How is the security in Colombia

My experiences and what I advice you to do

Many of you, specially if never visited Colombia before, like to ask about security in Colombia. Its reasonable, you always want to know and be safe anywhere you travel, specially if you plan to come here and always hear about bad experiences.

I’m going to tell you my experiences living in Bogota and why security here is such a weird topic.

Only one time I was robbed, and by this I mean a thieves pulling out a knife. It was around 2011 and it was the BlackBerry craze and I had one, I was with one friend in Chapinero (13 and 57 street) at night. We looked young and easy target, so 3 guys came up and just said to give them my phone. That was it. It was the only time someone actually robbed me with violence.

Get some experience from this, avoid walking at night in not so bright streets, avoid nights and sketchy neighbourhoods. We were an easy target (dimos papaya).

If you are cautious you can avoid robberies of that style. You have to know it happens and if someone see the chance to rob you, he will do it. So always know where to go alone, what sites not walking alone and always ask locals for guidance. We are rational, NOBODY here likes being robbed so you always have support from locals, specially people working in stores.

What I can tell you, I have been pick pocketed a few times. If im not mistaken like 2 phones and one time they weren’t able to take it but almost.

I was riding a bus, imagine it being full in rush hour and trying to leave. You have to squeeze and maneuver to be able to leave the bus, here is when they take advantage. They are fast, you don’t even notice it.

It happen to me like that, they were standing in the exit so they were able to pick pocket with ease. They are smart, they know what phone you use because they are aware of who uses the phone in the bus.

Once again, I was naive (di papaya). Lesson here, never leave your phone or wallet in your pockets in a bus specially if it’s crowded. What I do is put everything in my backpack and hang it in front of me, so I always can protect it with my arms. Never again I got pickpocketed.

And one time I was walking around the 127 with my friend, late night going to another friends apartment to have a drink. We decided to walk because it was close.

Suddenly a guy in a bicycle came in front of us and grabe me by my shirt. But I can see how rookie the guy was because he didn’t got down of his bike haha. So my natural reaction was to push him away so he fell, but I also fell hahah.

He got up quick and left immediately, me too and just went to a guard he was close to wait a little and avoid the robber maybe was around.

Once again, lesson here not walking alone in night and in a place we didn’t know how sake it was.

Be aware of the most common ways they can rob you: I talked to you about the armed robbery, pickpockets. But also they can snatch your phone when talking in the street, they can intimidate you, they can rob you while you are in your car…

Thos are my experiences. You can see how security is a topic of perception. Many of my friends have been robbed many times and more violently, so they would argue it’s extremely dangerous. But others never been robbed so they would say it’s not that bad.

Once again, some would think it’s bad advertisement to the city or Colombia, but I argue it is what it is. I rather tell you the reality how it is so you come and have the best experience you want.

Don’t live in a bubble. Acknowledging the problems we have is vital, and if you are aware of them, you can be certain you will enjoy your time here. I would rather you come with precaution than coming completely blinded and get the worst idea of how things go here.

Best advice is don’t be so flashy and naive (no dar papaya).

And if you want to have a talk with me one on one about your concerns about Colombia, not only about security but about anything you can imagine, you can book a consultation here: