{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/colombia/medellin","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T15:36:18.395Z","place":{"city":"Medellín","country":"Colombia","countryCode":"CO","lat":6.245,"lon":-75.57151},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.53,"caps":[],"databaseScore":40,"travellerSentiment":{"score":64,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate most visitors feel safe during the day in El Poblado and Laureles, citing visible security and cleanliness, but express caution at night and in unfamiliar neighborhoods due to scam and petty theft risks.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":70,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":40,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":64,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":41,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":53,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":63,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":3,"label":"Reconsider Travel","updated":"Thu, 17 Apr 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/colombia-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-09-23T18:02:49Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-29T11:17:39.7219439-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":24.9134420347488,"display":"24.9 / 100k","year":"2023","score":21,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":3,"display":"3.0%","year":"2017","score":91,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":1.3289500442998947,"display":"1.3 / million","year":"2021","score":70,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":16.2,"display":"16.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":50,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":49.3103253,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":47.3311328,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":41.90949,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":49.1802654,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":55.0740059,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":57.4541954,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1999979,"display":"2.0M residents","year":null,"score":60,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":61.3,"display":"61.3 / 100","year":null,"score":40,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":52.7,"display":"52.7%","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.09,"display":"0.09 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":22.4,"display":"22.4%","year":"2023","score":54,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":54,"display":"US AQI 54 · Moderate","year":null,"score":88,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":2,"display":"1 notice · max Alert","year":null,"score":60,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":16.991310507,"display":"17 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2020","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"September: highs ~30°C · heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 45 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":65,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2.5,"display":"Level 3 — Reconsider Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Yellow Fever in Colombia","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/yellow-fever-colombia"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Medellín is generally safe for visitors who stay in well-patrolled tourist zones and exercise basic precautions, though risks like drink spiking and petty theft persist.","summary":"Medellín has seen dramatic safety improvements, with homicide rates falling to levels comparable to some U.S. cities, but violent crime remains concentrated in peripheral areas. Tourists face elevated risks of drugging (often via dating apps or nightlife), pickpocketing, and taxi scams, particularly in nightlife zones and crowded transit hubs. Most visitors report feeling safe during the day in El Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado when avoiding flashy displays and using ride-hailing apps.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery risk is low in tourist zones but rises in peripheral communes; most visitor incidents involve drugging or distraction rather than direct confrontation."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded areas such as Metro stations, Parque Lleras, and street markets, especially during festivals or peak tourist hours."},"safeAreas":["El Poblado","Laureles","Envigado","Sabaneta"],"avoidAreas":["Santa Cruz (high gang violence and drug trafficking)","Manrique (armed group activity and extortion risks)"],"scams":["Drink spiking with scopolamine ('burundanga') in bars or via dating apps leading to robbery","Taxi overcharging or fake police scams targeting foreigners","Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas like Metro stations and Parque Lleras"],"zones":[{"name":"El Poblado","level":"safe","note":"Primary tourist zone with heavy private security; lowest violent crime but watch for petty theft and drink spiking in nightlife areas."},{"name":"Laureles","level":"safe","note":"Residential area popular with expats; lower crime than tourist zones but remain alert for pickpockets and scams after dark."},{"name":"Envigado","level":"safe","note":"Quiet, southern suburb with low crime rates; safe day and night, ideal for families and longer stays."},{"name":"Sabaneta","level":"safe","note":"Further south residential area; minimal tourist-targeted crime, good for budget travelers seeking safety."},{"name":"El Centro (La Candelaria)","level":"caution","note":"Historic downtown with high pickpocket risk; safe during day for culture but avoid after dark due to theft and limited police presence."},{"name":"Comuna 13 (San Javier)","level":"caution","note":"Famous for street art and social transformation; safe on guided tours but avoid independent exploration at night due to residual gang activity."},{"name":"Santa Cruz","level":"avoid","note":"Northern industrial zone with high drug trafficking and gang violence; not on tourist routes and poses significant safety risks."},{"name":"Manrique","level":"avoid","note":"Northeastern comuna with persistent armed group activity and extortion; avoid unless with trusted local contacts or NGOs."}]}}