The buzz online today is that Colombia is ready to safely receive all kinds of visitors – especially solo female travelers. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Travel articles high and low are praising Colombia and Medellín in particular for its ‘miraculous transformation’ from a violent war zone into a thriving creative and digital nomad hub.
These overgeneralized narratives lean heavily on optimism and turn a blind eye to the violent realities remaining in the country today.
No one is saying that Colombia’s hard-won progress and peace-building efforts shouldn’t be celebrated. But to claim that the country’s most popular cities are safe for most solo female travelers would be nothing short of irresponsible.
Rising rates of violent and armed robbery, druggings, assault, and organized criminal activities directly affect lots of travelers every day.
As a result, the U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory last month urging tourists to reconsider travel to Colombia, giving the country a Level 3 status.
Unfortunately, under the surface of street art tours and gleaming new coworking spaces lie networks of despicable human trafficking, lethal drug trade, and terror-based gang activities.
Data from risk analysis experts Verisk Maplecroft shows that Medellín is currently the most dangerous city in the world for crime. The capital city of Bogotá ranks in the top 30 riskiest cities globally.
Colombia is still a spectacular country worth visiting. It’s home to dazzling natural beauty, friendly locals, world-class salsa dancing, and the best coffee you’ll ever have.
But given the current safety situation, choosing a destination as a woman traveling alone requires a discerning eye.
In order to enjoy the best of what Colombia has to offer, solo female travelers can look towards a few breathtaking destinations with lower crime rates, active mixed-gender international communities, and more female-friendly environments.
Here are the top four destinations in Colombia for solo female travelers this year:
1. Cartagena
Along Colombia’s northwestern Caribbean coast, Cartagena has plenty of surprises in store for solo female travelers.
400-year-old fortresses and castles encircle a historical city center packed with brightly colored colonial architecture and buzzing with Afro-Caribbean culture. Tropical fruit vendors and local street artists lend even more color to this vibrant Colombian town.
It’s easy to spend your days on the water. Cartagena is home to sandy beaches, rejuvenating islands, sunset cruises, and epic party boats. End your nights with top-value five-star dining experiences like Restaurante Celele and award-winning creative cocktails at Alquímico or Demente.
Unique local experiences are lurking all around, just below the city’s bustling surface – if you know where to look. Cartagena can feel really touristy, especially in areas like Centro Historico and BocaGrande. Hanging out on the outskirts of Getsemani, the west and north sides of Manga, and San Diego will get you away from the crowds.
Tourists from Colombia and neighboring Latin American countries actually outnumber American, British, and European visitors to Cartagena. With its flipped tourist composition, this popular vacation city ends up giving a totally different vibe from the expat-dominated Medellin.
Lots of local women from Bogota also take solo trips and girls’ trips to Cartagena. If anything, the tourist scene feels female-dominated at best and gender-balanced at worst.
Solo female travelers will find more company in independent local women tourists and nomads around to connect with in Cartagena than in most other cities in Colombia.
Solo female backpackers and digital nomads can join laid-back international communities in the dorms, hotel rooms, and coworking spaces at both Selina and Viajero chains’ Cartagena locations. Other great options for remote-working solo female travelers are Cowork Cartagena, Libertario Coffee, and Bhoza Cafe.
2. Santa Marta
If you want a solo adventure filled with beaches and culture but without Cartagena’s hustle, head to Santa Marta.
The oldest city in Colombia often gets relegated to a drive-by on the way to Tayrona National Park, but this spectacular seaside town is worth a visit all to itself.
Lush green hills, tropical sandy beaches, and the snow-dusted Sierra Nevadas welcome solo travelers to a laid-back oasis.
Santa Marta is much smaller than Medellín or Cartagena, so it’s flown under the radar – until now. The town is growing more popular with backpackers and beach vacationers by the minute and is an up-and-coming digital nomad destination to boot.
Solo female traveler Pati spent half a year traveling Colombia and shared her experience in Santa Marta experience with Travel Off Path:
“Santa Marta is my absolute favorite place in Colombia as a solo female traveler. The locals are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. It was generally safe, and I felt strangely looked after by the Santa Marta community.
The city embodies what Latin America is to me – vibrant, hot, loud, and colorful. Santa Marta has that undeniably Colombian energy travelers are looking for. I was also surprised to learn how digital nomad friendly the city is.”
3. Tayrona National Park
An hour away from Santa Marta lies the undeniable crown jewel of Colombia – Tayrona National Park.
The untouched natural beauty of Tayrona’s dramatic reefs, white sandy beaches, ancient ruins, and emerald mangroves are enough to keep travelers coming back for days. Beyond the favorites Cabo San Juan Beach and Playa Brava, You might even come across a monkey or two on your treks. Best of all, it comes at jaw-droppingly low prices.
For less than $20, you can wake up to the sunrise in an open treehouse with panoramic views of the sea, river, and jungle above an infinity pool.
If you prefer to stay within the national park territory itself, accommodation from basic eco-habs to deluxe beach huts are available from $40 – $170 per night.
Hostels in Tayrona National Park are as social as they are scenic, a great choice for solo travelers. Even if you’re not typically a ‘hostel person,’ it’s worth it to be immersed in untouched nature and good travel vibes.
The community of travelers and expats in Santa Marta is pretty balanced and generally female-friendly. All nature lovers are welcome.
4. Medellin
Medellín is a long-time favorite among digital nomads, backpackers, and tourists.
While the city offers too many amazing creative, cultural, and remote work opportunities to leave it off a Colombian destinations list, the crime risk drops it to our lowest ranking.
Solo female travelers working online may be attracted to Medellín for its widely available high-speed Wi-Fi and abundance of laptop-friendly cafes, coworking spaces, and innovation hubs. There is a thriving (albeit male-dominated) international community in the city. It’s safe to say you’d never be bored here.
Medellín is also a long-established backpacker hub with plenty of super social hostels. From language exchanges to salsa nights, it’s easy for solo female travelers on any budget to make friends here.
However, solo female travelers who value their independence and enjoy going out alone might think twice before choosing Medellín.
Going out solo in Medellín is high-risk. The buzzing nightlife can be as treacherous as it is thrilling, with sky-high rates of violent robbery and druggings of both men and women. Solo travelers are often prime targets.
Medellín is actually more dangerous today than it was in the year Pablo Escobar was killed, according to local crime statistics.
Experts say that “approximately 40 percent of Colombia’s armed groups have a presence in the city [Medellin],” totaling 14,000 gang members. According to Pedro Piedrahíta Bustamante, a professor of political science at the University of Medellín, the city remains “a nucleus of transnational crime networks.”
These larger crime trends aren’t just statistics or theories. They represent the very real risks posed to all travelers in Medellín, with solo travelers at the highest risk. Since local police are known to be apathetic at best and complicit at worst, it’s up to you to keep yourself safe.
Here are preventative steps that solo female travelers can consider taking in Medellín:
- Carry a decoy wallet and phone in your bag. Keep your real phone with a minimal wallet-style case tucked discreetly in internal pockets or waistband at all times.
- Bring minimal valuables and keep them locked up at all times.
- As the Colombians say, “no dar papaya” – don’t flash your money. Designer purses, diamond rings, shopping bags, or wads of cash will create problems. Keep your fashion choices simple. Jeans and a t-shirt never killed anyone (but Rolexes have).
- If you have a really nice smartphone, consider giving your device a make-under with a beat up case and some tape over an imaginary screen crack.
- Do not try to fight robbers. Your safety is the most valuable thing.
- Go out in groups of reliable, experienced travelers or on hostel-organized pub crawls rather than hitting up the bars alone.
- Always keep an eye on your drink – and the drinks of the guys around you. Solo male travelers are actually the primary prey for Scopolamine druggings and subsequent robberies, assaults, or murders. The boys aren’t as used to watching their drinks as we are, so lend them an extra pair of eyes.
- Avoid the Park Lleras area of Poblado at night or alone.
Colombia is a fantastic country with unmatched natural beauty and one-of-a-kind culture.
Experienced solo female travelers can enjoy an amazing trip by choosing their destinations wisely and keeping an eye out for their safety.
