Is Colombia Safe to Visit? 10 Safety Rules We Swear By

Last updated 13.10.2026

Is Colombia safe? It is the first thing friends asked us before we left and the first thing they asked when we got back. We love places that are not yet overrun with travellers, and Colombia, with its colonial towns, rainforests and Caribbean beaches, is one of our favourites. It is also a country with a lot of poverty, and that shows in the crime figures. Muggings, theft and robbery happen every day. Below you will find what we learned in five weeks on the road, the areas the UK government tells you to stay away from, how not to get robbed in Colombia, and 10 safety rules we would follow again on our next trip.

Did we feel safe in Colombia?

Short answer: yes. Nothing bad happened to us and we never had a really nasty experience, but that does not mean nothing can happen to you. You need to stick to a few rules if you want to avoid trouble, and most of them are about common sense rather than fear.

People come for the landscapes, the turquoise Caribbean, the high Andes and the warmth of the Colombians themselves. As Colombia opens up to tourism, the authorities are working hard to keep visitors safe, so you will see police on almost every corner. In Bogotá and other big cities there is also a dedicated tourist police force (Policía de Turismo), mostly around the sights and in the historic centres.

TIP: The most beautiful places in Colombia, some of which look like another planet

Colombia’s dark history in a nutshell

When people picture danger in Colombia, they usually think of armed robbery, theft and violence. Sadly, all three are still possible in some parts of the country. Bear in mind that the armed conflict here lasted more than half a century and in remote areas it has never fully ended. Plenty of locals own guns. Even we managed to wander into a part of Medellín that I would never want to see again, and that tourists should simply avoid.

Some context: from the 1960s, the left-wing guerrillas of the FARC and the ELN fought the state, right-wing paramilitary groups fought them, and the drug cartels operated in between. The Medellín cartel fell apart after Pablo Escobar was killed in 1993, and the Cali cartel collapsed shortly afterwards. The real turning point was the 2016 peace deal with the FARC, after which tourists started coming back in large numbers. The violence did not disappear completely, though. In the countryside the ELN, FARC splinter groups and criminal organisations still fight over the cocaine trade and illegal gold mining. These conflicts rarely touch tourists, because they play out far from the places most visitors go. That is why the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) warns against specific regions rather than the whole country.

The one time we were scared

In five whole weeks we had no serious problems. Of course people tried to rip us off several times (wrong change, inflated prices, and once someone pressed up behind us trying to get into a backpack), but apart from one moment we always felt safe.

That moment came in Medellín, when we found ourselves walking down a street full of rubbish with people lying in it, and we honestly could not tell whether they were still alive. All around us was a huge street market selling stolen goods and drugs. The smell of (hopefully) dead animals was everywhere. All we could think about was how to get out of there as fast as possible.

Anyone who has travelled around South America without incident will tell you it is fine. People who were robbed tell a different story. The way we see it, there is always some risk, everywhere, and the one thing you can control is how well you prepare.

TIP: What to see in Medellín and what to watch out for

Is Colombia safe to visit right now? UK travel advice

The FCDO travel advice for Colombia does not advise against travel to the country as a whole, but it does advise against all but essential travel to a number of border and remote regions. In the rest of Colombia, which includes all the usual tourist spots, the main risk is street crime: the FCDO says pickpocketing, mugging and armed robbery are a problem in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and on the Caribbean coast, and illegal armed groups are active in many rural areas.

The areas the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to include:

• The border with Venezuela: the whole of Norte de Santander (including Cúcuta and the Catatumbo region) and Arauca, the municipality of Puerto Carreño in Vichada, and anywhere within 5 km of the rest of the border.
• The border with Ecuador: areas within 5 km of the border (except Popayán, Ipiales and the Rumichaca crossing) and several municipalities in Putumayo.
• The Pacific coast and the Panama border: most of Chocó (except Quibdó, Nuquí, Bahía Solano and Capurganá), western Valle del Cauca including Buenaventura, the Pacific regions of Nariño, plus Urabá and Bajo Cauca in Antioquia and southern Córdoba.
• Remote parts of the interior: southern Bolívar, Guaviare (except San José del Guaviare), parts of Caquetá and the Ariari region of southern Meta (except Caño Cristales).

The classic tourist route (Cartagena, Santa Marta and Tayrona, Medellín, the Coffee Triangle with Salento, and Bogotá) does not go through any of these areas. One thing to watch even in the cities is street protests. They are frequent, often start at short notice, can turn violent and block roads, so if you come across a demonstration, walk around it. The situation changes, so check the FCDO page on Colombia just before you fly and sign up for its email alerts.

How safe is Colombia for tourists? The main risks

Whether a country is safe depends on what kind of risk you have in mind: nature, health or people. So let’s go through them one by one and see what you can actually run into in Colombia.

Health risks and vaccinations for Colombia

Back home you can find a doctor almost anywhere. In Colombia it depends on where you are. The big cities have hospitals and well-equipped private clinics. In the countryside and small villages things are patchier, especially when it comes to finding medicines in pharmacies, so stock up on anything you need, ideally in Bogotá when you arrive. Treatment is paid for on the spot, almost always before you are seen, so do not travel without travel insurance with a high medical limit.

Mosquitoes are the main disease carrier in Colombia and can give you dengue, Zika or chikungunya. The risk is highest on the coast and generally anywhere below about 1,700 metres. Use a strong repellent (ideally one bought in Colombia, because the ones we brought from Europe barely worked) and wear light-coloured, long clothes.

TIP: No vaccinations are compulsory, but hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus are recommended, and yellow fever if you are heading to tropical areas. Depending on your route, it is worth carrying antimalarials. There is now also a vaccine against dengue! Talk to your GP or a travel clinic at least eight weeks before you go.

Do not take yellow fever lightly. Colombia has seen a rise in cases, including in areas where it did not occur before. Because of the declared health emergency, the national parks authority, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, requires proof of vaccination given at least 10 days before entry in some protected areas, including Tayrona National Park. The rule applies until the Colombian health ministry lifts it, so check the current situation before you travel. Also carry your international vaccination certificate when flying on to countries that require yellow fever vaccination.

Altitude is another thing to plan for. Bogotá sits at around 2,600 metres, so on your first day you may feel dizzy or short of breath. Take it slowly, drink plenty of water and leave the beer for later.

Natural disasters in Colombia

Of all natural hazards, the one you are most likely to experience in Colombia is an earthquake. The country lies in a seismically active zone and has 25 active volcanoes, so a tremor or an eruption can happen at practically any time. Northern Colombia is sometimes hit by extreme drought, including in tourist areas, while heavy rain can trigger landslides. In the rainy seasons (roughly April to June and September to November) landslides can close roads for several days. On the Caribbean coast and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia there is also some risk of hurricanes from June to November.

WATCH OUT: be careful on beaches where you plan to swim. Many of them have strong currents that can pull you far out to sea. This applies above all to the unguarded beaches of Tayrona National Park.

Crime in Colombia

Crime is probably the biggest danger you will face in Colombia. Theft, robbery and armed muggings are common. Crime is always higher in the centres of the big cities: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena. Every big city has places tourists should stay out of entirely.

Dangerous areas in Colombia to avoid

Apart from certain neighbourhoods in the big cities, there are whole areas where crime is higher. For example:

• Taganga and around: Taganga is a small town on the Caribbean coast (sadly, a popular base for Tayrona National Park) where tourists are often robbed on the beaches outside town. We did not know this and went to those beaches anyway; luckily nothing happened.
• The Venezuelan border: theft, robbery and roadside traps that force you to stop (a punctured tyre, for example) are common here, as are crowds of poor children begging who will not let a car drive off. Crossing at Cúcuta used to be the recommended route, but the FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the whole border area, so do not plan to cross into Venezuela overland. Areas along the borders with Ecuador and Panama can also be dangerous.
• La Candelaria in Bogotá: La Candelaria is a lovely colonial quarter, but muggings are common after dark, and the FCDO mentions British nationals being robbed at gunpoint here. During the day it is full of tourists and police, so by all means explore it, just do not hang around after nightfall.
• Treks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) can only be visited with a licensed agency. Do not try it on your own.

Other places to avoid include La Macarena National Park and the ports of Buenaventura, Turbo and Tumaco, where armed groups operate.

Some routes can be dangerous too, especially on night buses, so always travel during the day. These include Popayán to San Agustín, Popayán to Pasto and Bucaramanga to Santa Marta, where night buses have been held up. The FCDO also reports armed robberies on buses and advises against travelling at night, and domestic flights are the most reliable way to cover long distances.

TIP: Want to see coffee plantations and drink coffee with a real kick? Head to Salento, a small town surrounded by coffee farms and the tallest palm trees in the world.

Scopolamine, fake taxis and dating apps

These are three tricks few people know about before they go. Scopolamine (escopolamina, locally called burundanga) is a drug that makes victims do whatever they are told without resisting. They withdraw cash from an ATM, hand over their phone or let the thief into their room, and afterwards remember nothing. According to the FCDO, it can cause loss of consciousness and memory loss, and large doses can kill. Criminals slip it into food or drinks, but it can also be in a cigarette, on a paper flyer or in an aerosol. So never leave a drink unattended and do not accept anything from strangers.

The second trick is the so-called “paseo millonario”, an express kidnapping. You get into a taxi you flagged down in the street, a few blocks later accomplices get in, and they drive you from ATM to ATM until you have withdrawn all you can. That is why the FCDO says not to hail taxis in the street. Book one through an app (Uber, Cabify, DiDi or InDrive) or ask your hotel to call one.

The third is dating apps. The FCDO warns that criminals, often working in teams, use dating apps and websites to lure foreigners travelling alone to a meeting where they are robbed or drugged. Meet for the first time only in a busy public place and never take someone you do not know back to your room.

Safe areas to stay in Colombia’s cities

A lot of your safety comes down to where you sleep. You will be walking back from dinner in the evening, and there is a big difference between a well-lit street full of cafés and an empty block behind the market. These neighbourhoods are generally considered safer for visitors:

• Bogotá: Chapinero (Zona G and Quinta Camacho), the area around Zona Rosa, and Usaquén in the north of the city. La Candelaria is great by day, but we would not sleep there.
• Medellín: El Poblado and Laureles. The area around Parque Lleras in El Poblado is lively at night, but that is also where most pickpockets work.
• Cartagena: the walled old town and neighbouring Getsemaní, or Bocagrande if you want to be by the sea.
• Santa Marta and Tayrona: the busier centre of Santa Marta or a place right by the park entrance. We do not recommend Taganga as a base.

You will find specific hotels we have checked in our guides to Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and Tayrona.

How to stay safe in Colombia: 10 rules to follow

We put these safety rules together from our own experience and from the advice of other travellers we met along the way. Follow them and you will be a lot safer, and they work just as well in the rest of South America. Keep in mind that Colombia is a big and varied country, and the urban jungle hides very different dangers from the real one.

1. Leave expensive jewellery and gear at home

You cannot really hide the fact that you are a foreigner. Locals will spot it straight away, not only from your looks but from your clothes and gear. So the first thing I would say is: do not bring expensive jewellery, watches or anything else that draws attention at first glance.

The better you blend in, the smaller the chance that someone notices you and decides to rob you. Do not walk around with a big camera round your neck, and if you want a photo, take it discreetly. I have heard of travellers who stick tape on their cameras and phones so they look battered and not worth stealing.

2. Stay alert at all times

Even when you are blown away by the scenery or a beautiful old church, never leave your things unattended. Do not keep your phone in your back pocket. In a crowd, hold your bags close and do not let anyone get right up against you. A common trick is for one person to create a distraction while another one goes through your pockets.

Thieves on motorbikes who snatch bags as they ride past are notorious too, so if you see them coming, step away from the kerb and hold on to your things. In the big cities it is better to carry a cross-body bag that is hard to pull off rather than a backpack, or to wear your backpack on your front.

3. Split your money between several places

Do not keep your documents and all your money in one place. Spread your cash around and do not carry your passport in your wallet. The ideal set-up is a small money belt under your clothes for the essentials, cash and phone, and a regular wallet with just a little cash in it. If you are mugged, you hand over the wallet quickly and hope they leave just as quickly. Keep copies of your passport and driving licence. The FCDO recommends not carrying large sums of cash, and the safest option is to leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy around town.

4. Avoid walking around at night

Ideally, do not go anywhere alone after dark. There is a big difference between a large city and a small village, where things are relatively safe. But if a thief spots you on your own at night, the risk is much higher. In the bigger cities you will notice that many shops and hotels have bars on the windows, and there is a reason for that.

5. Find out in advance which areas and neighbourhoods to avoid

For me, this is the single most important rule and one you should follow every time. Always find out in advance where it is safe for you to go as a tourist and where it is not. Look up what you can online, and then ask at your hotel and even people in the street whether there are places nearby you should give a wide berth.

Ignorance is no protection here, and bad things still happen today. If a place does not feel right and you are uncomfortable there, trust your gut and do not go.

To travel safely you need to keep your eyes open anywhere in the world, whether you are in Colombia or in London. Pickpockets and thieves are everywhere. Do not be afraid, have a plan B, and if you follow the rules above, the risk is low.

TIP: What is Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, like? Our tips on the best places in the city and nearby

6. Only withdraw cash from “safe” ATMs

Unless you arrive with a thousand dollars to change straight away, you will need to use an ATM at some point. Withdraw money in the bigger towns, because in villages the machines may be empty or missing altogether. And do not just use any machine on a busy street. Go into a shopping centre or a building where there are cameras and far fewer thieves than outside. Ideally do it during the day, when the bank or shop is open and you can withdraw inside.

Then split the cash between several places again, discreetly, where nobody can see you. Anyone can pick out a tourist at an ATM. And always turn down strangers who offer to help you with the machine.

7. Only take taxis booked through an app or your hotel

Do not flag down taxis in the street, not even during the day (we explained why above, under express kidnappings). Apps such as Uber, Cabify, DiDi or InDrive have the advantage that the ride is tracked, you can see the driver in advance and you do not have to haggle over the price. At the airport, only use the official taxi rank and never go with someone who approaches you in the arrivals hall.

8. Do not accept anything from strangers

No food, no drinks, no cigarettes, no chewing gum and no flyers. Because of scopolamine, never leave your glass unattended in a bar, not even for a moment. And if you suddenly start feeling strange, tell someone you trust straight away and get medical help.

9. Keep your phone out of sight in the street

Colombians have a saying, “no dar papaya”, which roughly means: do not hand anyone an opportunity. A phone in your hand on a street corner is exactly that papaya. The FCDO also advises against displaying valuables in public. If you need directions, step into a shop or café, check the route there and then put your phone away.

10. Travel between cities by day and fly the long legs

Night buses are cheap and save you a night in a hotel, but they are exactly where hold-ups happen. Do short journeys during the day, and for long ones (Bogotá to the Caribbean coast, for example) it is worth flying. There are plenty of domestic flights, and instead of a full day on the road you are there in a few hours, including getting to the airport.

Scams and rip-offs happen every day

Being robbed does not only mean someone grabbing your bag. Far more often, vendors will try to take your money in other ways. They will charge you several times the normal price, give you the wrong change or claim they have none. If you want to pay in dollars, expect higher prices.

TIP: 13 things to take on a plane for a long-haul flight

How not to get ripped off in Colombia

Do not worry, it happened to us plenty of times. Even right after landing, when we went to buy breakfast at an airport bakery. We paid about 10 dollars for two arepas (corn flatbreads), because I could not yet do the maths in pesos and after a 50-hour journey I was completely wiped out. So how do you avoid getting ripped off?

For a rough idea: 1,000 Colombian pesos (COP) is about €0.26 (around 22p), and 1 US dollar gets you roughly 3,350 COP. Prices have a lot of zeros, so 50,000 COP is about €13 (around £11). Before you pay, count the zeros on the banknote, because that is where mistakes happen most easily.

• Do not pay in dollars unless you have to.
• Check the exchange rate for both dollars and pounds (or euros) before you go.
• Always convert the price in your head so you know whether you are being asked for more than you should be.
• Carry small change in case they “have no change” to give you.
• Do not be afraid to push back if someone asks for too much. Haggling is completely normal.
• Always try to haggle, even when the price does not seem high. Most of the time they will knock a little off.
• When you pay by card and the terminal offers to charge you in pounds or dollars, choose pesos. Never let your card out of your sight.

Before you fly: entry rules, Check-MIG, insurance and FCDO alerts

British citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. According to the FCDO, your passport must be valid on entry and the Colombian authorities recommend at least 6 months’ validity beyond your planned departure. The immigration officer can ask to see a return or onward ticket and proof that you have enough money for your stay. Fill in the online Check-MIG form on the Migración Colombia website before you fly in and again before you fly out (no earlier than 72 hours and no later than one hour before your flight). The FCDO describes it as optional but says it can speed up entry. The form is free, so if a website asks you for a fee, you are on an intermediary’s site. Only enter the country through an official border crossing, because without an entry stamp in your passport you may have problems when you leave.

• Travel insurance: with a high limit for medical costs for your whole trip. The FCDO strongly recommends it, and private clinics want to be paid before they treat you.
• FCDO email alerts: sign up for free updates to the FCDO travel advice for Colombia, so you hear straight away if the situation changes (an earthquake, unrest, new areas to avoid).
• Copies of your documents: keep a scan of your passport on your phone and in your email so you can find it quickly if it is lost.
• Vaccination certificate: if you are going to Tayrona or other national parks where yellow fever vaccination is checked.

What to do if something goes wrong

Even if you are careful, you may still be robbed and lose your documents or gear. It is not pleasant, but it happens. That is why it helps to have backups (for example a second ID kept somewhere else) and always a small amount of cash you can hand over quickly if you are mugged. The emergency number in Colombia is 123 (police and ambulance; the fire brigade also answers on 119).

• If you are mugged: do not resist (they may be armed) and quickly hand over the small amount of cash you have ready.
• If your backpack with everything in it is stolen: if you have insurance, go to a police station and get a police report, which you will need for your claim. After that it is up to you whether you buy new things or head home.
• If you lose your passport: report the loss to the police and, with the police report, contact the British Embassy in Bogotá. If you just need to get home, you can apply online on gov.uk for an Emergency Travel Document, which is valid for the journey back to the UK. For a new full passport, check the current procedure on gov.uk.
• If you suspect scopolamine: get medical help as fast as possible, block your bank cards and change your online banking and email passwords.

British Embassy in Colombia (address)

Edificio ING Barings, Carrera 9 No. 76-49, Piso 8

Bogotá

Phone and enquiries: through the online contact form linked from the embassy’s page on gov.uk, which also lists the number to call in an emergency.

If you cannot get through, the FCDO in London answers 24 hours a day on +44 20 7008 5000.

Emergency services in Colombia: 123 (police and ambulance), 119 (fire).

Public access to the embassy is by appointment only.

Final thoughts

Travel is a wonderful thing: you get to know a piece of the world and a bit more about yourself. I hope all your trips are safe and that you enjoy your journey into the unknown at least as much as we did. On the road you may run into situations you do not know how to handle.

But we live at a time when you can find out almost anything, more and more people speak English, and the world is simply open. Keep a cool head and enjoy real travel, with everything that comes with it.

TIP: Animal rescue stations: where does tourists’ money really go and how does sea turtle protection work?

What we would do differently

We would skip that street in Medellín where we got scared. Not because it put us off Colombia, but because all it would have taken was asking at reception in the morning which way not to go. Those few sentences with the receptionist are, in our view, the best safety measure there is in Colombia.

We would buy our first arepa from a street stall, not an airport bakery. We would eat more where locals eat: in simple canteens serving a menú del día, at markets, at stalls on the corner. In our experience, the best food in Colombia is not found by following a list but by turning into a street that nothing in particular draws you to.

And we would not rush. Colombia is huge and overland journeys take a long time, so we would rather see three regions calmly and by day than six in a hurry on night buses. It is safer and more comfortable.

You cannot have your phone in your hand all the time in Colombia anyway, so take it as a bonus. Fewer street photos, more looking around you and more time with people who really are friendly here.

Is Colombia safe? Frequently asked questions

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