Medellín, Colombia: Things to Know Before Visiting
Medellín, Colombia is known for cocaine, Pablo Escobar, and violence. But this beautiful city has transformed itself from narcoterrorism to a thriving city. I had an amazing time there, so please read this article before traveling there!
Recommendation: 10/10
Table of Contents
SAFETY | LANGUAGE | MONEY | TOURISTY LEVEL
When I told anyone about my vacation to Medellín, they asked, “Is it safe for you to be traveling there?”
The answer is: YES!
I felt very safe there, but I also made sure to do the following because crime can happen anywhere:
- I did not walk at night and took Ubers instead (Except when I went to a restaurant across the street from my hotel). Remember your life is more important than saving $3 on an Uber
- I stayed aware of my surroundings and belongings
- I did not overindulge in alcohol
So, basically, I used common sense and I was fine!
Another thing to note is that if you are an attractive woman, then most likely men will comment on your beauty. Men whispered to me “que linda” and “hermosa.” I personally was not bothered by it. I found it to be respectful compliments, unlike when I am in NY and men will say derogatory things to me as I walk by 😒
The official language of Colombia is Spanish. Colombia is not overly touristy like Cancun and Tulum in Mexico, so not everyone speaks English. My tour guides all spoke English since I selected English tours, but I needed to speak Spanish with restaurant servers, hotel staff (besides the front desk), and Uber drivers. It was awesome being forced to speak Spanish! It can be nerve-wrecking, but you’ll never get better without practice.
So, make sure to learn some basic phrases and have your translator app handy!
Colombia is so cheap! A whole meal with tip will cost between $2-$5!
Make sure to bring Colombian pesos because there will be stores that only accept cash. I brought $250 worth of Colombian pesos, which roughly converted to 1,090,000 pesos.
Below is a breakdown of my cash vs non-cash payments:
CASH PAYMENTS:
- Food
- Tipping tour guides/servers
- Partying
NON-CASH PAYMENTS:
- Tour activities through Viator
- Hotel via credit card
- Transportation through Uber (some Uber rides were 50 cents! So cheap!)
As I mentioned before, Colombia is not overly touristy, which I loved. It felt more authentic.
For example, in Cancun, the signs are in English first and Spanish second. This is catering too much to American/European tourists. It’s unfortunate that some tourists want this type of treatment, which is why Mexico does that!
With all the essential information you need in hand, it's time to plan your trip to Colombia, and what better way to kick-start your planning than by exploring my sample itinerary for Medellín.
