Roam Sweet Roam

When I decided to spend a month in Colombia this summer, almost everyone I told had the same reaction: “Why on earth would you go to such a dangerous country?! There’s FARC, people get kidnapped and killed, and there are so many drugs!!” I’ve been here in Colombia for three and a half weeks so far, and I just want to say that nothing could be further from the truth! Colombia has completely changed in the last 20 years, and now it’s incredibly safe, as long as you use your common sense.

For anyone considering going to Colombia, I wanted to put together a list of some things that I wish I would have known prior to coming and that could really help someone make the most of their time in this beautiful country.

Do…

• Go! A lot of people think about going to Colombia, but they get scared out of it because they hear so many horror stories from 20 years ago. Like I already said, if you use your common sense, Colombia is just as safe as any other country! Don’t be scared to come; I’m so glad that I made the decision to spend a month here! I haven’t felt unsafe once.
• Travel around the country! There are so many diverse communities throughout Colombia that staying in one city would be super limiting. Obviously if you don’t have a lot of time or if you’re on a very strict budget, staying in one city is better than nothing. But there are so many budget airlines and cheap bus routes that make traveling around the country pretty cheap!
• Learn some Spanish! Tourism is still a growing industry in Colombia, so most locals speak no English. You obviously don’t need to speak Spanish perfectly, but I recommend learning enough to be able to get around town. Learning key phrases, like what to say when ordering at a restaurant, helping your taxi/Uber driver find your hotel/hostel if they get lost, and asking for basic things at the supermarket, will go a long way.
• Trust the police! I’m obviously not the expert on this, and I’ve heard that there is some police corruption in Colombia, but in my (admittedly somewhat limited) experience, the police are SO eager to help tourists! I’ve had multiple officers randomly pull over to the side of the road and wait with me and my “gringo” friends while we waited on a taxi just to make sure that we didn’t get robbed/pick-pocketed or anything.
• Carry around a copy of your passport (especially if you’re a man)! It hasn’t happened to me yet, but I’ve heard that police frequently stop tourists to make sure they’re in the country legally. Also, military service is compulsory for men in Colombia, so it’s particularly important for men to have their foreign ID (or a copy of it) on them to prove they aren’t skipping out on their service.

Don’t…

• Take taxis! Especially if you don’t speak Spanish, I highly recommend taking Uber instead. I speak pretty good Spanish, and I’ve been ripped off by so many drivers. Some taxi drivers are the nicest people ever, but in my experience, they are much more likely to try to rip foreigners off by not turning on the meter, or by making up reasons to charge you more than the meter says. Just take Uber instead and you won’t have to worry about being ripped off!
• Slam car doors! In the US, it’s pretty common to very firmly close a car’s door to make sure that it is securely shut. In Colombia, it’s incredibly rude to close a door even somewhat firmly. Whether you take a taxi or an Uber, closing the door gently will definitely show that you’re paying attention to the local culture.

• Walk around holding your phone! Violent crime isn’t a huge problem in Colombia, so people won’t beat you up to get your phone if it’s in your purse or zipped up in a pocket, but they might grab it out of your hand if it’s easy and accessible to them. This is especially true if you spend time in poorer neighborhoods. If you need your phone for directions or something, just make sure to have a death grip on it!
• Read the US State Department’s comments on Colombia! Seriously. Reading it will almost certainly scare you out of going to Colombia! If you want information from real people who have gone to Colombia, read travel blogs for advice and tips on how to stay safe. The State Department’s information is definitely exaggerated!
• Venture too far from big cities! Even though the safety in Colombia has drastically improved over the last couple of decades, there are still some problems with drugs and guerilla groups in small towns in the countryside. That being said, the big cities are perfectly safe as long as you use your common sense! Some small cities are safe, too, though. Small towns that cater to tourists, like Salento in the Coffee Axis, are perfectly safe, because they take security so seriously since tourism is such a big industry.

If you’re considering going to Colombia, you should do it! Before coming here myself, I read some horror stories and was a little scared (or a lot scared, if I’m being honest). After spending nearly a month here, I would come back in a heartbeat. The people are so incredibly kind, and the vast majority of them are so excited that Colombian tourism is growing in popularity.

So do it! If you decide to go to Colombia, it will definitely be one of your best decisions!