Colombia Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Colombia.
Colombia runs a two-tier system: EPS public coverage for residents and high-quality private clinics that accept cash or travel insurance. Tourists use private facilities.
Clínica del Country and Fundación Santa Fe (Bogotá), Clínica Las Américas (Medellín), Hospital Bocagrande (Cartagena). All have 24-hour emergency rooms and English-speaking doctors.
Farmatodo, Drogas La Rebaja, and Cruz Verde chains open late. Pharmacists can dispense many prescription drugs without a local script. Carry the generic name of your medication.
Insurance is not mandatory for entry but strongly recommended. Immigration officers may ask for proof of onward travel and funds.
- ✓ Bring antimalarials only if heading to the Amazon or Pacific lowlands. Most destinations including Bogotá and Medellín are high-altitude and malaria-free.
- ✓ Tap water is safe in Bogotá, Medellín, and Manizales. Use bottled water on the coast and in small towns.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching on public transport and in crowded markets.
Colorless, tasteless drug slipped into drinks or food leading to temporary paralysis and robbery.
ELN and dissident FARC factions operate in border zones and parts of Arauca, Cauca, Nariño, and Catatumbo.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Plain-clothes individuals claiming to be police ask to inspect your cash for counterfeit notes, then switch or steal it.
Someone squirts ketchup or mustard on your clothes while an accomplice rifles your pockets during the cleanup.
Restaurants near plazas hand English menus with inflated prices.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Use ride-hailing apps like DiDi or Cabify. Taxis booked by phone display the passenger's name on the driver's phone.
- • Avoid night buses on the Bogotá, Medellín highway after 9 p.m. Daylight flights or daytime coaches are safer.
- • Carry only the cash you need for the day and a backup card locked in your hotel safe.
- • Split valuables: keep one phone in a secure pocket and a cheap decoy phone visible.
- • Download offline maps and save hotel address in Spanish to show taxi drivers.
- • Buy a local SIM (Claro, Movistar, or Tigo) at the airport so you can call 123 without roaming issues.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo female travel is common and generally safe in hostels, coffee farms, and major cities. Local women use public transport alone day and night. Extra caution is wise after dark.
- → Sit near the driver on TransMilenio or Metro systems at night.
- → Reject unsolicited drink invitations and keep your beverage in sight.
Same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws are in place nationwide.
- → Public displays of affection draw little attention in Chapinero, Bogotá or Laureles, Medellín, but are best avoided in small towns.
- → Use LGBTQ+-friendly guesthouses listed on local apps to find vetted accommodations.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Colombia's excellent private hospitals expect cash or insurance up front. Medical evacuation from remote areas can be costly.
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