PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Col. most dangerous in S. America for backpackers?

From reading some of the comments on this website you would think that there are very few backpackers in Colombia and that its a regular occurance for them to get kidnapped or robbed. I hear alot of comments from colombians on whats happened to their family or stories about people working for major companies going missing but what about the everyday backpacker.

At any one time I would say there is roughly 100 backpackers in the hostels in Bogota, 100 in Sta Marta, 100 in Cartegena another couple of 100 scattered through cali, Medi and other towns. On top of this is the German students, the many english teachers, Italian teachers all living happily in towns across the country.

Other than the unfortunate incident last year when the group was taken in the sierra Nevada and thankfully all returned safely, although 4 months later have any other backpackers got first hand stories of problems in Colombia. I backpacked here for 8 months last year and have returned this year to live and have never had any problems, yes Im lucky as is anyone travelling for extended periods and never had a problem. I am an Australian, stand out as a foriegner a friggen mile away, I take precautions but no more than in any other country.

In the 12 months on and off I have backpacked through the country I have only met 7 foriegners who have been robbed. 1 at gun point near Taganga, 5 in Bogota with knives all in the same street and a Japanese guy in Cartagena who got robbed 3 nights in a row and each day bought back his credit cards only to go to the bank and get robbed again.

In 7 days in Lima I met over 20 people who had been robbed with quite a few of them getting beaten. Especially in Taxi's. I personally felt safer walking the streets of Bogota than I do Lima or Buenos Aires and I have heard many stories of backpackers getting robbed at Syringe point in Brazilian cities. If you were to look at statistics on backpackers in foriegn countries Australia is a hell of alot more dangerous than Colombia. From what I remember in the last 2 years there have been no backpacker deaths in Colombia, In Australia off the top of my head I can remember three. A girl getting robbed and thrown from a bridge, a guy being murdered after stopping to help a broken down car and another tourist eaten by a crocodile Im sure there is more I just can´t think of them off the top of my head. (Yes Australia has a lot more tourist so the chances of them dying are higher as do Peru, Brazil etc.)

I have also travelled Asia (India, Nepal, Laos more dangerous as a backpacker) and the one thing I notice is that the people in these countries would never fill a website telling people not to visit. Whats stopping more backpackers from coming to Colombia are they scared because they have met backpackers that have had problems or because Colombians living in America and Colombians here are telling them that its to dangerous. I think the dangers for backpackers are very different from those of wealthy colombians with most kidnappings being planned and targeting individuals.

I think some more useful advice on the dangers in Colombia is watchout for the traffic, those pretty stars painted on the road are people who got in the way of a car (red lights don't mean nothing) or when a sign says no swimming (parque Tyrona) don't swim there nothing worse than watching someone drown next to a no swimming sign.

Come to Colombia, enjoy the country be careful, watch your belongs and don't carry lots of cash. Listen to advice on where to go. But as any backpacker should know do this in every country. Don't relax once you leave Colombia and enter Brazil or Peru if anything be more careful.

I know Im probably gonna cop a bit of crap here from Colombians about foriegners being here and thinking they know everything thats going on in Colombia. I don't know everything but after working in the hostels in Colombia and now owning one I do know a fair bit about backpackers experiences here and I am yet to meet one who has regretted coming here. (including those who have been robbed)

I would like to be more educated in the area of backpacker problems so if you have first hand stories about backpackers let me know. (not American Colombians here visitng family or travelling in cars around the country but people staying in hostels and camping around the country while travelling by bus). And I don't want to hear stories that a friend of a friend told you about there Cousins, Penpals, Taxi driver that knew a guy who went missing.

I would also love to here how people rate how safe the major cities in Sth America are I would say from my experience most dangerous first
1. Lima
2 Beunos Aires
3 La Paz
4 Bogota
5 Santiago

(never been to a major city in Brazil, someone on the internet told me they were to dangerous)

Also go to Australia, Its not as dangerous as I made it sound just unfortunate random incidents a bit like the 1 kidnapping here of the tourists. Just be careful

By carter on Jan 13, 2005, 11:09 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoX says on Jan 13, 2005, 11:22:

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you enjoyed Colombia and hope you return soon.

ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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miamimike says on Jan 13, 2005, 11:37:

Bogota Robberies What street was that in Bogota where you stated 5 backpackers were robbed???

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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caslug says on Jan 13, 2005, 11:38:

are you trying to allay or reinfornce's people's.. fear about COL? LOL

"In the 12 months on and off I have backpacked through the country I have only met 7 foriegners who have been robbed. 1 at gun point near Taganga, 5 in Bogota with knives all in the same street and a Japanese guy in Cartagena who got robbed 3 nights in a row and each day bought back his credit cards only to go to the bank and get robbed again."

Could you give us advice on how NOT to get robbed? I like to hear about lima, peru also, because i'm heading there next week. Thanks!

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British Paisa says on Jan 13, 2005, 11:39:

Boost to the economy Would sure help the economy to have more backpackers that could be stripped of their cash.

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miamimike says on Jan 13, 2005, 11:56:

ARgentina/Chile Have you been to those high mountain lakes in Chile or Argentina where they have that great trout fishing in your travels?? Thanks for the post-sounds like you have really traveled. You should write an E-Book for escapeartist.com

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Sam Salmon says on Jan 13, 2005, 12:04:

I Saw a Cocodrilo in Choco He didn't like the look of me though and slunk away.
Maybe because I wasn't wearing a backpack.....

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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dragonhf says on Jan 13, 2005, 14:57:

To Don Negro Yes, I still remeber that day. When that guy with that screwdriver threaten me.
I had a burger in my hand, standing in my fightingpose ready to kick the guys head. But I´m glad that I didn´t fought with them, it´s better this way. None us us was getting hurt, so we gained one more experience and this is what it counts. One tip, if you feel unsafe walking around buy a bottle of soda made of glass, you can use it for defense. I always do that when I´m alone walking in the street late night or when I need to grab a cab in Primero mayo in the south of Bogota. And I also always sitt behind the driver, it´s easier to strangle him or hit him on the head if he would try to do something.
You can feel that the driver feel uncomfortable when you are doing that. But in the other hand I practice martialart, so I feel pretty safe anyway. But it is worth to take the risk to travel to Colombia, it´s so fun there, I recommend it to everyone. And I will go back soon.

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Lionheart says on Jan 13, 2005, 15:51:

roofus My lady in Cali quit reading PBH because of the bullshit. She got very upset many times and complained to me:

.... why do they make my country/city so bad? If you have brain you are safe ... do those gringos have no brains?

.... not my words, she is lawyer in Cali, and I couldn't find translations for all she said, but it looked bad.

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dragonhf says on Jan 13, 2005, 16:04:

I agree with her Lionheart No matter what country you are living in, if bad things happens, it happens. I totaly agree with her and of course if you are a foreigner you will probably take more risk than the local people. When they see a foreigner they might think that he is wealthy.
Send my regards to your girlfriend that even if I´m living in a nice country like Sweden, I prefer to move to Colombia if I had the opportunity. I love Colombia. Now I´m only waiting to meet a colombiana and falling in love with her and settle down in Bogota forever, ha ha ha. just joking. But if it happens I won´t be sad :-)

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caslug says on Jan 13, 2005, 16:04:

lion.. "do those gringos have no brains?"

Tell you novia that she justed asked a rhetorical questions! LOL.

But seriously, there's travllers that use their brain, then you got the ones that leave it at the border whenever they travel. Like getting drunk and trying stumble home alone, because they did it at home.

Travelling to a country that has extreme poverty and weak law enforcement, you better have your wits about you. I'm heading to Lima, which i hear has the same type of street crime issue. I emailed and amiga and asked her how she takes safety issue, i never said her country or city is worse than another. It damn sure is worse than my city, but no sense telling her that, it'll just insult her for no reason.

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umm says on Jan 13, 2005, 16:11:

I tell you, if you dont want to go to dangerous places then dont go to the USA. You easily get robbed or killed there.

Also Peru is by far more dangerous than Colombia. The gamines in the streets of Lima rob you during the day leaving you only with your bare life and noone dears to help you.

UMM

My Forum

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lpdiver says on Jan 13, 2005, 17:50:

soda? This is total bullshit. Buy a bottle of Aguardiente Antioqueno, jejeje

"cook some rice!"

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dragonhf says on Jan 13, 2005, 18:06:

to Ipdiver It might be bullshit, but I´m sure I can take you down with or without that bottle, ha ha ha.

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umm says on Jan 13, 2005, 19:42:

I find NECTAR tastes much better.

UMM

My Forum

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caslug says on Jan 13, 2005, 19:56:

umm.. can you give some safety in Lima? I was reading the forum on lonely planet and several travellers had problem with everything from street kids, to taxi driver robbing them. I'm not saying this was happening a lot, but enough to want to ask. I've been to Cali, BOG & CTG so i'm not a complete newbie when it comes to common sense precatuion.

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umm says on Jan 13, 2005, 21:26:

I also dont know whey people say Colombia isnt safe and then they go to peru or Brazil and dont worry about anything.
In Peru, here especially Lima its really easy to get robbed, there you are really not safe. One friend of mine wad robbed three times in one evening in Rio de Janeiro. Just another place where its better to watch out.

Well, if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time even the Vatican isnt safe.

UMM

My Forum

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eldiablo says on Jan 14, 2005, 06:23:

Carter - Brasil Unsafe !? I quote `` never been to a major city in Brazil, someone on the internet told me they were to dangerous) ´´

Somebody on the internet ! And here you are, asking people not to write about stories from a friend of a friend etc about Colombia. For your info mate - I am currently half way through a 6 month spell in Salvador, Brasil, and I have never once seen a robbery, a fight, or any sort of violence. I cannot speak for Rio, Sao Paulo but Salvador has 2.5 million people and there is `heaps´ of unemployment & poverty. So, please do not generalise about Brazil, this was your point about Colombia.

I was in Australia for a year and have never seen so many fights in my life. From backwater bars in WA to classy joints in Sydney, there were always fisticuffs.

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carter says on Jan 14, 2005, 15:28:

el diablo, ever heard of Sarcasm? My comments on Brazil were sarcastic I do apologise because Sarcasm doesn't always translate that well.

The point of the posting was to point out that all countries have there dangers but people shouldn't be put off by them and still travel. Just be careful.

For the first time ever someone suggested that Brazil is more dangerous than Colombia and I get an angry message back. I wish this would happen more often when bad things are said about Colombia. I think we have to solve our problems El diablo Aussie style with a punch up.

I have never been to Brazil so I can't write a safety report on it. A couple of people asked safety advice for Peru. Take official taxis from the airports to hostels. Spend as little time in the streets with your backpacks as possible. don't flash cameras, jewellery or cash around catch taxis at night with friends.

Im not really qualified to give to much advice on Peru as I was only there a few weeks and Im sure someone else on the site can give more info.

Someone asked about the dangerous street in bogota
carrera 4 between 17 and 19 (at any time of day, yes even though it is busy). It is close to the platypus hostel but you have no need to walk it as the next road running parallel is safe.

Never been trout fishing in my life Miamimike but saw some nice lakes in the mountains of Patagonia. I saw some fish in the Cocuy lakes could have been trout, could have been Salmon for all I know about fish.

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carter says on Jan 14, 2005, 15:28:

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 14, 2005, 18:53:

Sometimes I tell my wife about some of the nonsense that is posted on this site. It gives her a chuckle but she still thinks I'm a moron for reading it.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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ARMacleod says on Jan 15, 2005, 03:39:

Safe, means 'free from risk' There is no such situation.

In January 04, my precious and I walked into the centre of Bogota, She needed to purchase a small gift for her friend, (gifts? that's another story) as it was getting quite late and was dark, I tentatively enquired "is it quite safe to be wandering aimlessly around here"?

She smiled and said "not really, it is so dark, you have to keep looking down to check that you are not stepping on something objectionable" We laughed.

In August 04. My precious and I were walking through the centre of London in the late evening. She asked me if it was safe to be here. I said "not really, you have to keep looking down to check that you are not stepping on someone objectionable" We laughed hysterically.

Ah yes, every city in the world my friends, every one.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions. ¡El diablo me hizo lo hago! But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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ladeeda says on Jan 14, 2006, 19:17:

relatively safe Hermanos y hermanas:
I agree with the folks here who say that Lima is much more dangerous than Bogota. I would also add that, in my opinion, Guayaquil is much more dangerous than Bogota in terms of robbery. In Lima I have had people unashamedly stick their hands right into my pockets and it seems pretty much a sure shot that gangs of youth will surround you if and when you go off main drag type streets unaccompanied in places like say, rimac... If you ever make it to Guayaquil (which you totally should) please beware of the taxi scams near the airport. Use radio taxi when going to the airport and if the cabbie takes anything but a major highway to get to the airport, you should start gettin worried. There are well orchestrated robbery plots between taxis and others around the airport in Guayaquil. I ended up on some side road just meters from the airport with two guns pressed to my head. By some miraculous stroke of luck, i lived to tell the tale and all that happened was that I was robbed of thousands of dollars worth of uninsured material possessions...plus my plane ticket, credit cards, cash, passport, all except for the jeans and tshirt i was wearing. i know everyone is very familiar with such stories, but just dont forget about these airport scams cuz theyre some real crazy shit.

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BrassAdonis says on Jan 14, 2006, 20:43:

HOw do you know which taxi's to take in all these cities? is there a rule?

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Miguel says on Jan 14, 2006, 21:07:

Backpackers in Santa Marta Colombia There was never a post here about an article in EL HERALDO (Barranquilla's daily paper) about Santa Marta's mayor stating that his city wants nothing to do with them, because they don't spend any money in his city.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 14, 2006, 21:32:

I'm sorry Carter but... I don't think it's a really compelling argument for the overall safety of Colombia that it's just as safe as Rio, Lima, etc. Those are are also very potentially dangerous places. And a big part of why there's not a lot of problems with tourists (including backpackers) being victimized here is that there simply are NOT enough of them in Colombia to present much of a profile. 500 backpackers at any given time in Colombia, a country of 40 million people, is NOTHING. Just imagine how many foreign travellers are in Peru on any given day.

I agree that Colombia has a shit reputation, much of it undeserved, but you've really gotta do better than "Bogota is safer than Lima" if you want to change some minds.

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jalf12 says on Jan 14, 2006, 21:57:

Carter I don't think my little four day excursion is what you would call "backpacking" but you can read about it under another post if you're intersted:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/16076?from=50&comments_per_page=50

It was however for me the first taste of backing I've had since I spent a month in Europe in 98, and I must say I'm thirsty for more. I left all my camping/backpacking equipment with the suegros because the next chance I get at a vacation it will be camping in Colombia again.

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rocinante says on Jan 14, 2006, 22:30:

What a Crock! "...and another tourist eaten by a crocodile..."- carter It really is bad out there! Cancel my flight to Oz, rebook to Medellin and then I'm hitch hiking to the South East of the country. Of course I'll be packing crocodile repellent.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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