Are you traveling to Colombia (Pablo Escobar fame) by yourself? Of course, this question will inevitably cross your mind “Is Colombia safe for solo female travellers?
Since I traveled to Colombia alone, I can answer this question based on my personal experience.
As a solo traveler, I have a knack for making friends easily. I generally book hostels or meet people via Couchsurfing in order to find local connections, meet fellow travellers, and feel safe in a new country.
I did the same in Colombia and henceforth, most of my time in Colombia was not entirely solo as I met another solo female traveller from China. She also knew some Spanish (more than the basic phrases I had been using) so our trip was much smoother from there on.
However, I still did a LOT of solo day trips and adventures on my own as our travel style differed.
So if you ask me – Is Colombia safe for female travelers – Definitely!Â
However, if you are a female traveler all alone and you ask me “Is Colombia safe to travel alone“, I would surely request you to keep your guard up.Â
Why is Colombia Dangerous?
High rates of crime and murder, drug-related crimes, civil unrest, terrorism, illegal arms, kidnapping, and petty crimes are still prevailing issues in Colombia.
To be honest, it also depends on which part of Colombia you are in.
There are a few clearly labeled “dangerous parts of Colombia” like – Cali, Bogota, Buenaventura, Pereria, Tumaco, Cucate, and more.Â
Now I have visited a few cities in Colombia and even a few off this most dangerous cities to visit in Colombia list.Â
Here is what I feel about the cities I visited personally (As that is the only real intel I can provide from my experience).
Is Cartagena Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Cartagena has a bustling and vibrant street life. I loved walking around late at night and at no point did I feel unsafe in Cartagena.
I explored the local bars in Cartagena enjoyed the street celebrations and walked around everywhere.
Cartagena felt totally safe solo as well as when I went out with my female travel mate. So go forth and enjoy the lively streets of Cartagena without fretting.
Is Bogota Safe for Solo Female Travellers
Okay so Bogota happens to be another city which is high on the list of dangerous places in Colombia.
Honestly, I just had a long layover in Bogota so I stepped out of the airport for the day to meet a friend of mine.
I took a cab alone, explored on my own (Till my friend arrived several hours late), went to a salon, booked a hotel room, walked around to find a cafe to eat at – all of this alone through the day and I felt totally safe on my own.
However, having spent just a day in Bogota I cannot give a detailed review on safety in Bogota.
Is Medellin Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Even though Medellin is on almost all “dangerous cities of Colombia” listicles, personally, I felt that Medellin was modern and very tourist/ expat / digital nomad friendly.
Medellin was one city where I felt the “least” unsafe in all of Colombia so I was surprised to see it on so many lists.
Is La Guajira Safe to Travel to Alone?
La Guajira desert was ONE place in Colombia where I felt unsafe.
Though there were no incidents at such, just because of its vastness and considering how utterly remote the place was, it gave me the heebie jeebies.
From Cabo de la Vela to the Punta Gallinas (The northernmost part of South America) – the poverty, hunger, remoteness, solitude – it was both beautiful and unnerving in its own way.
I really can’t point a finger at why I felt this region was unsafe especially since I was traveling in a small group tour – but, it got to me.
Apart from these spots, I only visited Minca for a weekend alone and did a DIY day trip on my own to Guatape (my travel mate rarely joined me on my adventures).
I felt 100% safe in both of these places all by myself – from taking public transport, to staying in hostels in the jungles of Minca – it all felt totally safe and the settings were gorgeous too. At NO point during my solo adventures across Colombia did I feel unsafe at all. Maybe I went to the right spots?
My one biggest regret before visiting Colombia was that I didn’t learn enough Spanish to get by. If I was more well versed, the chances of feeling unsafe whilst knowing the local language would be far less.
However not just for safety reasons but also to get by, knowing Spanish in Colombia is an absolute must – or at least a HUGE advantage.
As a general rule, it doesn’t harm to be street smart and careful. Know some Spanish, know the currency, have hidden zippers to stash your cash, and use common sense to stay safe anywhere you go.Â
I have had misadventures even in safest parts of the world and I come from a country that is considered dangerous. So who is to say what can happen? Just stay on guard and enjoy your trip. There are no guarantees in life.
Having said that would I say “Is Colombia safe for solo female travellers”? My answer is YES but stay vigilant like with any other place you travel to alone.Â
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.
