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While travelling in Colombia, we went everywhere by public transport overland, including some night buses, and had no problems. However, certain routes are said to be more dangerous than others, and in some places it is not advisable to travel at night. Inquire locally (or on the forum) about the current situation. Highway robbery is a reality not just in Colombia but in other Latin American countries as well, particularly Mexico and Guatemala. Luckily we never ran into bandits, but we always took precautions nontheless.
Whereas I would normally keep my valuables with me in my daypack when travelling by bus, in Latin America I locked them up in my large bag instead, which went underneath the bus. I figured if bandits did attack, they would simply take whatever people had on them and not worry about the luggage underneath. I also sewed a secret pocket on the inside of my pants leg, where I kept our credit cards and most of our cash. I kept with me a decoy wallet filled with a wad of one-dollar bills, and also used the money belt as a second decoy, where I kept a small amount of local currency and enough travellers checks to make it look like that was the remainder of our stash.
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Visiting Colombia?
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I'm not going to give any specific tips or hints on safety, but rather I'd like to address those people whose concern for their safety is one of the primary considerations as whether or not they should travel...
Yes, there exists a possibility that something could happen to you, from simple thievery (common, if you move a lot and don't follow certain codes of conduct) to kidnapping (almost ridiculous to even contemplate, unless you are stupid and ignore all of the codes of conduct for personal safety).
But you know what? These dangers exist in almost any country you would want to travel.
Have bad things happened to me in Colombia? Yes, because I've traveled enough there and I relaxed a little too much at times. However, I don't dwell on these few negatives. A month later when I am back home in this sterile environment I call home (USA), with my 300 cable channels and my one-hour commute to work, I remember all of the good things: the friends I made, the laughs I shared, the sites I'd seen, a life I lived and enjoyed that is so diametrically opposed to what I am accustomed, and on and on and on...
It seems that so many people are concerned for their safety and thus choose not to go to Colombia. By doing this, they are missing out on one of the greatest experiences that could be lived, not to mention the chance of encountering probably the most warm, friendly and hospitable people in the world. I would gladly trade my backpack being stolen again or the soldier's M-16 muzzle pointed at my face (oops, that was Guayaquil...) in return for the incredible friends and memories I have made, and the possibilities of making even more of both on future trips.
If you are still debating Colombia, STOP, relax, buy your ticket and go. Follow the rules and conduct for personal safety when you are there, of course, and get additional information from trusted locals and friends. You do this, you will have the trip of a lifetime. SO, ENJOY! Leave a Comment
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Colombia is infamous for kidnappings, however as a foreign tourist it is unlikely that you will be targeted, and you should not worry unduly about this. So long as you avoid urban slum areas and do not travel between cities by road after dark there is really nothing to worry about. Miltitary checkpoints consisting of up to 20 soldiers designed in part to deter guerrilla groups from operating occur every few miles along major highways, and travelling overland is now much safer than it used to be.
Remember that kidnapping is a reasonably high-risk activity for the kidnapper, and the purpose of kidnapping is to demand a ransom. Consequently, although spontaneous kidnappings are not unheard of, it's likely that most kidnap victims are specifically targeted by the guerillas - their bank accounts investigated, their movements watched over a period of time, and an ambush specifically set to capture them. The main targets of kidnappings are wealthy and / or politically connected Colombian families, not tourists. Leave a Comment
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 Military Police by sjvesseyLeave a Comment
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The most important thing to remember about Colombia, is - Do not believe everything you read and hear! The country undiubtedly has problems with the guerilla and the drug cartels, but you shouldn't be too afraid of everything you are told. A lot of the locals are quite paranoid about the situation, so you should take everything with a pinch of salt. The country is mostly safe to a regular tourist who keeps his head cool. Try to stay away from remote rural areas and check with the locals and tourist information before going to certain rural places. You should however avoid driving across country yourself, but it is absolutely safe to do so in a bus (even at night). Try to look and behave as neutral as possible. Basically - if you won't go looking for trouble, trouble won't come looking for you. Leave a Comment
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You may think this is a bit ridiculous, but for your own safety DO NOT EVER WEAR ‘KAKI’ (green, military-like) CLOTHES OUT especially in most of the remote areas and off-the-beaten tracks. This is quite a serious issue in Colombia, since the Guerillas wear Kaki as their trademark and whenever the police suspect someone (in that color), he has a permission to shoot!! This is no kidding, my Colombian friend warned me about this herself. Don’t ignore those little details, they might cause you a really big trouble!! BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY, right?
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 Ways to cross a river by AndreSTGT
I felt entirely safe in the areas i visited (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona).
But there is no denying that some parts of Colombia are very dangerous and simply no-go areas.
Check before you leave, but don't make the mistake of skipping Colombia altogether.
SECURITY UPDATE (Sep 2003) :
A group of travelers have been kidnapped by guerillas on the Ciudad Perdida Trek. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is no longer safe and it's probably not a good idea to go on the trek at the moment. Leave a Comment
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 Murillo by WaRPer
Actually even in Bogotá, it’s very common to see armed soldiers carrying guns & rifles around but that is just for security reasons they’re not likely to shoot you or anyone!!
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 by AndreasK
Bogota has got one of the highest crime rate in the world (I had be back to my apartment by 6:00 pm to be safe).
There are earthquakes (see my Cali page) and hurricanes, too.
The picture shows a mild-mannered Anaconda, the world largest snake, at the zoo in Leticia. Leave a Comment
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 Juntas by WaRPer
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