Information Sheet Last Updated: November 2005
Safety
Illegal Drugs
Violence and Civil Unrest
Theft, Scams, etc.
The issue of safety in Colombia is a theme that is well documented but often misinterpreted and exaggerated. Since most Americans and Europeans rely on mass media and movies for their information some think that Colombia is a small "banana republic" where there are barely two jeeps available and upon arrival all you will see is a dusty town with a bunch of drug dealing thugs waiting to jump on you. Despite media images, Colombia is not necessary the most dangerous place on earth. Bogota, a modern city with almost 7 million inhabitants, has been classified recently as one of the safest cities in Latin America.
Some potential visitors usually ask if they will be too visible being white Americans or Europeans, this is not an issue since there are also “white” Colombians so people foreigners (at least white, European-featured ones) don’t stand out as much as they might expect especially in the bigger cities. And in areas where foreigners do stand out it is more likely that they will attract favorable attention rather than be targets of crime or violence. Most travelers say that the vast majority of Colombians are unfailingly honest and go out of their way to be extremely hospitable and welcoming.
The following local conditions should be noted for your best chance of staying safe:
Illegal drugs
Unfortunately Colombia still carries the burden of being a major supplier of cocaine for the US and European markets. It is a reality that cannot be denied but then again, this does not mean that there you can find drugs on the street than back home. It’s actually easier to get them in any US or European street and drug trafficking is a crime in Colombia as well. The drug controls at the airports are among the strongest in the world, there are several checkpoints with X rays and dogs before boarding the plane, all luggage pieces are opened before proceeding to the counter for all international flights departing form Colombia and there are many police agents in disguise checking international travelers for signs of drug smuggling. Police and customs activities have greatly intensified and smugglers increasingly try to use innocent carriers, or mules, who are not Colombian citizens and look “American “ or “European”.
To avoid getting yourself in serious trouble, do not carry packages for other people, either in hand or inside your body (many mules swallow condoms stuffed with cocaine). Be very polite if approached by a policeman in uniform, or if your hotel room is raided by police looking for drugs. Colombians who offer you drugs recreationally could be setting you up for the police who are very active on the north coast and San Andres island, and other tourist resorts. Hundreds of foreigners are incarcerated each year in Colombian prisons after trying to smuggle drugs out of the country. They receive the same sentences as any other drug smuggler and embassy officials are never sympathetic nor helpful at getting charges dropped or reduced.
Bringing weapons of any kind into the country, specially firearms, is prohibited and if found at customs they will be confiscated. Same thing applies to drugs or prohibited substances.
Colombia is a country in the midst of a 50-year-long civil war and although most urban and tourist areas are not visible affected, there are parts of Colombia that can be extremely dangerous for the ignorant or overly adventurous tourist. It is essential for those who want to stray from the beaten tourist path that they be informed about the current situation before traveling to any area where their safety could be at risk. The best way to find out is to ask for local advice and from those who have recently spent any time in uncertain areas. And it is absolutely not advisable to go in search of armed groups or where violence happens for any reason.
Currently, as of August 2005, the following areas should be avoided by foreign tourists:
- Southern territories within the departments of Caqueta, Putumayo, Guaviare.
- Eastern territories within department of Meta, Arauca and Casanare
- Rural areas and coastal areas in the department of Choco, southern rural areas of Bolivar and Cesar
- Traveling by bus or car between Bogota and Medellin, flying is faster and much safer (just 30 minutes against 9 hours by bus)
- Crossing by land from Panama. There are no roads or highways and the Darien Gap is one of the most dangerous places in the world due to paramilitary and guerrilla activity. If you are traveling from Panama to Colombia it is advisable to either go by boat or to fly to Cartagena, Medellin or Bogota and then continue from there.
Unfortunately some wonderful archeological sites such as San Agustin - Tierradentro and Ciudad Perdida on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada are currently areas where safety can not be guaranteed and therefore we recommend that hikers do not go there. If you definitely want to visit the Sierra Nevada or San Agustin then when you are nearby ask the local authorities if it is safe to proceed to that area. Nothing stays the same forever, and the situation will hopefully change for the better.
Most major urban areas are safe including the following cities (as safe as any other large city in the world, with good and bad areas as well): Bogota, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Medellin, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Pasto, Bucaramanga, and Cucuta. Take local advice about being out at night. Daytime is not always safer than nighttime. If you are walking after dark in a dangerous part of a big city, walk in the road, not on the sidewalk. Do not get into a cab on the street at night even in a big city. Call a taxi or ask one of the local street vendors to call or point you to one of the drivers they know. You should never travel by road between towns anywhere at night given the risk of kidnapping or disappearance.
Theft, scams, etc
Foreign tourists are easily spotted specially at bus stations and airports. Some people will come up to you and directly ask you for money or some "help", simply refuse and get away, if the person gets too annoying try to find a police officer or someone in one of the shops or restaurants and ask for help. Be aware of dressing too well as all wealthy people, Colombian and international, run the risk of kidnapping for ransom. More often than not kidnapping victims are released without harm but it certainly doesn’t make for a fun and worthwhile adventure.
The golden rule for avoiding theft, tricks and swindles is to avoid wearing gold and flashy items such as cameras, big watches, etc. Use caution and always be alert, especially when engaged in social interaction with strangers. Unless you are in the Caribbean cities you should wear long pants or jeans everywhere else so as not to be spotted as a tourist a mile away. (Bogota has cold weather all year long with a maximum of 70 F (23 C), but most days the usual temperature is around 60 degrees F (15 C). It can be windy and rainy, and in January temperatures at dawn can be around 32 F (0 C) but nevertheless some tourists still wear shorts!)
On the other side of this “fashion” spectrum are the tourists who dress like they are paupers. They also get a lot of attention because they look really bad compared to all the people around them. In general Colombians tend to dress well and in cities like Bogota the really dress up so if you are wearing torn dirty jeans or khakis and a really old shirt you will get noticed immediately and in some cases you will be denied entrance to some restaurants, clubs, office buildings, etc.
B eware of the common trick of spraying mustard, ketchup, or something else on your shirt then getting a “friend” to clean the mustard as well as your wallet off of you. If you are sprayed, keep on walking and ignore strangers remarks like “what’s on your shirt” or “have you seen the dirt on your shoe?” Do not bend over to pick up money or other items in the street. These are all ploys to distract you and make you and easy target.
Be wary of the plainclothes policeman and insist on seeing identification and going to the police station by main roads before you show any of your personal items. Never take them directly back to your temporary place of residence. Be even more suspicious if he asks for confirmation of his status from a pedestrian walking by.
If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you should see a doctor (your home doctor if you wish) as soon as possible. You will need tests to determine whether you have contracted any sexually transmitted diseases. You should also contact your embassy where consular staff are willing the help in the case of assault.