Is Cartagena, Colombia Safe?: Cartagena Safety Tips By Someone Who Lived There

Are you wondering “Is Cartagena, Colombia safe to visit?”

Maybe you’re planning a trip and having some second thoughts about just how safe is Cartagena.

Maybe you’ve read a scary sounding travel advisory making you wonder, “Is Cartagena dangerous?”

Maybe you’ve got friends and family warning you about your safety in Cartagena.

Whether you need to reassure yourself or those friends and family, rest assured you’ve come to the right place!

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade, and I can give an emphatic yes to the question, “Is Cartagena safe?”

However, like just about anywhere, there is crime in Cartagena, and it does have its issues to watch out for.

In this post, I’ll cover some practical Cartagena, Colombia safety tips based on my experiences living there and helping others plan their own visits. If you follow these Cartagena safety tips, I’m confident you can enjoy all Cartagena has to offer and feel plenty safe doing so!

Is Cartagena Safe or Is Cartagena Dangerous?

Just in case it wasn’t clear from the introduction, if you just want a simple answer to the question, “Is it safe to tarvel to Cartagena?” the answer is yes.

Cartagena is safe. In fact, I’d characterize it as very safe.

Violent crime targeting tourists is practically unheard of, and there is a heavy police presence in nearly all main tourist areas.

Of course, like in nearly all tourist destinations, much less ones in unevenly developed places, there is petty crime targeting tourists. There are also some actions that put you at a higher risk of being the victim of a crime in Cartagena and some common scams worth looking being on the look out for.

However, if you follow common sense precautions, don’t make yourself a target, avoid putting yourself in risky situations, and know what to look out for, the chances of you experiencing any Cartagena crime during a visit are extremely low.

Practical Cartagena Safety Tips

So, there’s a few things discussed towards the end of this post that are somewhat specific to Cartagena and Colombia, but the vast majority of these tips are pretty common sense and apply basically everywhere in the world.

Still, they’re worth repeating and making sure you bear them in mind to ensure you maximize your safety in Cartagena.

Don’t Make Yourself a Target (especially an easy one!)

Perhaps obvious enough, but this is the number one Cartagena safety tip I can give.

The number one crime, besides scams, targeting tourists in Cartagena is petty theft. The simple truth is that the vast majority of thieves in Cartagena and all over the world are looking for easy targets.

So, while you don’t need to strap on body armor or lock yourself in the hotel past sundown, keeping in mind the following tips will go a long way towards preventing you from being an easy target:

• Don’t wear flashy or attention grabbing jewelry
• Don’t flash your brand new premium phone
• Try to avoid large crowds
• Carry your wallet in a front pocket
• Consider wearing an antitheft crossbody bag
• Don’t flash wads of cash
• Consider using a waist pouch, neck pouch, or bra pouch if you do carry larger amounts of cash
• Stick to areas with other people around, preferably in the tourist zones, and especially at night
• If you’re going to stumble around late at night, try not to do it shouting in English

I only had two real safety issues in Cartagena the entire 11 years I lived there full time.

One, was when I was robbed being out very, very late (or well, early I guess). While walking home, I stopped and took some shots of Ron Medellín in front of a drug store in Crespo with some guys I knew that lived nearby (yea, honestly, none of this is recommended).

Some guys ran by, waved a knife in our faces and snatched our phones and wallets.

I’ll also never forget a high school friend coming to visit and having her phone stolen after her dad wrote me to take good care of her!

However, we were in a crowd during the Cartagena Independence Festival.

So, I didn’t my own advice from above in either case. In fact, to be honest, I often didn’t follow that advice to a T, and again, I had two issues in 11 years.

So, again, I think Cartagena is very safe to visit.

If you do a better job following those tips than me, you’re most likely not going to have any issues.

Stick to the Tourist Areas

As stated above, the tourist areas of Cartagena are generally quite safe.

Bocagrande and within the Cartagena’s Walled City are the safest areas. While Getsemaní still has a few seedy spots, the growth of tourism in the area also makes it very safe.

Those are my 3 top areas to stay in Cartagena for that reason, not to mention they offer easy access to just about everything.

There are other safe areas to stay, but I’d strongly recommend taxiing home at night.

Are Taxis Safe in Cartagena?

Speaking of taxiing, let’s talk about staying safe using taxis in Cartagena.

Taxis in Cartagena have a reputation for overcharging, and you’ll see lots of people recommend apps like Uber or InDriver for that reason.

I also see some reports online saying not to use taxis for safety reasons, claiming it’s dangerous in Cartagena to take a taxi.

In my decade plus living in Cartagena, I never felt unsafe in a taxi, and I took them all over the place. It is a good idea to know the correct taxi prices in Cartagena to prevent being overcharged though.

In other parts of Colombia, such as Bogotá, there is age old advice to not flag taxis down but have the place call you an official one.

I don’t consider that necessary in Cartagena, especially within the tourist zones, but if you want an extra layer of security, text a friend the license plate when getting in and let them know you’ve made it to your destination safely.

You can also use the ride share apps if they make you feel more comfortable since you can see reviews and know the price ahead of time.

By the way, there is lots of out of date information online about Uber being illegal. Uber in Colombia is now considered fully legal, and plenty of people use Uber in Cartagena with no problem.

I’d also recommend InDriver, which I personally like more than Uber.

Is It Safe to Walk Around Cartagena?

Yes, it’s very safe to walk around Cartagena in the main tourist sectors.

There are generally policeman around as well as crowds of other tourists and locals in the Walled City, Getsemaní, and Bocagrande at most hours of the day and evening. I wouldn’t be worried about walking around any of those areas.

A common tactic of robbers in Cartagena is to snatch a bag and escape on a motorcycle. Within most of the tourist areas of Cartagena, passengers on motorcycles are prohibited for this reason.

Motorcycles and motorcycle taxis are quite common, so you can use extra caution if one seems to be approaching you, but you can’t really avoid them entirely.

This is another reason to consider a good antitheft crossbody bag and not having your phone out more than necessary though.

Is Cartagena Safe at Night?

Yes, Cartagena is safe at night too.

While it’s worth using a tad more caution and being extra aware of your surroundings, especially if you’ve been imbibing, safety in Cartagena at night isn’t a big concern.

I wouldn’t hesitate to say it’s safe to walk around Cartagena at night, even late night, in any of the main tourist areas such as the Walled City, Getsemaní, or Bocagrande.

It is a good idea to avoid dark, lonely streets just as an extra precaution though.

At night, I would advise avoiding the Matuna area between Getsemaní and the Walled City, streets around the edge of Getsemaní that are dark with no people on them, and I’d avoid walking back from downtown to nearby neighborhoods like Manga, El Cabrero, and Marbella to be on the extra safe side.

Is Cartagena Safe for Solo Travel?

Yes, Cartagena is plenty safe for solo travel, including female solo travel.

It is of course, always best to be in numbers as an extra precaution, so if you are solo traveling in Cartagena, you might want to stay in one of the best Cartagena hostels and try to make some friends to hit the town with if you want to be out late.

However, I wouldn’t be the least bit concerned about if Cartagena is safe for solo travelers. Just apply the same logical measures you’d take solo traveling anywhere else.

For solo female travel in Cartagena, I would add the caveat that Cartageneros can be, well, forward and perhaps make some unwanted comments. I’ve heard more than a few stories of taxi drivers being creepy too. So, do be aware of that.

And, for the men traveling solo in Cartagena, do read the next section.Honestly, women, it’s worth keeping in mind for you too!

Be Wary of Meeting Up with Strangers (Especially for Possible Romance!)

Ok, let’s turn to some common safety issues that are a bit more specific to Cartagena and Colombia.

The first is to be wary of meeting up with strangers, most especially strangers who claim to have a romantic interest in you online whether through dating apps like Tinder, social media or whatever other platform.

While it’s much, much more common in Medellín, people being targeted for robbery on dating apps does happen in Cartagena. This is usually women targeting men, but it can happen to girls too.

Worse, when it does happen, it can include drugging with scopolamine, which puts its victims in a sort of stupor similar to roofies. In large enough doses, it can even be fatal.

This is, not always, but often carried out by organized crime too, which can leave victims at risk of retaliation or threats if they attempt to report it.

My suggestion is to consider avoiding using dating apps like Tinder all together. I also would be extremely cautious of meeting anyone who reached out to you through social media.

If you do use Tinder or other dating apps, or plan to meet up with any other stranger, for romantic purposes or otherwise, plan your first meeting or two during the day in a public place.

If you get lucky, biting the bullet and paying the extra charge to have a guest at a hotel, and/or staying at a hotel or apartment where they register guests IDs also provides you an extra layer of protection.

Keep an Eye on Your Drink Too

Again, this isn’t all that common in Cartagena, but I have heard of it happening.

Sometimes people drop scopolamine in drinks, drugging their targets even when they are unsuspecting or even when there isn’t any potential romance involved.

So, it’s best practice, especially if you’re flying solo, to keep an eye on your drink, and to not accept drinks from strangers or people you’ve just met.

I’d also suggest being wary of strangers who approach you in bars and clubs.

I’ve met plenty of Colombians over the years who’ve approached me when out at bars to talk and even bought drinks because they’re curious what I’m doing in Colombia, they want to practice their English, they want to show off, or whatever other harmless reason.

Still, I’d use caution about someone who seems a little too friendly. Trust your gut if something feels off.

All that is to say, feel free to chat with, or dance with, or even have a steamy make out session with that cute girl or guy you meet at the bar, but try to keep your wits about you.

And, well, sorry, guys (and gals too!), but you should also think hard on who may or may not be in your league and genuinely interested in you too.

Don’t Buy Drugs

This is the other thing that often gets people into trouble and then makes them call Cartagena dangerous online.

I’m not here to be the moral police, but there are plenty of good reasons not to buy drugs anywhere, much less in Colombia, a country that has been ravaged for decades as a consequence of the drug trade.

However, if you don’t need any other reason, you should be aware that buying drugs absolutely puts you at increased risk of being the target of a crime.

I’ve heard anecdotes of people being lured to buy drugs then extorted for large amounts of money by the dealers under threat. I’ve also heard of cases where the police are working with dealers to get bribes off of people.

So, you put yourself at a lot of extra and unnecessary risk by buying drugs.

Now, it isn’t uncommon for dealers to approach you on the street or at the crowded beaches of Bocagrande. They often introduce themselves as Tony Montana or say something like “I’ve got everything.”

My suggestion: just don’t engage them. Give a chuckle (or not), a finger wag, and your best “No, gracias. Todo bien,” and keep moving.

What to Do if You are the Victim of a Crime in Cartagena

Ok, you’ve stuck to the tourist areas, didn’t stumble home drunk yelling about all that cash money you got while filming an Insta live on your brand new iPhone Pro.

You didn’t meet up with that much younger chick from Tinder, and you didn’t take key bumps from the fourth Tony Montana you’ve met today in a dark alley.

But, you still were the victim of a crime in Cartagena.

Let’s talk about steps you can take to prevent the worst outcomes even if the unfortunate happens.

Charge it to the Game

First, don’t fight back!

I get it, everyone wants to brag about being the tough guy and fighting off the crooks like their Denzel Washington or Liam Neeson. It ain’t worth it. These guys probably have a lot more to lose than you.

Actually, this reminds me of the only other time I felt unsafe in Cartagena.

There was this homeless guy, who I had run into a few times around Centro, that made some nasty comment to Susana once and I told him off. He broke a bottle and started to come at me like he was going to shank me.

Yea, I don’t have any illusions about being Denzel, and I am glad he didn’t actually slash my stomach or neck open.

Like my friend who had her phone stolen when visiting, just “charge it to the game” if you do get robbed.

Should You Report Crimes in Cartagena to the Police?

Unless it was something extremely valuable or sentimental or you were the victim of a more serious crime, I probably wouldn’t bother with the police to be honest.

That time I did get robbed at 3 am, one of the other guys told me the police actually recovered a lot of our stuff, including my phone.

Well, they gave me the run around for days until I finally got it back, with the memory wiped, making it pretty clear they were going to keep it themselves.

In some cases, maybe because you need to make an insurance claim or something, you might need a police report. In that case, do go to the police. Take your patience and, if possible, a trusted local.

Mitigate the Damage Before Hand

So, assuming you did get robbed and the police aren’t helpful, let’s talk about some steps you can take to mitigate the damage before it ever happens.

Don’t Put All Your Pesos in One Wallet

This is mentioned above, but once again, don’t carry tons of cash.

You should keep some cash on you or things like taxis, street food, and souvenirs, but you can use credit cards or debit cards at most places in Cartagena nowadays, and ATMs are pretty plentiful around the tourist areas.

Take out what you need as you go so you don’t ever have tons of cash on you.

You can also split your cash up.

I personally like to carry around a small amount loose in my pocket for paying for random things on the street anyways. That way I don’t have to pull out my wallet all the time.

Stuffing some extra cash in a sock or in any random little pockets your pants have also works well, and again, something like a waist pouch, neck pouch, or bra pouch can also be handy for this if you do need to carry larger amounts of cash for some reason.

Have Backup Cards and Stash Them and IDs in a Safe Place

I’d also suggest having along a backup credit card or debit card and some extra cash.

You can keep this hidden in your room. For extra security, use something like a hotel safe or Pac Safe.

Do the same for things like your passport (carry a photocopy with you) and home country ID that are hard or impossible to replace out of country.

As someone who has not only had a wallet stolen, but also left them in taxis before, this is easy to follow advice that you’ll be thankful you heeded if you lose your main cards. You’ll still have access to money and won’t have to deal with the hassle of replacing IDs.

Finally, and this is connected to the advice on scams below, try to do business with a bank that makes it easy to report fraud, dispute transactions, and is good about giving you the money back.

For what it’s worth, I am very happy with CapitalOne in part for this reason.

Consider a Burner Phone

If you just snagged the latest and greatest phone that costs as much or more as your accommodations for the week, I’d also suggest bringing a burner phone or an older one to use while traveling.

This both minimizes how bad you’ll feel if it gets stolen and makes you less of a target.

Avoiding Common Scams in Cartagena

Ok, so this section is not about staying safe in Cartagena per se, but it is another common issue to consider when planning your trip: how to avoid scams in Cartagena.

We’ve already talked about being wary of potential significant others above, so no need to talk about it in detail again, but it is one of the most common scams in Cartagena and Colombia.

A lot don’t drug and rob you either, but do string people (mostly guys) along for money for help with this and that supposed family emergency. You have to use your best judgement thinking with the head on top of your neck here, I guess.

Overcharging

Probably the most common scam tourists encounter in Cartagena is overcharging.

This happens almost exclusively on the beaches in Cartagena and isn’t really a major concern in restaurants or elsewhere.

It most often happens when people do not ask about or are not clear about prices before hand. So, first always ask prices before you eat or drink anything, and try to keep a running tab in your head.

It can also happen when vendors pull a bait and switch and show one menu when you order and another when you pay. It’s not the worst idea to take a photo of the first menu, especially if you don’t speak a lot of Spanish.

There is a new chat from the city called Titán Chat, you can use to report overcharging via Whatsapp at (+57) 304 251-1127. I can’t confirm if it’s much use, but you could try it if you feel like you’re in a situation where you’re being extorted for outrageous prices.

Also, keep in mind there are no free samples.

Oyster and crab sellers and massage ladies are notorious for this. I guess the first oyster or the first 2 seconds are the “free” sample, but they will want you to pay after shoveling 4 more down your throat or rubbing you down for a few more minutes.

Taxi Prices

The other most common case of overcharging is taxis.

Sigh…it’s frustrating, but the taxis often overcharge even locals.

Always, always, confirm the price when you get in the taxi. If they want more than the correct rate, you have to choose to charge it to the game, haggle, or say “Que te vaya con Dios” and close the door to flag down another.

You shouldn’t pay $20,000 pesos extra, but you might have to make a judgment call on if $2,000-$5,000 extra is worth the hassle of flagging down another, or a fourth or fifth one.

Whatever you decide, just be sure you’ve agreed to the price before getting in!

This is another good reason to know the correct taxi prices in Cartagena ahead of time too. Even if you prefer to use a ride share app, you’ll have a starting point for knowing how much you should pay.

You Often Get What You Pay for with Cheap Tours and Excursions

I’d also strongly encourage you to use caution when booking tours, especially for things like the Cartagena islands. They can be very hit or miss in quality when booking on the street.

I suggest booking them online ahead of time on sites where you can see reviews like Viator or GetYourGuide or at the least looking for things like Google Reviews for any smaller operators you book with.

I’d also use caution paying more than a 50% deposit ahead of time for any services or accommodations, especially when you can’t find quality reviews online.

Is Paying a Deposit Safe?

I get it.

You have to look at it from the business’s perspective too though. They are possibly turning down a tour or service with someone else to reserve that time for you.

So asking for a deposit, or, in some cases, the full price for something is a fairly standard procedure, and not one that I’d necessarily recommend avoiding entirely or simply dismissing as a scam.

However, I would take a look at their website, social media profiles, and ideally Google reviews. You could also ask them for their RNT # (Registro Nacional del Turismo) to confirm they are a legitimate business.

I’d be leery of paying for anything upfront if they don’t have a decent looking site, profile, or RNT.

I’d also recommend that you read the fine print and be aware of what their cancellation or raincheck policies aren’t.

Is it Safe to Send a Copy of My Passport?

Anther common thing I see people worry about that is perfectly normal is tour operators or accommodations asking them to send a copy of their passport.

Again, I get it. A lot of people have an understandable visceral, I shouldn’t do that reaction to sending their ID, much less their passport.

However, any tour that includes transportation, like a bus, or boat, has to have a manifest for security and, usually, insurance purposes. Hotels and apartment hosts also have to have your ID on file.

Some will ask to see it and even copy it when you arrive (which is pretty standard procedure almost everywhere), but some ask you to send it them ahead of time, so they have it on file to make things easier.

Some also use this to justify exempting foreigners from taxes, so it could save you a few pesos too.

Feel Ready to Visit Cartagena Safely Now?

I hope so!

While Cartagena and Colombia has its issues, I hope this post was useful and reassured you or your worried parent, friend, or spouse that Cartagena is plenty safe to visit as long as you stick to these practical Cartagena safety tips.

If you have any other Cartagena safety tips to add, let me know in the comments!

Most importantly, I hope you have a great, and safe, trip!

Be sure to check out all the other advice on the site to get the most out of your trip!

Cheers and Happy (and Safe) Exploring!