Is it Safe to Visit & Travel Colombia?
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jan 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 12
This is one of the most important questions families will ask before embarking on a trip solo or with kids.
Especially given Colombia's challenging (recent) history, we got this question a lot before our latest trip, when we visited Colombia with AJ, who was five months old at the time.
Although there are some unsafe sections of the country, we believe Colombia is incredibly improved from its dark days in the 1980s-90s and is a wonderful place to visit with your family or on your own. There were a couple of times we felt a bit unsafe - both on the Caribbean Coast - but overall it's safe to visit and travel through Colombia.
We also recommend you read our cheeky post on general travel safety!
We’ve both agreed that we’d be hard-pressed to think of a country we’ve visited where people were more excited about striking up a conversation just to have a chat with AJ.
Certainly, some of the enthusiasm is novelty, but plenty of it is simply the love of children that is seemingly universal in Colombia. On one drive, we stopped in a small town to find an unmarked tamale shop that ended up being a woman’s house. She fixed us two of the most delicious tamales we’ve had and insisted on holding AJ while we enjoyed them. Everywhere we went, mothers with big families spoke wistfully about how much they missed holding a baby. I must say she’s one heck of an ice breaker when you’re on the road!
So, is it really safe to visit and travel in Colombia? We say yes!
In covering roughly 1,700 km (1,000 mi) in a rental vehicle, the times felt unsafe were both on the Caribbean Coast, where we experienced an uncomfortable police shakedown (that was more of a nuisance than an actual danger) and the driving itself. But I will get into that in our post on Driving in Colombia.
Everywhere else that we went - including Bogotá, the city of Cartagena, Medellín, and the Zona Cafetera, people were warm and friendly. Police and military presence were notable, and cities we visited felt safe.
Dissecting Colombia East & West – Routes 60 and 62
On one trip, we drove from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva, a popular daytrip and/or overnight expedition. From Villa de Leyva, we needed to get to Medellin for the next leg of our journey, but didn’t want to backtrack. We did a lot of debating, since Route 60 and Route 62 cross over the spine of some pretty rugged terrain.
There just wasn’t a great deal of up-to-date information from travelers who’d made this voyage by vehicle. Everything I could find was several years old. Where this is potentially problematic is in the fact that Colombia’s roadways are being modernized at breakneck speed, thanks to enormous international investments.
In the end, it seemed like Route 62, leaving to the north of Villa de Leyva, was the better choice. When in doubt, a great way to determine the safety and condition of the roads is to pop into Google Maps and see if they’ve dispatched one of their Street View vehicles to photograph your route recently. Any street imagery from the last year can be super helpful, given the speed at which Colombian infrastructure is evolving. Mind you, it’s a bit tedious peeking down stretches of roadway to check conditions, but extremely helpful if information is limited. It can also go a long way in helping you decide which kind of vehicle to rent.
For more details about actual conditions of Colombia roads and routes, see our post on driving in Colombia.
We did drive through some areas in Medellin, in particular near the city center’s museums and plazas, where life looked decidedly unkind to segments of the population. Some of the blocks where items are scrapped and sold are about as rough as what you’d encounter driving through Skid Row in Los Angeles, while only a block or two away, families, tourists, and businesspeople on lunch breaks are relaxing in a beautiful plaza surrounded by chubby Botero sculptures.
Like most places, petty crime statistics tend to be higher in cities. However, adjusted for day versus night, I think you’ll agree the odds are higher after hours. That being said, every city has neighborhoods that remain pretty safe and are well patrolled even after dark. In both Medellin and Bogotá, we felt plenty comfortable walking some of the more touristed areas where nightlife consisted of a mix of families and tourists.
Generally Safer Zones in Colombia’s Larger Metro Areas
Here's a brief glimpse of our favorite places in Colombia’s bigger cities:
1. Bogotá:
Chapinero & Zona G – Trendy, upscale spots known for great restaurants, cafes, and nightlife. Generally safe, but good to be alert after dark.
Usaquén – A charming, historic district with cobblestone streets, a popular Sunday flea market, and a relaxed vibe.
Zona T & Parque de la 93 – Modern, bustling areas where many international tourists stay. They’re pretty well-patrolled by police.
2. Medellín:
El Poblado – Arguably the most popular neighborhood for visitors, with vibrant nightlife, cafes, and restaurants. El Poblado’s main tourist hub (Parque Lleras) stays busy.
Laureles – A calmer residential area than El Poblado, known for tree-lined streets, local eateries, and fewer crowds, making it a favorite among longer-term travelers and digital nomad types.
3. Cartagena:
The Walled City (Centro Histórico) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its colonial architecture, plazas, and pastel-hued streets. Tourism police are present, and the area is relatively secure.
Bocagrande – Cartagena’s modern district with high-rise hotels and a beachside promenade. Typically safe, though watch out for pickpockets on the beach.
Areas to Avoid or Exercise Extreme Caution
While the US State Department can seem to us to be a little intense about their advisories, it's wise to pay attention to their no-go zones (marked red on the state department website).
Check the State Dept website for the latest updates before your trip, but for now, the following are some places avoid in your next itinerary:
1. Remote Border Regions
Border Areas with Venezuela (e.g., around Cúcuta) – Historically, these regions have experienced smuggling, organized crime, and occasional unrest.
Southwestern Borders (e.g., near Tumaco) – Some remote towns have a higher presence of illegal armed groups and narcotrafficking. If you need to travel there, stay informed through reliable local sources.
2. Rural Zones with Known Guerrilla Activity
Some pockets in Cauca, Putumayo, and Arauca still experience sporadic unrest tied to illegal armed groups and coca cultivation. While the overall security situation in Colombia has vastly improved, certain areas remain risky.
3. The Darién Gap
Though technically on the border with Panama, this dense jungle is notoriously dangerous due to smuggling routes, harsh terrain, and minimal state presence. It’s strongly advised to avoid overland crossings here.
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