Traveling to Colombia: Is it Dangerous?
Don’t judge a book by its cover, right?
Unfortunately, the country of Colombia gets an incredibly bad reputation due to biased news coverage, social media, and the internet. As with anything, it’s so easy for news outlets to skew the perception of a place in a negative light. In this case, Colombia is seen as an extremely dangerous country to visit by many, many people. But I’m here to change your mind. :)
I like to call Colombia the World’s best kept secret.
Just to name a few, here are some things people have actually said to me when they found out I traveled to Colombia and said I felt safe (lol):
“It is in fact really dangerous, you were really lucky”
“They would literally stab or shoot you to death for your cellphone”
“How much did you pay for security detail?”
The list could go on. BUT the point I’m trying to make is that people who have never visited the country or experienced the culture or its people firsthand are really quick to judge it from what they’ve heard and seen on the news.
I’d also like to emphasize that, YES, there are dangerous and corrupt parts of Colombia. BUT that’s the case in every. single. country. on this planet! No matter where you travel, visit, or live (yes, even including the United States) there are areas that are considered dangerous, certain parts that you should probably avoid or be cautious of, and just have a general knowledge of the areas you are visiting so you have that greater sense of awareness and understanding.
So, is it Safe?
My short answer? 10000% yes, Colombia is safe… If you use common sense.
Colombia is such a beautiful country, full of even more beautiful people, an incredibly rich culture, and so many astounding things to see and experience. I personally spent almost 2 months in the country and never felt unsafe at any moment. I was able to walk around by myself as a female and not feel like I was in danger.
With that being said, I’d like to point out why I felt that way:
Learn the language
It might sound obvious, but knowing at least a little bit of the native language of the country you’re visiting can go a long way. Speaking the language helps to not only get around easier, but it also doesn’t immediately flag you as a tourist; therefore avoiding making yourself a target for scams, bribery, and other things you probably want to avoid.
You can use translator apps, of course, but it also just lets the people around you know that you’re not from the area.
Don’t be a tourist
Tourists are the easiest targets for scammers and people just trying to take advantage of the fact that you ARE a tourist. One of the easiest ways to avoid this, is to not look like a tourist. Take a look at your surroundings, see what people are wearing, what their mannerisms are, how they carry themselves, etc. The easiest way to blend in is to not stick out. If you blend in, you’re more likely to be left alone.
When I was in Bogotá, I immediately noticed that almost everybody wore closed toe shoes. I don’t think I saw one person in sandals. So when I walked to the grocery store or went to go get dinner by myself, I always made sure I wore my sneakers and long pants. I made sure I blended in and never got bothered on the street. I also made sure I mapped out the general direction of where I was going so it wasn’t obvious that I was looking at my phone for directions (if I was going by foot).
Do your research
Do your research! Find out what areas are the safest to stay in, if there are specific neighborhoods you should avoid, and everything else you might want to know about the area. And all I can say is… if you use a little bit of common sense, it can get you a long way, lol.
TRAVEL TIP:
Before you get to your destination, I highly suggest downloading “Offline Maps” on Google Maps of the general area you are visiting!! That way, if there is no service or WiFi, it ensures that you’re still able to make your way back to your Air Bnb/hotel/hostel without a problem.
If you haven’t already, I couldn’t recommend Colombia enough! It’s one of those places that you just have to experience and see for yourself. You might be surprised at how different it actaully is compared to what the news has to say about it.
Happy travels!
XO, Tris
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