Colombia Safety: How Dangerous Is a Vacation in Colombia?

How dangerous is Colombia?

Colombia doesn’t exactly have the best reputation when it comes to safety. “Isn’t a vacation in Colombia dangerous?” was a question we got a lot before our trip.

We were actually a bit surprised by how safe we felt in Colombia. Unlike Brazil, for example, we walked around a lot and only rarely felt uncomfortable.

That said, Colombia is not as safe as most travel destinations in Europe. It’s still a country where poverty and crime are real factors.

The most dangerous areas are non-tourist neighborhoods in major cities and border regions with countries like Ecuador and Venezuela. Small beach or mountain villages, on the other hand, are generally very safe.

Also read our safety tips for South America

Is Colombia safe for tourists?

Colombia has undergone an impressive transformation and tourism is on the rise. A lot has been — and continues to be — invested in tourist areas, making them genuinely safe to visit today. Drug trafficking and crime are far less prevalent than you might expect.

As a tourist, you won’t encounter much of Colombia’s crime scene. It tends to happen in places you simply won’t be going. So on a vacation, you’ll get to know the country from its good side far more than its bad.

Smaller tourist spots like Salento, Palomino, and Tayrona National Park are especially safe.

Safety in major cities

Major cities like Medellín, Santa Marta, Bogotá, and Cartagena are more dangerous than smaller towns — but it really depends on which part of the city you’re in. Tourist areas during the day are totally fine to walk around. Poorer and more rundown neighborhoods are a different story.

In busy areas, keep a very close eye on your valuables and bags to avoid getting pickpocketed.

At night, major cities are almost universally more dangerous. That’s when you skip walking the streets and take a taxi instead.

What does crime against tourists look like in Colombia?

Crime against tourists mainly takes three forms: theft, robbery, and being drugged with illegal substances.

The mildest form is theft. This is when valuables are stolen from your bag, often without you noticing. Theft is most common in tourist areas. Another typical scenario is a motorcyclist snatching your phone right out of your hand while you’re casually scrolling on it.

Far worse are robberies. In these situations, you’re threatened with a weapon like a knife. The robbers generally don’t want to hurt you — they’re after your valuables. Don’t argue; just hand them over. Robberies in Colombia typically happen in deserted areas and at night.

Another tactic is slipping knockout drops into drinks at bars or nightclubs — mixed into your drink without you noticing. A common approach is for someone to invite you for a drink and spike it beforehand.

Also read our travel tips for Colombia

Rules of conduct for Colombia

You can protect yourself from most dangers in Colombia quite effectively. A few simple precautions will dramatically reduce the chances of anything happening to you.

Never leave your bags unattended

Every tourist — truly every tourist — knows they should keep a close eye on their belongings. And yet theft still happens constantly. It often strikes when you least expect it.
So remember: Even when you feel completely safe, don’t get careless — always keep an eye on your bags.

Specific examples and tips:

• At restaurants, don’t just set your backpack down next to your chair.
• At Colombia’s beaches, don’t go into the water and leave your bags unattended on your towel.
• On buses, wear your backpack on your front, not your back.
• On overnight buses, don’t put your bags in the overhead compartment.

Always keep your valuables close

You need to be especially careful with your valuables. We recommend carrying them in a money belt or fanny pack worn close to your body. Don’t put your wallet or phone in your backpack or pants pocket — both can easily be lifted from there.

Leave some of your valuables at your accommodation

In general, don’t walk around with too many valuables on you. Only bring what you actually need for sightseeing in Colombia: cash, a credit card, your phone, and an ID.

For example, we always leave our passports at the accommodation and carry a photo of them instead — that’s usually enough. To be safe, we bring a national ID card as a backup.

We also travel with two credit cards and leave one at the hotel. That way, if something does get stolen, we’re not left completely stranded.

Always take a taxi or Didi at night

The first three tips mainly protect you from theft. But even more important is avoiding robbery altogether — because then it’s not just your stuff that’s gone, you’re also dealing with a frightening physical confrontation.

The risk of being robbed is highest at night. Streets are quieter and in the dark it’s easier for attackers to go unnoticed. So don’t walk the streets at night, and skip public transportation too.

Take a taxi or a Didi (a rideshare app similar to Uber) even for short distances. They’re cheap and take you door to door.

Don't walk down deserted streets

You can also be robbed in broad daylight. The danger lurks in places where there’s almost no one else around — criminals take advantage of this because no one can come to your aid. Stay away from deserted streets or empty squares, and always stick to areas where there are plenty of other people.

This isn’t necessary everywhere in Colombia, though. Some places are genuinely very safe, where you can wander through quieter areas without worry — Barichara, Salento, and the Cocora Valley are great examples.

Our tip: Always ask at your accommodation how safe the surrounding area is. They’ll give you a real sense of how secure the neighborhood actually is.

Don't accept drinks from strangers

Being drugged with knockout drops is not uncommon in Colombia. Only accept drinks from a bartender or server — not from people you’ve just met. That way you can be sure no one is spiking your drink.

Never let your drink out of your sight

Don’t set your drink down on a random surface at a club to go dancing, and don’t leave it unattended on a table either. The simple rule: keep it in your hand in front of you at all times.

Stay in a safe neighborhood

In cities, the difference between districts can be enormous — everything from upscale neighborhoods to slums can exist just streets apart. The safety situation varies accordingly.

Before your trip, find out which districts are safe to stay in. For some of Colombia’s most popular destinations, we’ve put together our accommodation recommendations.

Traveling solo as a woman in Colombia

Colombia is not dramatically more dangerous for women than it is for men. When it comes to robbery or theft, criminals don’t really care about gender — it’s about the money.

Knockout drops are also used on both men and women. We were genuinely surprised by how many stories we heard about men being drugged too.

As a solo female traveler, however, you’ll deal more with catcalls on the street, uncomfortable stares, and unwanted come-ons. Honestly, we didn’t notice it anywhere near as strongly in any other country in South America as we did in Colombia.

As a foreign woman, you stand out a lot in Colombia. Without exaggerating, in some places you’ll be approached on the street every few minutes and have kissy faces blown at you — and people will be staring pretty much constantly.

This isn’t just annoying — it’ll also make you feel uncomfortable. After a while you get used to it and learn to let it roll off you. The good news is that it usually stays at looks and comments — we never witnessed men becoming overly pushy or physical.

Our tip: Stay calm, take the situations in stride, and keep a sense of humor. If someone approaches you, don’t completely ignore them — politely decline instead. Otherwise, they may become even more persistent.

Dangerous animals in Colombia

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and accordingly there are a number of dangerous animals. That said, it’s very unlikely you’ll encounter them on your trip — most live deep in the rainforest.

Here are a few examples of dangerous animals in Colombia:

• Mosquitoes: These are the ones to be most cautious about, as they can transmit a number of diseases. Always carry mosquito repellent and cover up with long clothing in the evenings.
• Snakes: There are a very large number of venomous snakes in Colombia, typically living in the jungle. As a tourist, you’ll probably only see them if you’re actively looking.
• Frogs: Most frogs in Colombia are harmless. However, a few are poisonous — like the poison dart frog in the Pacific zone. To be safe, don’t touch any frogs.
• Spiders: There are many spiders in Colombia. Almost all of them are harmless.
• Sharks: There are sharks off Colombia’s coast, and diving tours with sharks are offered. Shark attacks, however, are rare.
• Big cats (e.g. jaguars, ocelots): Very unlikely to spot — they’re shy around humans.

The jungle is where you’re most likely to come across dangerous animals. Here are a few tips that are especially useful if you’re spending the night in the rainforest:

• Place your shoes upside down so no animals crawl inside.
• Use plenty of mosquito repellent and sleep under mosquito nets.
• Don’t walk around in the dark — always carry a flashlight.
• Always stay on marked trails.

Natural disasters in Colombia

Colombia sits in a seismically active zone. Earthquakes are not uncommon, so it’s entirely possible you’ll experience a small one. Most cause no damage at all — only six destructive earthquakes have been recorded in the last 150 years.

Colombia also has 14 active volcanoes, all in the Andean region. Volcanic eruptions are rare and are usually triggered by an earthquake — but not always.

Another potential risk is tsunamis. Tidal waves aren’t a regular occurrence, but the risk does exist. The most vulnerable areas are the Pacific coast and Caribbean islands like San Andrés.

Further natural hazards include hurricanes and tropical storms, with the greatest danger along the Caribbean islands and the Atlantic coast — though the Pacific side isn’t immune either.

The most common natural hazard in Colombia is heavy rainfall, which can lead to flooding and landslides. When it’s raining hard, try to stay indoors as much as possible.