Will I feel safe on a Viva Cartagena tour?
We recognize that Colombia’s sordid, drug-filled history can leave even the most experienced traveler wondering if a trip to this country is safe. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we decided to lead tours here: we realized many people were reluctant to go to Colombia on their own, and we wanted to help Americans get to experience Forbes’s third most beautiful country in the world without having to look over their shoulder the whole time.
Our tours are carefully designed so that safety is not something you will have to worry about on your trip. But you still want to be a wise traveler, and the safety precautions you use in Europe apply to Colombia. Here are some top tips.
We prioritize key safety advantages including:
Lodging in safe neighborhoods.
We work with our local guide Luis, who has more than ten years of experience guiding tours for GAdventures and National Geographic, to stay in comfortable hotels in the safe part of town. In bigger cities, we stay in hotels with upgraded security features to keep our travelers secure.
Private transportation that is trustworthy.
Our entire itinerary is designed to keep you moving and grooving with a full itinerary, unlike other tour companies that leave you with large swaths of unstructured time… even though you paid for a whole 10 days!
You can spend your entire itinerary with us, on our privately arranged transportation with drivers who our local guide has vetted and determined are safe drivers. There will be no distracted driving or getting lost here, and no risk of taxi muggings if you stay with the group.
A local guide who is invested in you having a good experience.
You’ll be traveling with a group, which will naturally deter theft. You’ll also have a local Colombian with you, watching your back, for the whole trip. He’ll keep an eye out for anything that looks shady and give you in-the-moment safety tips, with his lifetime experience of staying safe in Colombia.
That being said, as with any travel destination, tourists can be a target for crime.
Be cautious with your belongings:
Keep your valuables, including passports, money, and electronics, secure at all times. Use a money belt and a luggage lock on your suitcase. Leave valuable jewelry at home.
Some easy tricks:
Wear jewelry that is obviously handcrafted and doesn’t contain gemstones. Beads or hand-painted items are much less likely to be stolen than something sparkly, even if it’s cubic zirconia.
Use a suitcase lock. It’s wise to lock up extra money or your passport when you’re out of your room. If you are staying in multiple rooms on a trip it can be much easier than utilizing a room safe.
When you’re out on the street, think twice before you pull out your phone. Stand back against a building. Have someone with you be an obvious lookout while you take pictures.
Don’t leave your purse on the back of a chair or floor in restaurants. Keep it on your body or lap so it’s not a temptation.
For more safety tips, check out our guide to 7 tips for safer travel: Money
In Colombia, they say “no dar papaya,” which simply means not to give someone an easy opportunity to steal from you.
Colombia is on the migration route for people migrating from Venezuela, Haiti, and other countries in dire economic circumstances. Therefore, stealing a cell phone out of someone’s hand or pickpockets can have a big payoff for people who are struggling.
You can do it!
We have felt very safe in Colombia. Even Rachel, on our team, lived there for 6 weeks on her own in early 2023 and was never a victim of theft. Be streetwise, but also recognize that most Colombians are welcoming to tourists and eager to share their warm culture.
