Safety in Colombia

Gator says on Nov 22, 2006, 13:51:

Question??
In what section of Bogotá does you friend live?

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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scotty says on Nov 22, 2006, 14:01:

No problems I have traveled to Bogota alone about 4 times and Cali Colombia about 12 or 13 times over the last 7 years. Each time i stayed anywhere from 2 weeks to a month and I have never once had a problem of any kind.
In fact i get more grief from the road rag screwballs on American highways.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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juancegomez says on Nov 22, 2006, 14:14:

Hopefully you do receive enough support As for myself, all I can do right now is tell you that there are real risks, but IMHO you can still travel to Colombia reasonably safely despite the always existing risks, if you try to find both the positives *and* the negatives of the security situation at a given time or place.

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 22, 2006, 14:57:

arfgoblue says on Nov 22, 2006, 16:30:

BOD since BOD (Bank of Daddy) won't pay for your trip, maybe you should just grow up and pay for your trip yourself.

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stephen99 says on Nov 22, 2006, 16:38:

safe in Colombia? I just returned from Colombia and travelled throughout the country by bus.Before I left I was anxious but I trusted my wife's family to keep us safe.
Basic story..........Colombia has changed a lot in the last three years
travelling is much safer....... We went through the mountains at night on a bus from Bogota to Santa Marta.The presence right now in the travelled areas is the army
I am an old teacher and a parent...I understand how your parents feel
So I think the argument is simply this.........
the people you must rely on are the adults in colombia...who will only allow you to travel where they know its safe now.......
the embassy is usually not up to date on specific areas of the country
On our trip my family had no hesitation travelling with us...they would not have done the same trip three years ago
The tourist areas and cities are not in the middle of the troubles
just normal south american crime stuff......
check your home town stats probably does not look much better
When Toronto had SARS tourism collapsed...baseball was cancelld americans stayed away in tens of thousands.....CNN showed people wearing face masks etc..only two hospitals in town had the virus within the walls of the hospital......not outside...the media effect on distorting the truth is powerfull..............Colombia has some really bad troubles...........but they are in particular areas in a land that is as big as Spain and France together.I can say that there is no war activity in Bogota and Cartegena.
I think if you parents are worried about in between..... then fly from Bogota to Cartagena....If you want more info my wife and I would be glad to help
Good luck

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jay1234 says on Nov 22, 2006, 16:52:

My 2 cents I think the point has been made many times here that if you go to the wrong place anywhere at the wrong time (US cities included) you can find danger. That being said, I have travelled twice to Colombia in the past year and had no problems whatsoever. The first time, in Medellin, I was surprised at the number of army, police, and private security guards everywhere. I asked my friends if this was because they were neccesary to keep the peace. The response was pretty much along the lines of, "no, it helps, but alot of it is psychological and to give people peace of mind." In my two weeks there, I did not see anything that concerned me. My second trip to Bquilla was much the same. I travelled by bus to Cartagena with my girlfriend and otherwise took taxis most everywhere. I read about some murders in the "bad areas," (with intimations that the victims were involved in drugs/crime) but I never saw anything that made me worry. I think with the population so high in the cities, the crime rate is reasonable.

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nataliew says on Nov 22, 2006, 17:17:

thank you all for you imput : )

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gorgonabob says on Nov 22, 2006, 18:14:

my input is people who say colombia is too dangerous for travellers are STUPID and IGNORANT and listening to them will be your loss..

and almost without exception people who say this have not been to Colombia or are ex-Colombians who have not returned to the country in five/ ten/ twenty years and do not know the present situation

Colombia is safe for travellers.. i have travelled all over it and talk to thousands of travellers every year in this country and they will all tell you the same thing.. this is a fantastic country and how glad they are they didnt listen to all the bad press.. because its crap...

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Nov 22, 2006, 19:45:

just one experience..... I recently spent two weeks in Cartagena and Baranquilla and it was a great experience. I will be returning in January as Columbians are the most fantastic people in the world. During the parade on November 11, I was walking on the edge of the old city near the hotel, when a watermelon came from up above and I felt it touch the hairs on my right arm as it went by and then exploded. I'm white, blonde/blue eyes and 6'4", so obviously I can be 'made' a mile away. This would have been a disaster as my neck is completely rebuilt with titanium, I'm 55 years old, and I would not be able to take a hit like that. At first I thought it was some kind of an "ugly-american" thing; but others told me that I was 'selected' because I was holding hands with my columbian fiancee at the time. I am latin american savvy so this came as a surprise to me; so my question is: do you forum members think that it was random, or did I break some kind of Columbian rule about showing affection in public? (We weren't kissing, just walking hand in hand.) Thx,

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rocinante says on Nov 22, 2006, 19:46:

toughie aint read al the comments but this question has no answer. For one stranger to say it's completely safe/dangerous to another stranger is ridiculous. For one the giver of advice is "not the asker" and also no one has any idea of the tolerance and experience of the giver and asker.

For instance: backpackers. Most backpackers are good travellers and are notorious for being poor. In South America back packers are pretty much ignored by theives and rarely get into trouble.

Or party animal tourists: Are in trouble, get drunk, get mugged and hang out in areas where crime may take place. They "look" like they are tourists, not from Colombia and therefore are targeted more frequently.

Who's advice are you going to trust if the poster is a 5'5" redheaded frecklefaced choir boy from Skokie? Or if the poster is tough half puerto rican kid from the south bronx?

The hypothetical question and answer could be:

If you're a tough cookie from the streets of a major city (read a city with crime) and you travel to Colombia and stay in the big cities and nicer neighborhoods AND you'll be with locals you trust - you will have NO PROBLEM WITH SAFETY.

Based on your post you sound young - just out of college or younger. Trust me, if your parents are making the decision, a bunch of emails or posts from strangers with 'who knows what' credentials are not going to change their minds.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Nov 22, 2006, 19:58:

descarga de sandía "I am latin american savvy "

But you can't spell Colombia? You have a fiancee with a family who are, I assume, Colombian. Why not ask them about the Watermellon Tradition?

"At first I thought it was some kind of an "ugly-american" thing; but others told me that I was 'selected' because I was holding hands with my columbian fiancee at the time. "

What you thought and what others told you sounds like the same thing to me. Not very positive.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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gorgonabob says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:07:

my views are only based on the opinions of several thousand travellers to colombia over the last couple of years.... they being in there majority, yes, backpackers...

if i was a fifty year old blond american walking down the streets of la candalaria in bogota with my gold rolex on id probably think the place was quite dangerous...

one fact i can give to you is that of 2000 travellers i have personally talked to in medellin in the last fifteen months only one has been robbed.. now thats not a bad stat.

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billyb says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:08:

Roci', very good points on both posts. BillyB

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webmanco says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:09:

As safe as it can be Colombia is safe (Click here)

Comments from recent visitors to Colombia on the Travel Blog.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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gorgonabob says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:13:

and another thing the comment

In South America back packers are pretty much ignored by theives and rarely get into trouble

is not at all true... backpackers are targets of thieves all over south america.... i have talked to hundreds of them that have been robbed... most being in Quito and on buses in Peru. Backpackers are big targets in those countries in the tourist areas and on the tourist frequented buses... to say otherwise is not true..

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gorgonabob says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:18:

that is a laugh thanks for that link webmanco... that is pretty clear...

the poster brittany (no2) who has never been to Colombia is telling everyone how dangerous the country is... then you get the replies from people who have been to the country saying they thought it plenty safe.. .

who the hell are you going to take seriously. the women who has never been to colombia telling you how dangerous it is or those who have been here...

go figure..

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billyb says on Nov 22, 2006, 20:37:

Gorgon, did you also notice that.... our knowledgeable Brittany also says she's going to Central America then going to Latin America? Last time I heard, Central America was part of Latin America.

BillyB

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Nov 23, 2006, 08:01:

Roci.... What I meant about latin savvy is that I worked for a company in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. Nothing ever happened because I used common sense; something that tourists sometimes don't use all over the world.
My fiancee was embarassed by what happened, and my relationship with her family is primarily based on love and respect. Her family, including her father likes me alot. That's why I went to Colombia to find my first wife. People like this are just not here in the U.S., and if they are, I can't find them.
I think they say things to please me and don't want to rock the boat as someone in the U.S. would do.
I still think it is a fair, valid, and respectful question, well within the bounds of compliance with the rules of this website, for me who is trying to learn about my new culture in Colombia, about whether displays of affection in public are frowned upon. (Holding hands, nothing else)
I have an interpreter accompany me when I am doing business in Colombia, like buying a condo, and it was her that told me NOT to hold hands in public. I am trying to find out if there is truth to what she said.
(BTW, I think I've written District of Columbia too many times in my life; In my mind I know it is Colombia!) Thx, Gringoloid

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Nov 23, 2006, 08:20:

a little more.... I certainly don't want to give the impression that serious violence is strange to me outside of Colombia:
*In Tampa, FL, while in college, I was exiting a building and someone dropped a full pitcher of beer out of a window and it exploded about 10 feet in front of my path.
*In New York City, a poor soul committing suicide, jumped and hit the sidewalk about 50 yards in front of me. If I was 30 seconds sooner I would have met my maker about the same time he did.
*Also in NY, I think accidentally, someone dropped a box from a new refrigerator from about 6 stories up and narrowly missed hitting me.
*In Las Vegas, NV, around 1990, someone intentionally threw a very heavy piece of metal from a fast moving truck and hit me in the chest while I was jogging. I still carry the scar.
*I'm no perfect person myself:
*At 5 Cent Beer Night at Yankee Stadium, everyone got seriouly 'plastered', and a guiness book of world records food-fight erupted. My Boy Scout troop threw pizza slices and sandwiches.
*In college i became annoyed at the manager of my dormitory and during a food fight, I took a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and forked on to the managers head.
*The biggest crime of my life was when I was childhood arrested for being in the balcony of a movie theatre and throwing water balloons down on the people.
I was very young when all this happened and nothing was ever thrown that would hurt someone.
That guy in Cartagena was probably just getting even with me for what I did in my life.

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Nov 23, 2006, 08:46:

last one..... I don't know what the tally is, but I would tell the girl to go! How is she going to get experience and learn about life unless she goes out and touches the burners. have a good time....and there will always be next year!

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Nov 23, 2006, 17:11:

by any chance..... .....were you atop a building in the old city within Cartagena on November 11 dropping watermelons down on gringos? :)

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johnarizona says on Nov 24, 2006, 09:35:

cool Rubito I threw an ashtray thru the plate glass window (from the inside)of the east detroit police station back in the seventies, they called out over the radio "the mob is now throwing rocks thru the windows"...oh the snowballing cars stories I could tell too. of course I too have paid for all my crimes sooner or later by the watermelon on the head equivelant.

and yes its very dangerous in colombia, you could end up with an empty checking account and a empty box of condoms if one isn't careful., or even club colombia beer belly.

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