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Not the same story, but it's covered frequently in Colombian national and local news. Here is an example: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/a-cruel-and-senseles

Not the same story, but it's covered frequently in Colombian national and local news. Here is an example: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/a-cruel-and-senseless-crime-orange-county-man-killed-in-colombia-family-raising-money-to-bring-him-home/ https://ktla.com/news/local-news/a-cruel-and-senseless-crime... The highest risk cities are Medellin (high expat population) and Cartagena (high tourist population). No matter how much I tell my friends not to use Tinder in Latin America, they still try and end up in close calls. One friend ended up in a 'Millionaire's Ride' extortioned to buy overpriced cocaine.

explaininjs 4y ago
Going to Colombia in a week. Not planning on dating around, but do you have any other tips for staying safe as a solo traveller? Not trying to end up at the bottom of a well.
- Mystery-Machine 4y ago
  On the contrary to Brazil and Mexico (for example) the good news in Colombia is that people fight back. They don't like crime and so, if they see someone being robbed, they assault the robber. So just stay in the populated areas and you'll be fine. In Mexico and Brazil people turn their heads around and you're on your own...
  - matheusmoreira 4y ago
    I have a video of a brazilian bystander deciding to mess up a crime in progress by kicking an armed teenager in the leg and knocking him down. Teenager got up and executed him in cold blood for the insult, then resumed whatever he was doing.
- whymauri 4y ago
  My advice depends on the city. I live in Bogota. One universal advice is that if you're not looking for drugs or sex work, the chances of ending up 'in a well' are very low. While acclimating, I recommend Uber over taxis; you can call taxis on the Uber app, too. If you want to get out of the cities, the bus network is actually quite safe. If you want a private/trusted driver for a group, you can get foreigner rates by asking your hotel or better rates by straight up asking an Uber driver if they're willing to do off-platform service for cash. I've built a network of 3 trusted drivers for trips outside Bogota, two from Uber XL and one from chatting with a driver at a museum. Other universal tips are to keep in mind that starter phones in the US/EU are luxury phones in Colombia. I would recommend being alert of your surrounding when using a phone in cities like Medellin, Cali, and Cartagena. In Bogota, mostly be careful around major arterial roads: a common way to lose a phone are motorcycle bandits when you are close to the road. Especially iPhones, they really stand out compared to the Android models that are common in Latin America. Other universal tips is that, Cartagena aside, most Colombian cities are early to wake and early to sleep/go home. Sunrise and sunset are very stable year round, and locals prefer to be out and about in daylight -- daylight is waaaay safer than night time. Day time in some Bogota barrios feels like Spain; night time gets edgy. Here's a post I made on /r/solotravelers specifically about Colombia: https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/wekbhh/first_timer_heading_to_colombia_and_beyond_who/iipigpf/ https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/wekbhh/first_ti... Mostly concerning safety and food poisoning precautions. Don't sleep on food poisoning! Bisbacter and bottled water goes a long way.
  - Laaas 4y ago
    Don't sleep, literally, or metaphorically?
    - whymauri 4y ago
      Metaphorically! Safety is on everyone's mind, but in reality food poisoning is a likelier risk. And there's concrete steps to avoid it, like BisBacter, Smecta, imodium, bottled water, and being thoughtful about how you ease into foods. The difference in food safety and water quality in Bogota is very different from small villages in Antioquia. If you think you shouldn't be drinking a fruit juice, then you probably shouldn't! You can fulfill the craving with fresh fruit... for my fruit-loving friends, check out Paloquemao market in Bogota.
  - explaininjs 4y ago
    Thanks for all the tips and the linked thread! Lot of good info there. I’m flying into Bogota and will be spending some time there as well as Los Llanos and the coffee regions, probably Medellin as well. I might try to make it up to Cartagena area, I’ve heard of a neat seeming “lost city” multi-day backpacking tour.
- gfarah 4y ago
  Been living in Medellín for 3 years now. If you don't go out of your way looking for drugs/sex, you'll be fine. Most people getting in some form of trouble go above and beyond looking for both.
  - explaininjs 4y ago
    Ha, I dig the undertone that the key is in being at the appropriate level of effort put into the hunt for drugs&sex.

explaininjs 4y ago

Going to Colombia in a week. Not planning on dating around, but do you have any other tips for staying safe as a solo traveller? Not trying to end up at the bottom of a well.

Mystery-Machine 4y ago
On the contrary to Brazil and Mexico (for example) the good news in Colombia is that people fight back. They don't like crime and so, if they see someone being robbed, they assault the robber. So just stay in the populated areas and you'll be fine. In Mexico and Brazil people turn their heads around and you're on your own...
- matheusmoreira 4y ago
  I have a video of a brazilian bystander deciding to mess up a crime in progress by kicking an armed teenager in the leg and knocking him down. Teenager got up and executed him in cold blood for the insult, then resumed whatever he was doing.
whymauri 4y ago
My advice depends on the city. I live in Bogota. One universal advice is that if you're not looking for drugs or sex work, the chances of ending up 'in a well' are very low. While acclimating, I recommend Uber over taxis; you can call taxis on the Uber app, too. If you want to get out of the cities, the bus network is actually quite safe. If you want a private/trusted driver for a group, you can get foreigner rates by asking your hotel or better rates by straight up asking an Uber driver if they're willing to do off-platform service for cash. I've built a network of 3 trusted drivers for trips outside Bogota, two from Uber XL and one from chatting with a driver at a museum. Other universal tips are to keep in mind that starter phones in the US/EU are luxury phones in Colombia. I would recommend being alert of your surrounding when using a phone in cities like Medellin, Cali, and Cartagena. In Bogota, mostly be careful around major arterial roads: a common way to lose a phone are motorcycle bandits when you are close to the road. Especially iPhones, they really stand out compared to the Android models that are common in Latin America. Other universal tips is that, Cartagena aside, most Colombian cities are early to wake and early to sleep/go home. Sunrise and sunset are very stable year round, and locals prefer to be out and about in daylight -- daylight is waaaay safer than night time. Day time in some Bogota barrios feels like Spain; night time gets edgy. Here's a post I made on /r/solotravelers specifically about Colombia: https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/wekbhh/first_timer_heading_to_colombia_and_beyond_who/iipigpf/ https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/wekbhh/first_ti... Mostly concerning safety and food poisoning precautions. Don't sleep on food poisoning! Bisbacter and bottled water goes a long way.
- Laaas 4y ago
  Don't sleep, literally, or metaphorically?
  - whymauri 4y ago
    Metaphorically! Safety is on everyone's mind, but in reality food poisoning is a likelier risk. And there's concrete steps to avoid it, like BisBacter, Smecta, imodium, bottled water, and being thoughtful about how you ease into foods. The difference in food safety and water quality in Bogota is very different from small villages in Antioquia. If you think you shouldn't be drinking a fruit juice, then you probably shouldn't! You can fulfill the craving with fresh fruit... for my fruit-loving friends, check out Paloquemao market in Bogota.
- explaininjs 4y ago
  Thanks for all the tips and the linked thread! Lot of good info there. I’m flying into Bogota and will be spending some time there as well as Los Llanos and the coffee regions, probably Medellin as well. I might try to make it up to Cartagena area, I’ve heard of a neat seeming “lost city” multi-day backpacking tour.
gfarah 4y ago
Been living in Medellín for 3 years now. If you don't go out of your way looking for drugs/sex, you'll be fine. Most people getting in some form of trouble go above and beyond looking for both.
- explaininjs 4y ago
  Ha, I dig the undertone that the key is in being at the appropriate level of effort put into the hunt for drugs&sex.