Safety Advice for Visiting Colombia

Are you heading to Colombia and worried if it is safe to visit? Well, don't worry! Colombia is actually quite safe to visit. It is not the 1980s or 1990s anymore. You and your family can enjoy Colombia. Of course there are still some safety issues you should be aware of and scams and tourists traps as well, but we want to give you honest travel information on Colombia so you can make your own decision on visiting this beautiful country with extremely friendly people.
Filmed in Cartagena, Colombia

Join this channel to get access to perks:

#visitcolombia #colombia #travelsafety
Copyright Mark Wolters 2024

Hey There Fellow Travelers! Thank you for watching our honest travel vlogs from all over this wonderful world. If you would like to get in contact with us please follow us & send us a message via our social media channels below. Also, if you like our travel videos please feel free to share them with other fellow travelers.

You can find us all over the internet:

[josephpanzarella]

A few weeks ago I returned from my fifth--yes, fifth--trip to Colombia. It's one of my favorite countries.
Unfortunately TV series like "Narcos" make people believe that everyone who goes to Colombia gets killed, or worse.
Cartagena isn't my favorite city. It's the one city that feels overtouristed and the street vendors can be aggressive. In most of Colombia that doesn't exist.
I love Bogotá or as Colombians call it "the refrigerator", because it almost never goes above 20C (68F). It's a very real city and only in a very few areas does it feel touristy. Medellin has become almost too popular with foreigners for its own good, but it shouldn't be missed. Cali receives far fewer tourists but it's lovely. Especially the San Antonio neighborhood.
Colombia is wonderful. And remember. Pablo Escobar is every bit as dead as Al Capone is.

[colombianjay]

I grew up in Bogota, it makes us very proud to see you visiting our country

[WrldExplorer]

I just was granted a 3 year Colombian retirement visa last week.

[kenswindle]

Soooo glad you finally went to Colombia!! 🇨🇴 I’ve been going to Colombia with my Colombian wife for 23 years and never had a problem. Do bad things happen in Colombia? Yes. Be very careful! But enjoy the people and culture. The people are wonderful and generous.

[patrickdeady]

I visited Medellin in January 2022 and it was totally safe! The people were so helpful with a special hand to me, a senior!!

[ThinkingOnTheRoad]

Perfect timing! I'm heading to Colombia in two days 😃

[MoneyMagicAU]

When you do take ur phone out in public, hold it very tightly!
Someone on moto tried to rob me yesterday in Bogotá.
They failed because it was so tight in my hands

Be safe 🙌🏻

[elitealice]

Went to Colombia for my birthday in 2022 October. Bogota and Medellin and I felt perfectly safe, especially Medellin

[wrightkeavon]

Such a beautiful country, ppl treat you like family!

[UsmanM]

I just got back from Colombia and was really worried about the safety issues before I went as well.

- For getting around I'd recommend downloading apps such as Uber or cabify. These saved me many times.

- Aside from a few select areas such as the historic centre (Getsemani area) in Cartagena, and maybe the main streets of La Candelaria in Bogota and El Poblado in Medellin, try not to walk around too much, especially if it's by yourself or at night. Just take an Uber, they are dirt cheap. I averaged about $3/ride.

- Be super aware of your belongings and don't walk around with/have your phone out.

- Visit Salento, it was my favorite place in Colombia and is completely safe, even walking around at night.

Following some of these precautions and the ones in the video, Colombia turned out to be my absolute favorite country I've been to so far. Colombians are some of the most genuine and most hard working people I've ever met. Can't wait to visit again!

[robertaclark]

We lived in Cartagena for 5 years in the late 90s and even then it wasn’t unsafe. We traveled to Bogotá as well without any problems. The same general travel rules that are good to follow elsewhere should be applied in Colombia. It’s a spectacularly beautiful country and the people are among the friendliest you’ll find anywhere. (It’s definitely helpful to know at least a little Spanish; even being able to speak a few words or phrases helps.)

[dzrv]

Always ask for the price in Cartagena. ALWAYS. I live there, and even locals do it all the time.

[Mysticalman]

Mark, I'm a big fan of your videos and specially of your openness towards cultures different than your own.
But this video touched me deeply because Colombia is where I grew up and live, and you were quite respectful and evidently intent on showing that Colombia in regards to travel safety is not that different from many other countries.
Whenever you're back in Bogotá, you and your family have a friend in me and my wife!

[atttalvarez]

Can't believe Walter was in my country. I have watched your videos since 2016 probably. Oh my gosh.

[Getawayk]

Been waiting on some colombia content! I wouldn’t say it’s 100% safe for the average traveler that doesn’t know Spanish. This isn’t a place for beginners, but it can be amazing if you do your research and don’t be flashy.

[missj.]

Colombia is overall safe, but as long as you don't go out of the beaten track. See for e.g. the video of Alina Mcleod "I ALMOST GOT ROBBED AND SHOT AT IN SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA". If for e.g. nobody walk near the highway, there is probably a good reason. I don't want to discourage people from going to Colombia, but on the other hand, they most know that travelling in Latin America in general is much more of an adventure than travelling to Europe. Colombia is not the hell it used to be, but it is not a place for naive and carefree tourists.

[pablocruz]

We just went to Buenos Aires and Rio and tourist guide told us to be super careful in both cities. He told us to keep our phones safeguarded all the time, and be alert all the time.
Colombia is not different

[sarahboutwell]

My son is heading there on the 20th for his first solo trip. I wanted to go but also have travel plans so it didn’t work out. It’s hard to find good Columbia travel videos so I thank you for posting.

[nicholasmoreo]

Been to Cartagena and Medellin. Both lovely and I felt very safe

[missj.]

I went to Colombia in the 90s and than in 2022. It is a country I really like and I think in general people are amazing. First, it is much safer than in was during the 90s, no question. I find place like Cartagena very safe. But there is a big difference between the gringo trail (places where tourists typically go) and other places. I went to Ciénaga (Gabriel Garcia Márquez place between Cartagena and Santa Marta but not touristic in itself). I asked people if it was safe at night and people told me know. I can tell you then after sunset (6pm) it was just like Colombia in the not so good old days. I just went out with $5 on me to buy food from the grocery next door. It was just enough time to see there were grids closed everywhere and only young men out. In surface, Colombia is safe and in touristic places, it is decent, but just be mindful things can change quickly and it is not true everywhere. For e.g., I noticed our guide was really working hard to make sure nothing bad happen to us when visiting the Comuna 13 in Medellin. Go to Colombia, it is an amazing country, but don't be naive, ask locals what is safe and listen to what they tell you.