Is It Safe to Travel Alone in Colombia? Solo Safety Tips (Level 3 Advisory)

This guide may contain affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.

Last reviewed: November 2026. The US advisory for Colombia I refer to was dated March 31, 2026. Read the current version before you book.

Table of Contents

Colombia draws a lot of solo travelers, with cities like Medellín and Cartagena, the coffee region and the Caribbean coast. Plenty of people travel alone there without problems. It’s also a country where the US government asks visitors to reconsider travel, and some of the risks hit solo travelers harder than groups.

Here’s an honest look at what the advisory says, the specific risks for people traveling alone, and the precautions that matter most.

What the US advisory says

In the March 2026 advisory, Colombia overall was at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and natural disasters. Some areas were at Level 4, “Do Not Travel”:

Arauca
Cauca (except Popayán)
Valle del Cauca (except Cali)
Norte de Santander
Areas within 10 km of the border with Venezuela

Level 3 doesn’t mean you can’t go, but it does mean taking the risks seriously and checking insurance, since some policies limit cover at higher levels. My guide to reading government travel advisories explains what the levels mean in practice.

The biggest risk for solo travelers: dating apps and drugging

The US advisory specifically warns that criminals use dating apps to lure victims, then drug, rob, assault and in some cases kill them. US citizens have died in such incidents, particularly in Medellín. Drugging also happens in bars and clubs, sometimes with substances that leave victims compliant and confused.

If you meet someone from an app, meet in a busy public place, and don’t go to their home or invite them back to yours.
Never leave a drink unattended, and don’t accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers.
Share the person’s profile and your plans with a friend, and check in afterward.
Leave if you start to feel unusually drunk or unwell, and ask staff for help.

Yellow colonial facade with a bicycle in Cartagena — Photo: Alain Frechette / Pexels

Theft and robbery

Phone snatching, pickpocketing and armed robbery happen in cities. If you’re robbed, hand over what’s demanded; resisting is when people get hurt.

Keep your phone out of sight on the street, especially near traffic, where thieves on motorbikes snatch phones.
Carry a small amount of cash and one card, and leave the rest locked in your accommodation.
Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centers during the day.
Avoid walking alone at night, even short distances. Take an app-based ride or a taxi called by your hotel or restaurant.

Getting around safely

Don’t hail taxis on the street. Use ride-hailing apps or dispatched taxis.
Fly between regions where you can. Domestic flights are often cheap, and the advisory warns about road travel in some areas.
If you take long-distance buses, travel by day with established companies, and keep valuables on you, not in the overhead rack.
Don’t travel outside cities at night.

Choosing where to stay and go

Pick accommodation in well-reviewed, busy neighborhoods, and read recent reviews from other solo travelers. A hostel with a good social scene, or a guesthouse with staff on site, gives you people to ask about local conditions. Book tours outside cities with established operators.

The wider habits in my guide to staying safe while traveling alone apply here too, and my roundup of solo travel safety tips from travel bloggers includes advice from people who’ve traveled alone in Latin America.

Medellin skyline and mountains under a blue sky — Photo: Daniel Vélez / Pexels

Prepare at home

Enroll in the State Department’s STEP program to get alerts.
Get travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and check what it says about Level 3 countries.
Save local emergency number 123 and the US Embassy in Bogotá’s contact details.
Share your itinerary with someone at home and agree when you’ll check in.

If something does go wrong, my step-by-step guide to handling a travel emergency abroad covers lost passports, theft and medical problems.

Frequently asked questions