Fair or not, Colombia had a bad reputation for safety and crime in the past. People wondering about Cartagena safety ask me a lot, “Is Cartagena safe to visit?” My answer is yes, Cartagena is very safe to visit. It does, like anywhere, have its issues, however, it’s an extremely safe destination for all tourists. Here, I’ll share my top 11 Cartagena, Colombia safety tips so you can make sure you don’t have any problems.

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Cartagena, Colombia Safety Tips – Contents

• Is Cartagena, Colombia Safe?
• Cartagena, Colombia Crime
• What About Safety in Colombia More Generally?
• 11 Cartagena, Colombia Safety Tips
• Scams or Problems You Could Encounter

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Is Cartagena Safe?

If you are reading this page on Cartagena safety, then you have probably asked yourself, or maybe your worried mother or aunt have asked you, “Is Cartagena, Colombia safe?”

The answer to the question is Cartagena safe is emphatically yes!

Cartagena is extremely safe to visit. The tourist areas generally have a heavy police presence and violent crime against tourists is practically unheard of. As long as travelers follow normal precautions Cartagena is very safe to visit. The Cartagena safety tips below will help make sure you are taking just all those precautions.

What about the travel advisory from the US embassy?

In November 2021, the US embassy issued a travel warning for Cartagena (you can read it here).

It mentioned increased crime and encouraged increased caution for areas without police presence, mentioning in particular the area known as Chambacú, located roughly in the vicinity of the Mall Plaza between the Walled City and the Castillo San Felipe, the area near the Caribe Plaza Mall (this is near where the Bazurto Market is located), and the southern part of the city.

This advisory likely prompted some worry about Cartagena safety by prospective travelers and most certainly prompted some backlash and pushback in Cartagena. You can see the video response from the mayor here.

There was another US embassy advisory in December 2021, encouraging increased precautions and concerns about Cartagena safety around the usually crowded Christmas holidays.

Honestly, it’s hard not to agree with the mayor that for 99%+ of tourists there are no real safety concerns about Cartagena. It’s maybe worth pointing out that these embassy advisories tend to be out of an abundance of caution.

Cartagena Crime

So, while I agree with the point the mayor was making in his video, I do think he stuck his foot in his mouth a bit when he said the areas with crime are in poor areas and brushed it off as if there are no Cartagena safety problems.

He is after all the mayor of the whole city, not the tourists.

The fact of the matter is there is crime in Cartagena, much like there is in just about any city of a million plus, much less one in a country that still has a lot of poverty and inequality.

Covid-19 has only added to that and it’s true there has been an uptick in crime, especially robberies throughout the city. It’s also true that crime in Cartagena primarily affects rougher areas outside the main tourist areas.

The Cartagena, Colombia crime that is most likely to affect tourists are petty robberies. There are some common scams as well, which I’ll discuss at the end of this article.

That being said, tourists should, well, do what the US advisories said, used increased caution. I don’t believe that the advisories are a reason to call off a trip, nor that you should be overly concerned about your safety in Cartagena during a visit as long as you follow basic precautions.

In the Cartagena safety tips below, I’ll give you some things to help avoid the most common Cartagena crimes against tourists.

What About Safety in Colombia More Generally?

Nearly all of Colombia is safe to travel.

The security situation has improved dramatically since the early 2000s and even more so since the 2016 peace agreement. In fact, previous no go zones like the Rainbow River of Caño Cristales are now open for tourism.

That’s not to say there aren’t still problems.

Late 2021 and early 2022 has seen some flare ups of violence from remaining rebel groups in remote areas of Colombia. There has also been a troubling trend of violence directed towards social justice activists, especially in rural, former conflict zones.

The upcoming congressional and presidential elections in 2022 are likely to be polarizing and divisive. They are also likely to highlight continued economic troubles and disagreements about the future of the country that sparked protests in previous years.

Most well known tourist areas and cities are plenty safe to travel, but it’s always worth monitoring the situation on the ground, especially if you plan to travel to more remote areas or travel between cities by bus or car.

You should feel very safe traveling up the Caribbean coast from Cartagena to places like Tayrona, Minca, or Palomino though. Perhaps it’s also worth pointing out that even during the height of the violence, Cartagena was largely unaffected.

11 Top Cartagena Safety Tips

Ok, with that introduction addressing the question of is Cartagena safe as well as some background on the Cartagena and Colombia crime situation, let’s get to the list of 11 Cartagena safety tips.

This is a top 11 because, well, everyone does top 10s, 11 has a special significance for Cartagena since it declared its independence on November 11, 1811 (11/11/11), and I think you deserve just a bit more.

Planning your trip to Cartagena? Be sure to check out our guide to the best areas to stay or see the best luxury hotels, best beach hotels, best boutique hotels, or best hostels.

->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!

1. Use Your Common Sense

I mean, to be honest, this entire list of Cartagena, Colombia safety tips is more or less variations of this. It’s what we might call being “street smart.” If you follow this tip, then you really shouldn’t worry about your safety in Cartagena at all.

Cartagena is a city, a city with its fair share of poverty, and a city with a lot of tourism. The crime in Cartagena directed against tourists is more or less the same types of crimes directed against tourists anywhere.

So use your common sense. Make sure you’re getting correct change. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t wander aimlessly through areas you don’t know.

All the other cliches pretty much apply here.

And, like any other city, if an area looks rough, it’s probably best to head somewhere else. Honestly, if you use common sense, you will avoid just about any real Cartagena safety issues.

2. Don’t Make Yourself a Target

Maybe this could fall under using your common sense, but it bears singling out.

There’s a famous saying in Colombia of “No dar papaya.” While that literally translates to “Don’t give papaya,” it’s not about fruit (although, sorry papaya enthusiasts, but of all the fresh fruits to try in Colombia, it’s one of the most boring).

What this popular phrase really means is don’t give someone an opportunity to screw you over. While it can be applied in other situations, it is generally used when talking about safety and avoiding being robbed.

Don’t make yourself an easy target. Don’t be one of these people that go around flashing cash or jewelry, or yelling loudly and showing off to everyone in earshot that you don’t know Spanish and/or are drunk.

I guess this is where I should say the only time I was robbed in over a decade living in Colombia was when I was out drunk at like 3 am. Not only was I walking home much too late, but I thought it was a good idea to accept some Ron Medellín shots from some old guys I know from the neighborhood who were drinking outside the drug store (this is a true story). Some guys came by and robbed all of us.

So basically, I broke the both of the first two of these Cartagena safety rules. Don’t be like me.

3. Be Weary of Strangers

This one seems obvious too. After all, your mother probably told you this a gazillion times when you were a kid. However, it bears repeating.

I want to be clear, Colombians and Cartageneros are generally very nice and generally very respectful and not out to rob you. However, there are people out to get you.

I would generally be leery of anyone who approaches you in a bar or club or on the street and seems too friendly. That’s not to say don’t chat with any strangers. In fact, Colombians are good fun to make friends with.

Still, I’d recommend having your scam radar up about anyone who seems to be insisting on hanging around you. It could just be they are trying to get a free drink or two, ask for some money, or trying to sell you something.

Or it could be worse.

I would especially recommend being cautious accepting drinks from or getting into a taxi or even walking to an unknown place with someone you just met. This is especially the case if you are by yourself.

While it is extremely, extremely rare in Cartagena, the drug scopolamine, which can render you basically unaware what you’re doing, is sometimes used in robberies targeting tourists. It has a similar effect to ruffies.

It can be slipped in a drink or even just blown in your face in powder form. You can read more about it here or watch a Vice video on it. It is more common in Bogotá and especially Medellín, so used even more cautious if traveling to those cities.

Be particularly careful with members of the opposite sex you met out. This is especially true if that person happens to be a “working” girl or guy. I’m not here to pass judgment, but the simple fact of the matter is using scopolamine to drug someone and then robbing their hotel or apartment is one of the most dangerous crimes directed against tourists.

In fact, another good extra Cartagena safety tip is to stay at hotels or AirBnBs in buildings that have doormen and register guests’ IDs. It will give you an extra layer of security.

You should also caution if you are meeting someone from a dating app like Tinder for the first time. It’s best to do it somewhere public and during the day.

I want to be clear, in over a decade in Cartagena, I’ve never personally met anyone who was “scoped,” and I’ve only ever heard of it being used in Cartagena in Facebook groups, forums, or blogs online once or twice. So, I don’t want to exaggerate the threat here, but if you’re traveling solo and/or not out with friends just try to avoid putting yourself in situations where the threat may be heightened.

4. Don’t Buy Drugs

As I said above, I’m not here to pass judgment. I will say, there are countless reasons not to do drugs, especially cocaine, in Colombia, starting with the fact it’s helped to fuel the country’s internal conflict and enable corrupt politicians.

But if we are talking about how to be safe in Cartagena, well, if you are buying drugs, you are engaging with criminals. It’s breaking rule #2 above and gives you little legal recourse if something does happen.

There are so many great things to do in Cartagena (in fact, I made a list of more than 75 you can read here) that are not doing drugs. Stick to those and avoid putting yourself at increased risk of crime or legal problems.

5. Stick to the Tourist Areas, Especially at Night

So, I’m a big proponent of getting off the beaten path. So staying in a bubble at a resort is not what I’m saying here.

However, if there’s no good reason to go somewhere, why do it? And the rougher areas of Cartagena really don’t have any good reason to go there.

Now, if you have befriended a trusted local (one you didn’t just meet), then by all means go out to eat or go shopping or go dancing at places outside the tourist zone near the Walled City, or to a sancocho or birthday party at their house.

However, otherwise, there are plenty of authentic experiences to be had mingling with locals around the touristy zones and there really isn’t much of a reason to wander around other areas.

I would generally advise staying in the area north of the Castillo San Felipe Fort. For attractions outside this main tourist area, like the Bazurto Market, it’s best to go with a tour like this one or this one.

*If you haven’t made hotel reservations yet, be sure to check out my guide to the best areas.

6. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Regardless of in the tourist area or not, try to be aware of what’s going on around you. Trust your gut.

If something or someone looks sketchy, they might be best avoided. If you’re in a situation that feels unsafe or uncomfortable, try to get out of it.

Most thieves are looking for easy targets. Even something as simple like seeing someone sketchy is following you and speeding up your pace to get to a more well lit or crowded area can deter a would be robber.

Not really much else to say here.

7. Leave Unnecessary Valuables at Home

Ok. These Cartagena safety tips have so far focused on prevention. Now, let’s talk about mitigation.

I would generally encourage you to leave valuable things at home. Do you really need your finest jewelry on vacation? Can you get by without your new fancy watch? Is it necessary to have your nicest purse?

Part of this has to do with rule #2 above, but part of it is also preparing yourself to not be broken hearted in the unlikely event that you are robbed. I would suggest leaving anything that is unnecessary at home. This is doubly true of anything that is irreplaceable or has special sentimental value.

I met a couple on vacation one time doing a short term rental in the building I was living in who were in town for a wedding. Someone broke in and the lady had all her jewelry stolen. It’s just not worth the risk. If you are coming for a special event like this, bring something nice but not your finest.

However, I realize some things you do need to bring.

You’re not going to leave your wedding rings behind. Maybe you need a laptop because you’re working while traveling. You are going to want your phone and/or camera for photos.

Using the hotel safe or taking along something like a PacSafe to lock up these things when out at night or when not needed adds another layer of security.

8. Make it Harder to Snatch Things

When you are those carrying things of value, try to make them a bit harder to steal. Like I said above, most thieves are opportunistic and go for the low hanging fruit. Make their life harder, not easier.

When traveling to a new place, on the bus, or in large crowds, I always put my wallet in my front pocket. Put things like cameras and phones away when they’re not being used. Wear bags and purses across your body, not just on one shoulder where it’s easier to snatch and run. If you have a backpack, wear it in the front when in crowds.

All of this will make you less of a target and make it less likely someone can get anything of value from you if you are.

9. Limit the Amount of Cash You Carry

This is like safety in Cartagena tip 6 above. If you don’t have a lot of cash, you can’t have a lot of cash stolen.

Try to get a bank account and credit cards that won’t charge you foreign transaction fees so you can take out smaller amounts of cash as you go as well as limit how much you need (I love my Capital One 360 Checking and my SavorOne Credit Card).

If you do have to carry a lot of cash for some reason, consider splitting it up. That might be giving whoever your traveling with some of it, sticking some in a sock, or getting something like a money belt, a neck wallet, or a bra wallet.

10. Take Along Back Up Credit/Debit Cards

If you can, keep a backup card stashed somewhere in your hotel, maybe in the safe or in a Pacsafe. That way if someone does snag your wallet you still have something you can use to pay for things.

It’s not the worse idea to take your home country ID and other difficult to replace things out of your wallet either. And never carry your passport around with you if you don’t need it. Carry a copy instead.

11. If You Do Get Robbed, Don’t Fight Back

If you’ve followed these last few Cartagena safety tips about mitigation, then nothing a thief is going to take from you is going to be that big of a loss. And even if you do have valuables, there’s nothing more valuable than your life.

A guy waving a knife or gun in your face to rob you on the street almost certainly has much less to lose than you do. It is best not to resist. I have heard stories of people being stabbed or beat pretty badly after attempting to fight back.

It’s just not worth it over cash or some material item that can be replaced.

Extra Tips on Avoiding Scams and Common Problems

Those are my top 11 tips for Cartagena safety.

However, I wanted to address a few things that aren’t necessarily about physical safety or even what we would consider traditional robbery. That is avoiding some of the common scams.

The first, and probably the most important is to make sure to negotiate prices with taxis, street vendors, and beach vendors beforehand always. Several times a year it feels like there is some story about people being charged something absurd at the beach.

Those extreme cases are pretty rare, but little things like charging for oysters after offering a “free sample” or tacking on a “service” charge are super common. Particularly if your Spanish is not very good, I would discourage ordering from random vendors on the beach. Go instead to the actual restaurant or shop yourself.

Also watch out for the street rappers. They can be really funny and sometimes even actual decent freestylers. However, they can also be a nuisance, and if you’re not interested in hearing them and/or you aren’t going to give them a small tip it’s best to ignore them or give them a “no, gracias” and finger wag. This goes for street vendors as well, many of which can be very pushy. Be more insistent.

For any tours or things like that that you buying from street vendors, I would not pay full price up front. If you have to put a deposit down, fair enough, but you’re best paying as much as possible the day of or just going directly to an office. Definitely always get a receipt. Also, while I haven’t heard of this in Cartagena, I have heard of some apartment scams in Medellín, so be sure to at least give a look at companies’ websites and to the extent possible avoid sending money ahead of time.

*If you’re looking for tours you can book online ahead of time and not worry about being scammed, check out the top tours on GetYourGuide here or from our partners BnB Colombia here (use the discount code ExploreColombia10 for a discount with them).

Finally, a question that sometimes comes up is if it’s safe to take taxis. It used to be discouraged, especially in Bogotá, to take taxis on the street, especially at night. In Cartagena, taxis, including taxis you flag on the street at any hour are generally very safe. If it’s very late and you’re alone, especially if you are a woman, it’s not the worse idea to have someone note the taxi’s plate numbers or text them yourself to a friend and check in with them once you get back safely just to be extra safe though.

->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!

Cartagena Safety Tips – Conclusion

There you have it, a background on crime in Cartagena as well as 11 useful Cartagena safety tips. Travel to Cartagena is quite safe and if you follow these tips you’ll be even safer. I hope you found them useful and I’d love to any other tips you have in the comments below.

Cheers and Safe Exploring!

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