Colombia is now safer and more accessible than ever before. The 2016 peace agreement marked the beginning of a new era, putting Colombia on the radar of travelers worldwide as a dream destination.
Many parts of the country are just now opening their doors to local and international tourists for the first time, making it an especially exciting time to visit Colombia. You can still find a lot of pristine nature, untapped territories, and hidden gems. Plus, Colombian people are amazing with their openness, kindness and hospitality!
However, it’s essential to be aware of certain realities, such as economic inequality and challenges in larger cities. To ensure a safe and fulfilling journey, this guide offers practical advice and hands-on recommendations for traveling in Colombia.
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Here are my top Colombia safety tips for solo travelers, based on my experiences after having traveled and lived in the country for about 5 years. These tips apply to all people traveling in Colombia, including women traveling solo, solo LGBTiQ+ travelers, as well as other types of travelers.
“No dar papaya” (“don’t give papaya”): That’s a common advice by Colombian people, meaning don’t give anyone the opportunity to take advantage of you by being inattentive, looking insecure or showing off. This includes not using your mobile phone openly in the streets of big cities like Bogotá and Medellin or in public transport (especially not if you sit close to a window or door). When you walk around, put your most confident look on and act as if you know exactly where you are going.
Trust your gut feeling! If you walk around a city and suddenly get a weird, uncomfortable feeling, it’s most likely a good idea to turn around and take another route. In big cities the safety situation often varies depending on the area. If you talk to someone and this person makes you feel uncomfortable, forget your education to be a “good girl” (or boy) and respectfully walk away or get involved in a conversation with other people.
Ask local people which areas are safe to stay and visit. Safety in big cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Santa Marta, Barranquilla or Bucaramanga may vary quite a lot depending on the exact area. Drug addiction and resulting mental health issues is a problem in big cities and addicts gather around certain areas. Do research beforehand and ask the locals which areas are safe to stay and visit, and which ones to avoid. If you are a women traveling alone, it’s best if you ask local women for this advice. And again: Trust your gut feeling!
Avoid walking around alone after dark. Of course, Colombians (just like me as a foreigner in the country) also go out in the evenings. However, it is standard to book a transport service through apps like Uber, Didi, Cabify, or Taxis Libres. This is safe and very affordable in Colombia.
Use trustable transportation:
Apps like Uber, Didi, Cabify, and InDrive are very common in Colombia and are highly recommended by locals for their safety and service quality. These apps allow you to book both traditional taxis (or moto-taxis) and private cars at very affordable prices. However, the legal status of private car services remains a topic of debate in Colombia. It’s a good idea to check with locals for the most up-to-date information once you’re there.
Hailing taxis directly on the street is still somewhat risky, although the situation has improved. I recommend to always use an app for booking.
While public transportation (metro, bus) is fine during the day (as long as you watch out for your belongings), I don’t recommend to use it after dark.
Avoid empty streets and low-lit areas. That’s another strategy to “not give papaya”.
Don’t let your drink unobserved. Knockout drugs also exist in Colombia. Be careful that none of them end up in your drink.
Stay sober. It’s better to stay sober when you are traveling alone in order not to dull your perception and attention. Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Team up with other people. Go in a group, if you feel uncomfortable going somewhere alone. Going in a group often enhances safety in Colombia!
Pay attention to current travel advisory for Colombia: You may research any travel warnings and safety advice published by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Take it with a grain of salt, though, since sometimes these advices feel like you can’t travel anywhere in the world. In my experience they are good for safety advice related to the current political and health situation in a country.
Protect your belongings: Learn about common scams, keep your important documents in safe places, etc. (more information in the “scams and thefts” section)
Prepare your trip: Have a look at my Colombia Intro Guide where you can find additional tips for planning your solo trip to Colombia to stay safe.
Photo by Helena Lopes, Safety in a group
More than half of the solo travelers in Colombia are women. As a woman, I’ve lived and traveled in Colombia for several years and haven’t experienced any more, or less, gender-related annoyances than in other countries. Street attention varies: in cooler cities like Bogotá, it’s less than in warm coastal areas like Santa Marta. “Dress codes” also differ by region and temperature.
If you want to explore remote or little visited areas, it’s better to go in a group. That’s one of the reasons why I started the Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group (mainly for women).
Some innovative, women-led local tour operators also offer women-only tours. Additionally, many tour guides in Colombia are female, which I personally think is great! Colombian women generally strike me as very confident, emancipated, and wise. The exchange is truly enjoyable!
Photo: Me in Los Nevados National Park close to Manizales
Colombia is one of the most progressive and liberal countries in Latin America when it comes to LGBTIQ+ rights. Since 2016, same-sex marriage is legal in Colombia, and discrimination against LGBT+ individuals is prohibited by law. Most bigger cities, like Bogotá, Medellin, Cartagena and Cali, have vibrant LGBTIQ+ communities and some have gay neighbourhoods (for example, Chapinero in Bogotá, also called “Chapigay”).
Attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ people may vary, though, depending on the region and individual people. Apart from the big cities, Colombia is still quite a conservative country with the catholic church continuing to have a lot of influence.
You may want to google LGBTIQ+ -friendly accommodations, restaurants, clubs etc. in advance.
In general, it’s safe and easy for men to travel in Colombia, provided you follow general safety advice and research the current safety situation in the specific areas you plan to visit.
However, some issues have arisen with dating platforms being misused by criminals to drug and rob men. It’s important to be cautious when using these platforms, especially in larger cities like Medellín. There are also concerns related to prostitution in areas such as El Poblado, driven by a rising demand unfortunately…
The vast majority of Colombians are wonderful, kind, and friendly people, so just be mindful and stay alert in certain areas.
Photo by Štefan Štefančík: Solo Male Travel Latin America
As in any country, staying alert is key. (A Costa Rican tour guide once told me that migratory birds sleep less deeply abroad – they always keep an eye on their surroundings.)
I’ve experienced two attempted scams during my first trip to Colombia in 2011 (one successful and one failed) but none in the past five years. In 2023, my phone was stolen on Bogotá’s TransMilenio when I wasn’t paying attention and “gave papaya”. (Nowadays I don’t type WhatsApp messages anymore when I’m sitting right by the door or beneath an open window…)
Theft, Drugging & Robbery
Scams
Since the 2016 peace agreement, the situation has improved significantly, and many once-inaccessible areas are now open to travelers.
However, some FARC dissidents, the E.L.N., and paramilitary groups remain active in remote areas with limited state control. Parts of Norte de Santander, Caquetá, Vichada, Arauca, and Chocó may still see violence, with recent incidents reported in Catatumbo in early 2025.
These conflicts rarely affect tourist areas, but it’s wise to check current travel advisories. Consult your country’s foreign ministry, local news, and talk to residents. Even in regions with travel warnings, usually there are also areas that remain safe to visit.
Tourism offers hope and opportunity for former guerrilla fighters and coca farmers, contributing to long-term stability.
Photo by Greg Montani, Jungle (mod.)
Here are some useful numbers in case of emergencies. You may want to save them in your phone before traveling to Colombia.
General emergency numbers (no prefix):
All emergencies (24h): 123
Police: 112
Traffic and accidents (24h): 127
Health emergencies (24h): 125
Ambulance (24h): 132
Tourist Police (prefixes needed)
When calling the tourist police (or any other fix line number in Colombia) from a foreign mobile phone number, you need to put two prefixes, the country code and the area code.
Tourist Police Bogotá: (+57 1) 337-4413 or (+57 1) 243-1175
Tourist Police Medellín: (+57 4) 265-5907
Area codes in Colombia:
1 – for Cundinamarca and Bogotá
2 – for Valle del Cauca and Nariño: for example, Cali, Buenaventura, Popayán
4 – for Antioquia, Córdoba and Chocó: for example, Medellín
5 – for Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, La Guajira, Magdalena and Sucre: for example, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Palomino, Riohacha
6 – for Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío: for example, Salento, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, La Dorada
7 – for Norte de Santander, Santander and Arauca: for example, San Gil, Bucaramanga
8 – for Boyacá, Tolima, Huila, San Andrés, Meta, Caquetá, Casanare, Guaviare, Putumayo, Amazon and Orinoco regions: for example: for example, Leticia, Villa de Leyva, Ibagué, Neiva, Yopal
Here are some helpful phrases in Spanish for emergency situations:
Help! – ¡Ayuda!
Call an ambulance. – Llama una ambulancia.
Call the police. – Llama la policía.
It hurts. – Me duele.
I need a doctor. – Necesito un médico.
There has been and accident. – Hubo un accidente.
My phone was stolen. – Me robaron el celular.
Thief – Ladrón
Whether you’re using Tinder, Bumble, or Facebook groups, it’s always important to take safety precautions, especially when you plan to meet people in real life.
Here are some tips:
Be a bit vague in your Facebook group posts: If you look for people to team up with for an activity in a Facebook group, don’t be too specific regarding the meeting point and time and your planned itinerary in your post. Discuss the details of your plans in private messages and with the people you trust only.
Don’t share personal information: Don’t put any personal information, like your phone number, in your posts. Also in private messages be careful about what you share. Don’t share the address of the place you are staying with people you don’t really know.
Go in 3 more: If you are looking to team up for activities, try to go with 2 or more people that don’t mutually know each other. If you join an activity, ask the organizer to send you information about the other participants if it’s not publicly accessible.
Let your family or friends know whom you will meet: Let your a friend or family member know whom you will meet and where you will go.
Meet in a public place: Meet in a well-lit, populated, public place. Guys, please be especially cautious with Tinder dates in large cities – some criminal gangs have made a business of drugging and robbing male travelers seeking to meet beautiful women.
Meet for a get to know before you engage in longer activities (e.g. a hike) to get a better impression of the other person. For example, you could meet in a cafe, take a picture of yourself and your acquaintance, and send it to a friend or post it on Instagram.
Report anyone that behaves suspiciously or offends you If you feel uncomfortable with anyone, please report them to the administrators of the group or platform.
Never share financial information that could be used to access your financial accounts (for example, PayPal login and password, bank account info)
Don’t leave drinks unattended: Keep an eye on your drink all the time, so that no one can insert any substances.
Save the number of the police: Save the number of the police and tourist police in your phone and make sure that your phone battery is charged.
Regarding Tinder, Bumble, etc.: To women, I would recommend Bumble rather than Tinder in Colombia, at least in big cities. The fact that women have to make the first move is a good filter.
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Last Update: March 31, 2025
Image Credit: Title image on top by ECproduction: Cartagena Lighthouse (mod.)
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