{"id":75538,"date":"2018-06-06T10:03:42","date_gmt":"2018-06-06T10:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=75538"},"modified":"2026-10-26T10:19:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T10:19:29","slug":"is-colombia-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/is-colombia-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for staying safe in Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

For decades Colombia was in the international press for all the wrong reasons – drugs, kidnappings and civil war. Now with a peace agreement in place between the FARC and the Colombian government and a significant decrease in drug related violence, Colombia is much safer and tourism has skyrocketed in the last ten years. From the coffee to awe-inspiring beaches to the infectious care-free spirit of its people, Colombia will leave its mark (in all the right ways) on curious travellers.<\/p>\n

Travelling in Colombia still requires caution but with planning and smart precautions you can have a safe and positive experience in this remarkable country. We spent three months travelling throughout Colombia and its probably our favourite place in South America. These are our top tips for staying safe in Colombia, updated in October 2026. Still planning your route? Start with our guide to backpacking Colombia<\/a> and the best places to visit in Colombia<\/a>, or browse all our Colombia travel guides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Is Colombia safe to visit in 2026?<\/h2>\n

For most backpackers, yes. The main tourist route (Bogot\u00e1, Medell\u00edn, the coffee region, Cartagena and the Caribbean coast) is visited safely by huge numbers of travellers every year. Street crime is the main risk: the UK Foreign Office says pickpocketing, mugging and armed robbery are a problem in major cities including Bogot\u00e1, Medell\u00edn, Cali and the Caribbean coast. Some rural and border regions are still affected by armed groups, so check the latest FCDO travel advice for Colombia<\/a> (or your own government’s) before you go, and follow the tips below.<\/p>\n

Traveller theft and crime<\/h2>\n

Colombian people are proud and happy that you have chosen to visit their country and keen to look toward the future. While crime rates are lower than they’ve ever been in Colombia, there is still a risk of pickpocketing and robbery.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a great phrase in Colombia: ‘no dar papaya<\/em>\u2019 – literally \u2018don\u2019t give papaya\u2019 – meaning don\u2019t make yourself an easy target. Using common sense and following some simple safety tips vastly decreases the likelihood of falling victim to crime or theft:<\/p>\n