Safety in Medellin

august says on May 1, 2008, 22:40:

I feel like that's a relatively safe area, but you definitely shouldn't let your guard down. I think it depends on what time of day we're talking (nighttime around there certainly feels quite a bit sketchier), if you're alone and how low a profile you're able to keep.

tomtom33 says on May 2, 2008, 03:46:

From Parque Bolivar to Exito along Avenida Junin is safe until midnight or so. Parque San Antonio is only a block from Exito, and that is the bus hub for the entire city. However, after dark you don't want to wander very far from that safe area, and stay out of Parque Bolivar after around 8:00 pm.

There are parts of Centro that are not safe even during the day. If you don't know where those parts are, you might not want to wander around Centro.

dwmte7 says on May 2, 2008, 05:33:

back in the 80's and early 90's, you could judge if an area was safe by the amount of gunfire present at any given moment. that's still a good clue, but anymore, there's just not much open gunfire. in the medallo area, the two areas to be avoided are nikitau and triste. you can go there, but it's very dangerous. the reader has been warned.

dwmte

tejasmarcos says on May 2, 2008, 06:12:

almost the entire city is safe during the daylight hours. trek on.....

my glass is getting shorter on whiskey, ice and water...

lawyer CO says on May 2, 2008, 07:38:

the san antonio park is known among medellin people as a place where is common to get robbed..specially wallets, cellphones and small change....so...is like " dar papaya"

Esteban
lawyer CO

mranderson says on May 2, 2008, 07:47:

I was out late wednesday night until about 1:30am around park bolivar and san antonio. A friend of mine owns a bar near park bolivar and from there I walked to san antonio park hoping to catch a colectivo back home. (I thought they were 24 hours)

I walked with a friend of mine and he told me it can be dangerous this time of night if you're alone. He also told me to stay in the areas where taxis are parked, it's generally safer.

By the way we were both drunk and speaking in english but I didn't feel like I was in a dangerous place. During the day and in the evening I would say san antonio park is very safe.

CatGirl says on May 2, 2008, 08:00:

Esteban: Do you mean "mugged"? Curious, what is this park like (compared to the way the EEUU is)? Do homeless sleep at night in this park or are there drug dealers there

Gracias ;)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

tigredelnorte2 says on May 2, 2008, 08:28:

I´ve found El Centro pretty safe in the daylight hours. Just keep moving. Don´t stand around like you don´t know where you are. It´s an invitation to the mal paridos

dwmte7 says on May 2, 2008, 12:35:

drug dealers in colombia?????

dwmte

scooby_1781 says on May 2, 2008, 12:42:

I have walked all around that area at night and never had any problems. My novia on the other hand must look like a target cause she has gotten mugged several times the last few years.

"SEMPER FI"

robi666 says on May 2, 2008, 12:52:

"My novia on the other hand must look like a target cause she has gotten mugged several times the last few years"
LOL, here we go again...

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

lpdiver says on May 2, 2008, 14:57:

I don't wander the streets at night. However, I have been all over Medellin in the daytime. I have only once ever felt I was in "danger". I had just withdrawn the maximum from two separate banks and accidently flashed a huge wad of money buying some refreshment outside of Exito.

Shortly I had a shadow. I just reentered Exito and went out another exit directly into a cab.

t

"cook some rice!"

joeylove007 says on May 2, 2008, 17:59:

I go to Parque Bolivar all the time I am in Medellin by myself. But reallly no reason to be there at night. But if you do go, be sure to dress down and don't wander like some lame tourist by yourself. Don't wear any jewelry, carry a wallet with a lot of money and cards. Turn your head around every minute to see if you are being followed. If you think someone is following you, turn and walk toward the direction they are without looking directly at them. Sometimes they stop, look a little startled, confused and walk away quickly. Of course if look like my picture, no one will bother you anyway.

Trust no one...except God. Hope to retire in Colombia

Medellin Traveler says on May 3, 2008, 16:12:

lawyer CO says, ¨the san antonio park is known among medellin people as a place where is common to get robbed..specially wallets, cellphones and small change....so...is like " dar papaya"

I was there today and two ladies told me to take my watch off and not to take my camera out. I took lots of photos, after removing my watch. I took the watch off more because I felt it would be bad karma, especially after these ladies talked to me at lenght about Medellin, did not want to upset the gawds.

I truly don´t see any reason to be in that area late at night.

There must have been a million people out in that area today.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

Mike19 says on May 4, 2008, 09:18:

Does any of these so called "dangerous" areas have any police present on the streets at night???