you may find yourself in, it is clear that speaking some Spanish canbe very helpful in staying safe
Safety in Colombia Tip 2: ATM Issues
Some of the ATMs here have been tampered with. To increase the chance that nothing happens to you, avoid ATMs that are on deserted streets.
Additionally, try avoiding taking out money at night if possible since it can be riskier
In my experience, ATMs in large and well known malls (especially those with security guards at the exits) can be very reliable.
Safety in Colombia Tip 3: Don’t Be A Hero
Someone pulls a gun or knife on you and demands your money.
Don’t try fighting back.
In most cases, people who fight back tend to get very hurt and many times killed
Over what is maybe 20 bucks in their wallet
Just hand the money over if they want your money and move on
Your life is more valuable
Safety in Colombia Tip 4: Have a Throw Down Wallet and Burner Phone
When out in public, limit how much money you carry on person in case you are robbed.
So have nothing more than 50 bucks let’s say
There really isn’t any reason why you need more than 50 bucks
Additionally, have about 10 of those dollars in your shoe or hidden somewhere like that
So if you get robbed and need a taxi, you still got some money to get back to your place
On top of that, avoid taking with you your expensive cell phone out in public
Instead…
Get a burner phone and carry that with you out in public
In another article I wrote, you can check out in greater detail why a burner phone is important to buy in Colombia
A burner phone costs maybe around 25 bucks and isn’t as bad to lose as something more expensive
Also, make sure you get some minutes on that burner phone so you can make emergency calls when necessary to the US Embassy in Colombia, family or friends or anyone else
Safety in Colombia Tip 5: Make Friends
For those spending a few months here or more, it will be easier to make local Colombian friends and meet other foreigners as well who have lived here for some time
Make friends with them!
They will be able to give you updated advice on how to stay safe in the specific city you are in
With more updated information on the security situation of where you are at
Plus they are more likely to speak Spanish than you perhaps and can navigate a situation better in Colombia
Safety in Colombia Tip 6: Avoid Taxis From the Street
There are apps in Colombia for a taxi like Cabify.
When getting a taxi from the street, you are more at risk that it could be someone looking to rob someone
Although in my years living here I generally have had no problem with most taxis I have taken from the street….
I have had some and have known others who have had problems
So to minimize your risk, I’d suggest avoiding those from the street and looking for a more professional taxi company that you can contact or use an app like Cabify
Safety in Colombia Tip 7: Passport Advice
You will want to have some ID on you at all times
However, avoid having your physical passport on you and leave that at your hotel or apartment
And carry with you a copy of your passport
A copy will work fine and you will still have your actual passport safe somewhere else in case you get robbed outside
Safety in Colombia Tip 8: Only Use Reputable Companies
If you are traveling to Colombia to enjoy some of the tourism here, make sure to only use reputable companies that have a history of satisfaction with their previous clients.
So shop around and make sure that who you are dealing with is legt
Safety in Colombia Tip 9: Stay in Touch
If you are here on short term plans, let others know your itinerary in case something happens.
That way someone else can inform the US embassy if something happens and nobody knows where you are
Which will make it easier for authorities to respond to a situation and help you in case of an emergency
Safety in Colombia Tip 10: Have Everything Written Down
Make sure to have at least the following written down on a piece of paper to be kept in your wallet:
- Address and phone number of US Embassy
- Name, location and phone number of the hotel or apartment you are staying at
Common Scams
Finally, there are some common scams you should avoid while in Colombia. Some of them are specific and some of them are broad.
To be safe here, avoid the following.
Scam 1: Overcharged
In Colombia, it is very common that people will try to overcharge you for everything
Compared to other countries in Latin America, Colombia is one of the worst I have been to when it comes to the localpopulation always trying to rip you off
So here are some basic tips on avoiding this issue:
- Do your research on what the local price is for what you are buying
- Avoid making purchases in touristy areas as much as possible. Prices will be higher there and there are more scammers there.
- Don’t buy in USD. Should be obvious but some of the street vendors might quote you in USD in hopes of getting more money since USD is a more valuable currency.
- Speak more Spanish – the more you speak, the better you can negotiate.
- Have a Colombian negotiate – they will be more likely to be charged a “normal” price
More Tips…
- Avoid vendors without previously written prices. If the vendor has the price written down on the product, it is not likely they changed the price the second they saw you walking to them. It’s most likely what they would charge anyone. If they don’t have a written down price, I prefer to not do business if possible. The only exception is if the vendor was yelling out the price into thin air before I even approached them. In that case, they are telling everyone in the area the price and not just you.
- If they try doing the deal with you in English, it’s more often the case in my experience that they are trying to rip you off. Not always but that has been the more likely scenario.
- Before you purchase or use their service, make sure you repeat the agreed upon price and the service offered to them and have them repeat it to you.
- As said before, if the deal is too good to be true, it’s more likely that it is and they are trying to scam you.
- Have a walk away price. If the price is below that, walk away.
Scam 2: The “Fake Currency”
In some cases, bad taxi drivers will claim that the bill you gave them is “fake” and they will call the cops if you don’t give them a non fake bill.
I’ve only had that happen once to me – I told the guy to kick rocks and call the cops then. I told him I knew what he was doing and we argued.
However, I walked out and nothing happened.
I assumed the guy thought I was new to the country and would be scared of his BS.
Though I’m not sure my approach would work for everyone, it did for me
Just another scam to keep in mind anyway
Scam 3: Plainclothes Police
This is where a criminal approaches you claiming to be working for the police and needs to inspect your passport or money.
Similar to the bad taxi driver, they might claim the money is fake and take it
In this case, don’t give them anything and demand to speak with a real police officer or get the attention of the nearest one to you.
Scam 4: Exchanging Money on the Street
In some cases, there are people on the street who offer to exchange money for you.
People who are completely unprofessional and claiming to have something legit for you to exchange money
And then they give you counterfeit money or have a missing banknote…
Among other issues that could happen
Just don’t bring lots of money with you on person when you enter Colombia and withdraw from an ATM in my opinion
Scam 5: The Taxi Meter
In some cases, a taxi driver will have a modified meter where he presses a button to increase the price on the meter. Again, tell the guy to kick rocks and pay what the rate likely would have been in my opinion.
Scam 6: Distracting You
Basically someone tries to distract you while someone else steals from you
Or the person tries to steal from you personally
For example, you could be sitting at a restaurant with your phone on your table
You are not paying much attention to your valuables and the person places a brochure or something on the table over the phone
Takes the phone, talks with you about what they are offering and then leaves when you are done talking with them
Another case would be some guy accidentally spills something on you like ketchup
Then offers to clean it up as part of his effort to distract you while someone else pickpockets you or steals something from you
And that’s just two examples. It’s the same idea anyway. Distract and steal
So just be knowledgeable of what is happening around you and your belongings so you can protect your safety in Colombia
Scam 7: Scopolamine (the Devil’s Breath)
This is basically a drug that many have reported in the news
In which some criminal in Colombia drugs you to steal your stuff or even sexually assaults or rapes the victim
You can really broaden this threat to the risk from drugs in general
But given how much has been written about scopolamine, it should be written about in its own context
The precautions to be taken here are the same either way regardless of what type of drug is used…
- Such as always watching what you drink
- Do not accept food or drinks from strangers or people you just met and shouldn’t trust well
- Have someone know where you are always
- Go out at night in a larger group so that more people can notice something is wrong if something happens
- Get medical assistance afterwards if you believe that you have been drugged
Scam 8: Careful of What You Buy
Sometimes people on the street in touristy areas will try to sell you some piece of jewelry or something that they claim to be very nice and real
When, in reality, it isn’t what they say it is
So be careful and very cautious with buying something claimed to be very valuable in the street
How many street vendors do you know that have a legit Rolex watch to sell at a “too good to be true” price just for you because they like you?
Could that sound like anymore of a scam?
Scam 9: The Surprise Prostitute
When enjoying nightlife down here and looking for fun with Colombian women, you will very rarely encounter a woman who didn’t tell you she is a prostitute.
Remember that prostitution is legal in Colombia
So what happens is you meet a nice chick who is very attractive
And she seems much easier than normal
You take her back to your place and then either 1 of 2 things happen:
Your pants are down and you are ready to have sex but she insists on having some money right then before sex happens when you are excited and horny already
Or she will insist on having money after the sex is over without having told you she wants money
These chicks will not say of course that they want money “because of the sex.”
Instead, they will say that they need money for their kid being a single mother or whatever else
Something to pull at your heart strings
If you say no, they will threaten to call the cops
I knew just a few guys, one of them being Colombian, which experienced this
Keep in mind that most Colombian chicks are obviously not like this and this experience is very rare in my opinion
My advice for avoiding this is to be cautious with chicks that seem to be so easy that it’s unbelievable
Or chicks that seem very “low quality” and look like they are dressed up in a very sexual way already
Also, I’d imagine that a chick that is doing this is not likely to want to spend a few dates with you where sex didn’t happen and where she didn’t steal money from you
So perhaps making her wait for sex until the 2nd date would work
Or if you want sex on the first date, making sure the first date lasts some odd hours before you intend to have sex could be an option
Again, I’d doubt a girl pulling this scam is going to want to spend too much time with you when she could be stealing money from someone else in a shorter time period
Scam 10: Credit Card Info
In one case, I met another American here who told me about how he had his credit card info stolen while spending time in Colombia.
He didn’t have proof as to who stole it but suspected that it was a taxi driver who had him pay the taxi ride with a credit card
But after putting in the PIN, he saw a “rejection” message for the transaction and paid with cash after
Which, by the way, is a scam that I have heard happens here while in Colombia
His case was the only one that I know personally where someone claims that it happened to them
But I have heard some local Colombian friends confirm it to me that it happens
So in short, be careful with who you give your credit card info to
No taxi guys preferably and nobody who you cannot trust
Because I guarantee you that it’s not just the taxi drivers stealing credit card info down here
Scam 11: Fake Emergency
This scam is basically where someone calls your phone and they claim that they have one of your loved ones held hostage….
And they need lots of money or else something happens!
I’ve had it happen once to me and nothing happened
If you are living here short term without a Colombian phone number, it’s not likely to happen to you
Something to worry about when living here long term when you want to protect your safety in Colombia
Scam 12: Venezuelan Crime
As written elsewhere on this website, there has been an increase in crime by Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia.
Given the fact that there are over 1.3 million Venezuelans living in Colombia, some of them are in desperate situation andneed money.
As a result, many have resorted to crime.
Though this isn’t a specific scam and though most Venezuelans do not commit crime in Colombia…
This is something that needs mentioning when talking about crime in Colombia as it has become a notable issue for the country.
Scam 13: Express Kidnapping
Basically someone kidnaps you and forces you to withdraw money at an ATM.
Just comply with it. Your life is more valuable than the money that they will steal.
Scam 14: The Motorcycle Thieves
This is basically where two guys on a motorcycle drive up to you in which one of them has a gun and threatens to kill you if you don’t give up your stuff.
Like before, just give up what they want and move on.
Scam 15: Taxi Driver & Criminals
Again with the evil taxi drivers!
As written about elsewhere in this website in more detail, some taxi drivers will work with other criminals to rob you.
Basically they will invite others into the taxi during the ride
Or the taxi driver informs someone else by phone about where they are taking you
And that someone else is waiting for you at your destination with a gun
In this case, try to avoid taxis from the street as said before
And if this happens to you, then bad luck. Give up your stuff and move on.
Scam 16: Hiking Tour Scam
In one incident, I met an Australian couple here in Colombia who traveled to Colombia to mostly do a bunch of hiking
When visiting the Lost City, they had their mule driver increase the price of his service at some point during the trip
At which point, the mule driver told them to pay more or tough luck to them
This apparently is not a scam just associated with the Lost City but with remote hiking tours in general
Where basically your tour company tells you to pay more money at some point during the hiking tour when you are already in the middle of nowhere
Or they just steal from you there
Nothing much you can do here except negotiate and pay
Or ideally do your research ahead of time on which companies do this to avoid this issue
Scam 17: Night Bus Issues
Not really a scam here but just a danger
In this case, taking a night bus in Colombia can sometimes be dangerous because the night busses can be robbed
Driving in Colombia during the night is generally more dangerous so be careful with this one
Scam 18: Local Bank Insecurities
For those planning on living in Colombia long term, you may be tempted to get a local bank account with some Colombian bank.
However, you may want to rethink that
One major difference between an American and a Colombian bank is the amount of consumer protection you have
For example, one time someone somehow got access to my debit card and made a purchase without my knowledge
I called my bank, which is based in the US, and they reimbursed me on the money without problem and in a short time period
However, that is much less likely to happen in Colombia
As reported in the news online, there have been cases of foreigners having bank accounts with a Colombian bank
And then someone steals their money somehow and the bank refuses to reimburse them
As reported by The Bogota Post, this happened to one guy from New Zealand living down here
And the thing is, the bank didn’t even take into account his client history and suspect that the large withdraw of money from his bank account may be suspicious
And aside from the reporting that exists online about this issue, I have met an elderly couple who retired here in Colombia that had this exact issue
Someone stole a lot of their money that they put into a Colombian bank….
And the Colombian bank had very little consumer protections put in place and couldn’t reimburse them
Point being…
I’d avoid putting significant money into a Colombian bank account
Maybe just a tiny bit like a few hundred dollars so you have money put elsewhere in case of emergency
With the rest of your money put elsewhere like in an American bank or somewhere else that is reliable and trustworthy
But not much more than that because I don’t believe that you can put a lot of trust into the Colombian banking system from my experience
Scam 19: Apartment Rent/Purchase Scam
For those thinking of living here long term, you may decide to rent an apartment.
However, a few of the people offering apartments to rent are scammers.
Basically, the risks here are going to be similar to countries elsewhere.
Some will try offering a place that doesn’t exist
In other cases, there are folks trying to offer you an apartment that simply isn’t even there’s
Then you pay the money without checking to see if they actually own it and they run off with your money while you have no legal right to the property you thought you purchased
Others will try to get you to pay something up front with that like a deposit
Just make sure you do your research, trust your instincts, insist on having a contract to sign and keep any evidence you canuse in case something happens.
Scam 20: The Online Love Scam
This scam is basically some chick will claim she loves you very quickly or is showing way too much interest within a very short time period.
Afterwards, despite you never having met her in person most likely, she will insist on you sending her a few hundred dollars.
It might be for her kid
Or perhaps she needs money to go to a “beauty salon” because she is your girl now and you want your girl looking good right?
Or whatever her excuse is
Basic rule here – if she is asking for money, just forget about her and move on.
Final Thoughts
Although it is clear that there are plenty of scams in Colombia, you can be well protected if you follow all of the advice given in this very long article.
In which you can also have safety in Colombia while spending time here
As said before, do not be delusional nor paranoid about your trip to Colombia.
And also make sure to prepare yourself as well. Though Colombia is safe enough to visit, you should perhaps buy some protective items. For example, a money belt or a theft proof backpack both work well.
It is a great country with much to offer as long as you know how to protect your safety in Colombia
If you have any questions or insight of your own regarding safety in Colombia, let me know below in the comment section.
And if interested, check out this article to better understand how Colombia’s crime impacts the dating scene here
Have a great trip!
Hasta luegoparceros,
Seth
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