Why Colombia Is No Longer Safe (For Some People)
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- ✅ FREE Moving to Medellin eBook here: medellinmasterclass.com/check...
"Medellin is dangerous!"
That's a common misconception that many people have thanks to social media...
Sensationalism gets clicks, hence there's a lot of misinformation about the level of danger in Medellin, Colombia.
In this video I'm explaining exactly what you should be worried about and what you shouldn't be worried about.
Hopefully after this video you'll have a better understanding about the safety levels of Medellin and what you need to look out for.
📞 BOOK a Call with AK: www.akjoel.com/consultations
💵 How I Make Money to Travel (Full Course): / @akjoel
📽 Promos & Sponsorships: akashjoel@gmail.com
G'day, my name's AK and on this channel I explore expat life in Medellin, Colombia. Whether you're considering moving to Medellin or just visiting Colombia, I've got you covered. Join me as I show you exactly what living in Medellin and Colombia as an expat is really like.
#medellin #colombia #medellincolombia #expat #safety
✅ FREE Moving to Medellin eBook here: medellinmasterclass.com/checklist
Btw @AKJoel notifications are like 9 hours late… CZcams is playing you brother!!!
Bloody CZcams!!! Why they do me like that?! lol
Just got a message from a friend who owns a busniess in medellin she said kidnapped her a few hours and asked her family to pay 30 million pesos and also that she had been robbed and beaten before at her busniess
after living in medellin for 5 years I have decided to leave medellin.....it is crazy unsafe for a single man
Sorry to hear that, I hope you find somewhere that suits you better!
Bye Felicia, you've been here 5 years and haven't figured out how to be safe. You should leave. Hope more of the idiots follow
You’ve been there 5 years.. have you ever had any of these things happen to you? Drugged, robbed, kidnapped? What’s the story?
If you're trying to date it's definitely unsafe, the story about the Asian guy who dated a girl for 7 months before she drugged him is scary because i have no clue how you protect against that.
Although I never had a problem In Colombia it seems like it's like this rather then men hunting for women it's the other way around the women are hunting for men. Don't be stupid or reckless don't mess with prostitutes or drugs and you'll probably never have a problem.
I was kidnapped and extorted in a nice area of Bogotá a few months ago. It’s way more common than you think happens everyday here
Sorry to hear that, hope you're OK 👍🏾
@@AKJoel I was tied up and left with a black eye but luckily wasn’t stabbed could have been worse. But literally happens everyday hardly anybody reports it unless you want to spend 12 hours at the Fiscalía
To be fair, having been there for the first time in 2012 and lived there for half a year in 2013, there were a lot of similar warnings then as there are, seemingly, today. It's the old "don't trust anyone too quickly" advice and follow your gut.
Gosh! That was an awesome time. I loved every bit of it. I'd love to go back there one day.
2012 would've been a completely different experience, I'm glad you got to see it back then - I heard it was epic! Hope you get to come back one day and check it out again.
I’ve been waiting for your take on all this 👍🏻
I don't like to constantly make videos about safety because I don't really think it's a big issue, but lots of my subs were concerned so I thought I'd provide some context on what's really happening here.
I also wanted to clarify that pickpocketing doesn't occur everywhere - usually only in heavily crowded areas like El Centro.
it happened right in front of me in calle 10 by la rauna da juana. 7 people just rushed a friend i just met by bumping into him all at one time and stole his iphone that was like a 1000$.
You made an excellent well rounded video about Medellin. Thank you for taking the time to educate people on the Security rating of Medellin & the 3 major concerns that people should be aware of.
I'm glad you found it useful!
Fellow travelers... My current adventure in Medellin is almost over. I am staying in a hotel in the Laureles/70 area, the front desk lady was telling me that their managers had updated their training due to passport brothers' recent deaths.
In that hotel they only allow visitors to leave the premises if the guy is leaving with them. Otherwise a girl leaving alone may be referred to the police if the guest on record does not exit with her because he might be incapacitated... or dead.
Check with your hotel if they have this policy and if not, tell them that's what you want if you bring a friend for a couple of hours, or overnight.
Tell your friend as well, so she will -hopefully- think twice before doing anything foolish. DO NOT TRUST ANY NEW FRIEND!!! They will always give you the sad story that their mom/kid/brother is in the hospital and will try to get money from you.
Stay safe.
I’m planning on going in a few months, what is the name of the hotel?
Hey Machan, I agree with a lot of the things you are saying, I just find it difficult to agree with the Mayor regarding “positive tourism”, I’ve been visiting Medellin since 2018, as my uncle owns an Indian/Tamil restaurant on Calle 10. I don’t come to medellin for the wrong reasons (sex tourism, drugs, etc) but when I came to medellin three weeks ago I was robbed at gunpoint outside where I was staying. A motto pulled up while I was opening my gate and pulled out a gun and demanded all my belongings, maybe I was just unlucky but I do feel crime has gone up in Medellin compared to what it was pre-covid. Also, you don’t necessarily need to be up to no good to get “got” in Medellin. Just my opinion 🙏🏽
They are using "positive tourism" as a way to deny the real problem, crime is up all over. Anyone can be a victim.
Damn that sucks mate - sorry to hear that happened to you! Unfortunately anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hopefully you didn't lose too much! Also "machan" reminds me of my Dad speaking on the phone haha what does it mean?
Exactly, it can really happen anywhere, it is what it is, I had a backup burner phone and one credit card, so didn’t take a big loss.
Machan means like brother/friend in Tamil.
Bro you’ve only been here for two years it’s just a matter of time before it happens to you. I’ve been robbed and extorted, a friend who visited Medellin was robbed in laureles within a week of arriving. It’s gotten way more dangerous over the past 5 years, particularly over the past year.
@@AKJoel I lived in medellin for 2 years. getting robbed at gun point is very common, almost everyone i know got robbed at gun point from colombains to gringos. just ask any colombian girl if she been robbed at gun point 85% will say yes.
I started watching your videos before I traveled to Colombia last October you always give great advice on safety, I travel again this October and I will be going to Medellin for a few days as I didn’t get to visit last time and I’m looking forward to seeing it
Glad you found the advice useful Nathan! Thanks for watching :)
Great video AK. I am glad that the mayor is focused on promoting positive tourism.
Cheers T Mack - a lot of locals are excited about his stance on crime too - I'm interviewing a guy super involved in politics this afternoon so I'll find out more from him!
Omg, the mayor promoting positive tourism. That is hallarious! Like if that’s gonna make Colombia any safer. Just politics propaganda. You can be praying in church or to a street Virgin in Medellin and get robbed!
I’ve lived there off an on for years . I have a fairly big network of people. To keep it simple -
Medellin is very very dangerous. Getting robbed is something you need to keep a look out for daily. I’ve have friends who own buildings in poblado and have lived there for 20 years. I’ve lived in nyc for 25 years so I know what a city feels like
Anybody who says Medellin isn’t dangerous and 99.9 percent of the people who come are safe is simply lying
This guy is lying and is awful that he’s doing so
99.9% sounds unreasonable until you look at the numbers.
1.4 million visitors to Medellin in 2022.
0.1% of 1.4m = 1,400
So if 1,400 tourists were victims of crime in 2022 (0.1%) that would mean 99.9% had no issues.
1,400 a year would mean more than 3 people a day.
@@AKJoel most people don't report getting robbed or drugged lol, they know the police wont do anything. i lived there for 2 years years and dated so many girls. ask them how common it is to get robbed at gun point and most have had a boyfriend or family member murdered.
@@issacdragon3834thanks for telling us the truth.
Hey Joel, I’m from Medellin. And everything you say is real. Now I’m living in Miami. Thank you for talking about the reality of Medellín and warning people about what can happen to them.❤
Hey Joel, I’m from Medellin. And everything you say is real. Now I’m living in Miami. Thank you for talking about the reality of Medellín and warning people about what can happen to them.
Man ! ! ! Ive Ben writing U about This from "Weeks, weeks, and Weeks AGO ! Damn Man ! Ol West UR follower !
I've moved to Cebu Philippines 3 months ago.. feel completely safe here. Colombia is lovely but just a travel destination for me. I can live anywhere in the world comfortably so have to look at lifestyle safety and how I'm treated. Colombia and Philippines both have equally uninspired food on the world stage.
I laughed at your final sentence - "uninspired food" LOL the food in Philippines is absolutely horrendous!
How many of these problems happen in other cities like Manizales ? Thx
You are correct. don't go to shady places and you won't be a victim to shady activity.
for your own sake stop being naive and read the comments on here of real people living in Medellin. Not doing shady stuff in Colombia does not matter! You are still a target!
Even i colombian born i dont go to my country well i have in the past last time i went was 2014 i could not go out alone with my son always with my cousin or her sons as well only way we felts safe but since that time i dont travel to colombia not risking it... i have gone to other countries where i felt more at home then colombia
I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Bogotá with my Colombian girlfriend. she has never been to Medellin and later this year we plan a visit there ,,, I’ll be honest she has been the best friend I’ve ever had but before Medellin she comes to visit me in England
Good for you Michael!!
Good video
Glad you enjoyed it!
I travel too Medellin multiple times a year. I visit,. For tourism. The culture, the food,. The sites. I'am learning Spanish. I've also traveled all over the world.. A person has too be smart.. And Not put themselves in a bad, Situation.
If your not there looking for drugs or prostitutes. You will not have any problems.
And When you go too clubs, for dancing and the night life.. Go with a tourist group. Dont. Go alone... Be Smart... Be aware..Dont flash your money or valuables. There are areas too stay away from at Certain times... Just like anywhere else. And you won't have any problems.
Well said William, thanks for your comment!
Semper Fi William
Semper Fi.@@alfredodelacruz1864
I wanted to thank you for your information that you provide on your videos I am engaged to a Colombian woman who is very protective of my well being and I am looking forward to my future here
Just wanna say this dude makes some good points but come on almost everyone that's lived in medellin has been robbed at gun point.
Medellin is awesome! Can’t wait to go back, and a few passport bros who didn’t do their research wont put me off. I know what precautions to take.
Champion! Enjoy your time here 😊
Never heard of anyone getting kidnapped? To be detain or held against your will unlawfully that’s kidnapping brother !!
I haven't heard of a kidnapping case when the guy wasn't trying to meet a woman.
There are stories on youtube..
@@AKJoel neither have I but to say there’s no kidnapping of tourists is a lie
No kidnapping of "positive tourists" to use Fico's words
@@AKJoel 👍🏿
I'm in Medellin right now. Been here for a week. Seems pretty safe. Tourist EVERYWHERE walking around in shorts and their iPhone 15s out. Even the locals have shiny iPhones now and just walking around with them out. MacBooks, BMWs, Audis, etc... everyone has them now. Seems like some sort of wealth has hit Medellin. So much so, business clothes like a Sport Coat cost more here than they do in the US. How the locals afford this stuff is beyond me. Either way, seems pretty safe if you're not out late. Though, I'm out walking pretty much every night after dinner.
Great comment!
It only takes someone to come here and walk around to understand that everything you see on CZcams and the news isn't true.
Every developing country is like this, the issue is the wealth gap is huge!!!
Did you stay in the same 4 blocks in Poblado? I mean you don't have to walk far to see extreme poverty. And don't walk at night, you are just gambling...
That’s the problem. On the surface, things can look safe and you let your guard down.
I had a number of locals tell me to ‘be careful’ when I was there. V good advice in my opinion!
I just went to Medellín for the first time and never felt unsafe. Although being Colombian and having lived in the US my whole life I was warned and well aware that these things could happen. My piece of advice is everyone should watch this video before traveling to Colombia in general so you can take the precautionary measures beforehand.
Well said. I'm glad you found the video useful!
I was there last year and I also never felt unsafe. The common denominator in tourist deaths is woman. They pick up prostitutes from the streets or dating apps and those things are always frowned about. Also being flashy is another easy way to get robbed. If you avoid those 2 things there won’t be any issues.
To an extent I can understand the feeling of schadenfreude of a Medellin local being like ‘oh that poor sex tourist, did he get robbed? Diddums’
Having spent a few months here now I think that is the undercurrent in how locals feel about what is happening. And I think it’s reflected in the words of the new mayor that you mentioned.
I just learnt that word "schadenfreude" - have you been watching Trevor Noah? Haha
@@AKJoel haha yes! I have been hanging out to use the word ever since I heard it
I'm glad I could give you the opportunity to finally use it then! haha
I come here 2 days ago and yesterday my phone was stolen
Damn, sorry to hear that - how did it happen?
Yes tell us
someone take it out of my pocket in rush it was an iphone 14 pro max
Damn pickpockets!
lol
Leave that place alone and go to Peru, Costa Rica, Panama & DR…the US government has more resources than a single person living in Medellin! Other places don’t have to worry about all that stuff
Those countries are definitely safer overall
@@AKJoel Vacation is meant to be relaxation and guards downs & unwind; not to go into semi navy seal mode consistently looking over your shoulder… The US government don’t just designate a place base on false intelligence they gather multiple data over time that a normal person wouldn’t have access to… i would rather believe the experts
I mean if you want a completely relaxing holiday and to act exactly as you would in the US, you definitely should avoid Colombia.
@@AKJoel Again, why I mentioned Panama, Costa Rica & Peru. They are way more civilized, educated and relax.
I have visited Colombia 3x and nothing happened to me but it’s not my style or vibe.
Medellin is to hot now.....and I'm not taking about the weather.
Definitely too hot for a certain type of person
How u see the apartment when u another country
Medellin has > 2.5 million inhabitants, 249 barrios and 52 veredas (rural areas) as well as countless socio-cultural spheres with distinct risk profiles. I have lived there from 2009 to 2021, still call the place home and find the paisas to be the friendliest people of all 50+ countries I have visited. Basically, your mileage will vary depending on how you choose to experience Medellin.
100% true - well said mate!
Very based take.
Cheers Jordy! I hope you're enjoying the course and I'll see you when you get out here!
I am white with blonde hair. I met a girl in Mexico that is Colombian and had a great time with her. She wants me to visit her in Medellin and my friend and I are considering going, however it would have to be a situation where she has to come to us. We wouldn’t go to where she is.
I’ve traveled quite a bit (25 countries including Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico). I’ve heard wonderful things about Medellin and would like to reconnect with the girl but I’m still unsure. Is this a bad idea?
Play it slow, but from what you're saying she seems fine. Usually girls who are travelling to other countries to experience the culture aren't the ones out to drug and rob out.
Your right about the press coverage. I have been in Colombia for two months and have not considered Medellin. The other reason is my experience with super aggressive scammers in Cartagena. Columbia has been great but I don't need the potential stress even though I know I would be fine.
Yup, Colombia isn't for everyone. If you want a completely relaxing holiday and to never think about anything, there's places more suited to you.
Please don't take it too seriously. I stayed there for 8 weeks, it's really safe and beautiful Medellin.
I'm happy you enjoyed your time here :)
That's a very scientific approach, thanks
What about AirBNB? I've never been scammed by anyone who uses an app as heavily controlled as AirBNB. In this case the funds are held by AirBNB, only to be released to the owners after the visit. Any thoughts?
Airbnb is 100% safe
Not 100% sometimes scammers put up a listing with zero reviews let you take possession and then enter the unit when you're gone and clean you out
My mom literally just left on a flight going there this morning. She went because her friend asked her, not knowing anything about the city or country.
She's gonna love it!
Hey Joel... In your Day to day activities do you see lots of tourists out in public and locals getting annoyed with some tourists. Or do you typically not see many American tourists out and about..
Hey Priya! I generally stay away from the heavy tourist zones, hence I hardly see foreigners in my day to day life. But from the countless locals I speak to on a weekly basis, none of them have any type of feelings towards foreigners as a whole.
The only type that they'd like to see gone are the ones coming down for "dodgy" activities - the locals are in fact quite proud that all the "positive tourists" are coming down here and discovering how great the city is!
Long story short, you have nothing to worry about 😊
I went back in August and let me say that it’s a beautiful place. I do know Spanish and for one I don’t dress flashy and I dress really casual, looking like a local. A T-Shirt with blue jeans. There were plenty of tourists. They actually want tourists to go for the right reasons, not for the “bad” stuff though. If you speak Spanish it’ll help a lot. When you go out, only carry what you’re guna need, money don’t carry a lot, if you do, have some stash pockets or somewhere on your body, not all in your bag or wallet. Same thing with cards, one in the wallet, one stashed somewhere else or left behind in hotel. iPhones are worth 6 months of their wages, so it is the most stolen phone. Buy a cheap phone with a SIM card. If not at least cover up the Apple logo, or don’t be walking around with it in your hand.
You gotta think like that there. Street smarts.
I love it there and spend lots of time there. I take precautions and I don’t go there to look for drugs or women. Always have a good time there.
Victim blaming
I consider myself pretty street smart but still have fallen victim to crime, not involving women nor drugs. Once by a taxi driver who held me up and another time by beach vendors in Cartagena. I also speak at a very high level of Spanish.
Damn that sucks mate! Where did the taxi driver hold you up?
@@AKJoel He went to drop me off a street from my place (in Laureles) and demanded I paid 300 mil before he'd open the trunk of his car where my luggage was.
Similar thing happened in Cartagena. We agreed to pay 30 mil a place for mojarra and they ended up tacking 200 mil onto the bill as a service fee. We argued and they started to get aggressive so decided it wasn't worth fighting over and paid.
Not sure whether to call these scams or straight theft, but I didn't really have much of a choice in either case. Still love Colombia regardless, but unfortunately these criminals are commonplace.
Yeah those are definitely scams - reasons to never take taxis and also never to go to Cartagena lol
Taxis are not advised whatsoever lmao. You only use Uber..
@@Ryan-ul7dy That's called robbery. And if they don't let you go it's called kidnapping.
In Thailand, we don't hear the scoping stories. The narco culture and the fact that they have illegal militias with thousands of members. That alone makes it different than the U.S. Not to mention, there are no feds in Colombia. If anything does go wrong, you are on your own. You can take precautions, but if it's your time, it's your time. There is no mystery why single guys go to Medellin for women in one way or another.
What does Thailand have to do with Colombia?
The same type of tourists go to Thailand yet we don't hear the same stories. The point is that Colombia isn't safe and run by drug traffickers and criminals. @@AKJoel
It’s the better choice these days thats for sure. You can hang out wherever you want, feel a 100% save, free and you are not in danger of getting held at gunpoint, drugged, robbed and murdered.
Not sure why you try to brush off kidnapping. It does happen more often and it's real.
Does it happen to guys not trying to meet girls though?
@@AKJoel Of course, and often. Search for secuestro expres. It happens in Ecuador as well.
The Aus Government travel advisory is for extreme caution if visiting Colombia and Do Not go to some areas. The same advice applies to a long list of countries! Perhaps even the majority. There are plenty of these safety warning clips around South America but travel comes with some risk and having a clue about what not to do mitigates this.
Exactly mate, if we listened to the Aussie government we'd never leave our houses 😅😅 (like many from Melbourne did for 2 years unfortunately)
I just got back, three days ago... I stay always El Centro at Nutibarra hotel and take clean train to poblado and Mayorca mall ....it was super super safe and a lot of historical tourism in El Centro y museo de art. The night are alive like any big city in the States ;I visited several times, was there for 3weeks ❤Personas muy simpatico. And have video to prove it... I think people need to be safe, stop showing off. Just have common sense anywhere you visit
Do you look Colombian?
People talk about going to Medellin for the “wrong reasons” when some of those reasons are legal. So, how going for something that’s legal is the wrong reason….
Interesting point and I can't answer for all the Colombian people, but I just know that many hate these people that come for "wrong reasons"
Legal doesn’t always mean right.
Illegal doesn’t always mean wrong.
Right and wrong could in a moral context, which isn’t exactly the same as legality.
@the_wanderer5536 very well said!
It's a matter of time before these things happen to you. Obviously it's in your best interest to portray Medellin as mostly safe for "good people" because you depend on and live in Medellin. There's far better countries and cities out there that offer the same thing.
100% true that pickpocketing can happen to anyone, including me if it's my unlucky day. However, I'll never be drugged and robbed by a woman I just met on Tinder because I'm not that careless.
I would advise to be wary of this video maker in particular . He’s siding his own experience saying “ that doesn’t happen “ “cross it out”. Take your own precautions , take his advice with a grain of salt and overall don’t FAFO
I agree with you. Everyone should do their own research, look at the stats and understand what's really happening here.
@@AKJoel yep
@@AKJoel thank you for the informational video I appreciate you.
Also learning Spanish will keep you out of a lot of trouble. Interesting how foreigners think they can just show up in another country (especially a developing one) and behave the same way they would in their home country. My husband is Venezolano/Colombiano. I am American. Since we have been traveling to Colombia I have been schooled about the dangers to be aware of- and let me tell you that they are not what you would ever expect as an American. As I step off the plane in Colombia I behave different. Yes it’s a bit exhausting for me at times but it’s 2nd nature for my husband. Knowing Spanish lets the people around you know that you know what’s up and are harder to take advantage of. In the US we are accustomed to putting our best foot forward and talking ourselves up. That can make you a target in Colombia. We are relocating our family to Colombia from the states if that gives anyone an idea of how safe we think the country is right now. BUT we won’t be moving to a big city like Medellin or Bogota.
Well said, and absolutely agree that here its best to keep a low profile and not draw undue attention to yourself. Also concur that on the whole you may be better off selecting a smaller, more off-the-tourist-radar location as somewhere to live - strongly considering a move to a city in the coffee triangle myself, possibly Manizales or Armenia...
Thanks for the comment Rochelle. I agree with what you say, for many people the increased awareness is tiring, but after a while it just becomes second nature. But yeah, if you approach living here the same as you would in the US, you're definitely going to have problems!
Where are the "off-the-tourist- radar" locations nowadays?
@@TheWogBirdofParadise we are checking out the Santander region this summer in our scouting trip. We have family In Bucaramanga. But there are some great surrounding cities there as well.
Ohh Venezolano, does he "rap" sing in the streets like his cousins does everywhere in every traffic stop? 😂😂🎉
When the prey is a predator, that's how I moved.. Central Medellin, Poblado, Llereas Park was chill. Home boy tried last night, word has it he still waiting on me. He ain't kidnapping nothing.
So its dating apps only? Clubs and bars are completely safe in medellin?
None of these horror stories making the mainstream press are have mentioned someone casually having a drink at a bar and then getting drugged and robbed - HOWEVER I've heard it happening on rare occasions - always watch your drink.
Its happened to guys out there who meet a girl at a bar and take them back to their apartment right after meeting them.. That is not safe...
I'm assuming he meant is just drinking and hanging out at bars safe, which it mostly is. However, meeting a girl anywhere in Medellin and immediately bringing her back to your apartment will greatly increase your risk of danger.
Not at all. Always watch your drinks. Colombians become victims as well in bars.
The most hilarious thing is that the sex tourist who stay in El Centro are safer than the random tourist who didn't do any research who stay in Parque Lleras.
If you look at a map of the most dangerous places in Medellin, all of Poblado is safe except Parque Lleras lol
Map here: www.medellincolombia.co/general-information/safety-in-medellin/
Honestly, I’ve visited Colombia more than once and TBH it is dangerous but as a Latino (it’s not unlike my own neighborhood although it feels more seedy).
As for who is at greater risk,… Deff sex tourists.
Much more dangerous for sex tourists lol
Man ! ! ! ! n What the Hell, Do Visitors Want to Worry / Think of All These Things when Just going on a Vacation ???????????
Visitors don't need to think about these things - as the mayor said "those that come for positive tourism will be fine."
The only thing to worry about for "positive tourists" is pickpocketing in heavily populated areas, although I know plenty of people who've been here years and never been pickpocketed.
MAN ! U Just Dont Get it do U ??? Thats Not what the money paying What out of / or On their Vacatio9ns !
I agree it is dangerous but for local women, two women have already been killed by Americans, the worst of all they have been dismembered and put in suitcases
Yeah, that was very sad. What sick and twisted people...
Please I am a black Woman .. Should I be concerned.. I will be traveling alone. But I only stay and chain hotels and in tourist areas.
If you leave the women alone in Medellin, you'll have ✂️ 50% of your safety problems right there.
50% is a conservative figure haha probably much higher really!
@@AKJoel 😂 75% Ok!
Live small city .manizales, armenia
Do you live there?
Hey brother whats the best way to get in contact with you via social media??
What do you need my friend?
May I ask, Why are you living in Colombia?
It's sunny every day, people are friendly, cost of living is low, the views and nature are beautiful - what's there not to love!
"Don't blame a clown for acting like a clown. Ask why they keep going to the circus."
Colombia is just not safe now it’s a hard pass for . If you got to take all these precautions it’s not worth going
It's not for everyone, there's plenty of other countries to choose!
having lived inColombia for 11 years. it-s dangerous end of story. personally robbed 3 times with guns and knife, seen many crimes with my own eyes. you never know what a criminal looks like. police might be the criminal. its that bad. if you live in a bubble its safe, but between cities, on country roads, in public places, nowhere is safe. the level 3 american embassy warning is perfectly accurate. you could be drugged, kidnapped, stabbed, followed, shot, pickpocketed, overcharged, scammed, ripped off. be careful NO PAPAYA
Sorry to hear that happened to you. However the experience of every expat I hang out with has been the complete opposite. Not sure why but that's the truth 🤷🏾♂️
I was in medellin last week and I felt pretty safe🤔
Yup, most people feel exactly like you did :)
It’s funny when talking about the crime against tourist in Colombia there’s always a comparison with crime stats from somewhere else like the United States so 1. We’re talk about crimes against tourists that seem to happen in Medellin more than anywhere else in the world and 2. Who gives a shit about somewhere else we’re talking about Medellin !! Stop trying to downplay the bullshit !!
Crimes against tourists happen here more than anywhere in the world because you don't see droves of desperate men flying to any city more than they do to Medellin lol (well, maybe Cartagena)
@@AKJoel Thailand the Dominican Republic the red light districs of Amsterdam and Germany even Las Vegas have been known for sex tourism way before Colombia and no reports of kidnapping just saying
@@AKJoel Where does Thailand and it's cities rank on your list?
@good2go619 thanks for the comment - I actually went and looked at some stats and it turns out that Thailand is much more dangerous for tourists than Colombia.
In 2021, there were 431 tourist deaths in Thailand, according to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports and there were only 450,000 visitors (due to the pandemic.)
@@AKJoel ok so now you’re conflating stats that aren’t germane to the specific topic. The leading causes of death to tourists in Thailand come from road traffic accidents,alcohol induced stunts,drugs, water activities leading to drownings and even animal encounters taken from the south China morning post which covers Southeast Asia that means Thailand. No where is there a report of druggings mugging or kidnapping unless it’s drug related and that is still not part of the specific topic.
I would not recommend any foreign moving or visiting Colombia until the current government goes out of office, because it has weaken security at all levels by reducing police and army activity and empowering guerrillas and narcotrafficking groups under the false pretense that this will bring total peace in the long run..
Haven't noticed anything like this in Medellin. Actually the police presence and stance on crime seems to have increased with the election of Fico.
@AKJoel Good luck...I sincerely hope that I may be wrong, but kidnappings in Colombia increased at the rate of 90 percent in 2023 over 2022. Hopelly, FICO will succeed in reducing crime in Medellin, but In 2002, Colombia had a kidnapping rate of 10 persons a day, but thanks to President Uribe, kidnappings went down to 1 per day in 2010 and it had been stable until 2022, when the new government took office. You can contact the GAULA office in Medellin for factual information about Medellin and surrounding areas....thanks for promoting Colombia...I am from Boyaca, and returned to live there after 6 decades of living outside Colombia..
Hey man, I live in Medellin for years and just started liking some of your videos until I saw this one. You’re either really naive or just deceiving. Hope the first one. I understand that it is to your convenience to sell Medellin as a safe place to live since that’s your side hustle. But you’re doing your followers a disservice by the ignorance you are talking about.
First off, I used to be like you thinking, Colombia is not a 3rd level dangerous country. The US travel safety regulators probably watched Narcos on Netflix and labeled it dangerous lol. I lived here and have been to really dangerous places in Cúcuta visiting relatives and what not. But guess what? Life was all fun and games until I got robbed at gun point in the middle of a beautiful sunny day in “El Poblado”.
Since I have Colombian citizenship I decided to go all out and report the robbery at the Fiscalia. Omg, I dare you go there and realize the long lines of people reporting theft. It’s amazing lol. Anyways there I learned that you can’t even trust local police. If you are in Medellin for the weekend chances are you might just get picked pocketed. No big deal it happens everywhere, specially in Paris, it’s an art over there. But if you spend more time here is not a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, chasing hoes, doing drugs etc. it’s a matter of when will you be the next one. (Not statistic because most people DO NOT REPORT). You can be in a Pergamino sipping on some nice Colombian coffee thinking you’re safe. But there’s spotters everywhere. Watching you. Waiting for the right conditions. They only spot and then dial someone to go get you when they see an opportunity.
Now I know why Colombians on the street seem all paranoid looking over their shoulders at all times. It’s a real thing people! Be careful!
It’s a beautiful city/country, great people but underneath it’s a ticking timebomb waiting for you. That’s harsh but as real as I can illustrate it for ya’ll. Don’t believe anything they sell in CZcamsr lol. That’s rule number one!!!
With all that said now it becomes the question, will you be fine living in a place, having to look over your shoulder and waiting for your turn to get robbed? For me… I still live here 😂. But people know you’re always a target. No matter where you are in Colombia. Could be a nice restaurant, El Poblado, Lleras, whatever!!
To add insult to injury. Because of the Venezuelan crisis, a majority of the Venezuelans that fled to Colombia and other counties are criminals. These guys have nothing to lose and your life to gain! The Fiscalia told me these guys are much more aggressive than your Colombian thief. These guys are the ones hanging out in Lleras, selling candy, doing shows at traffic lights. Singing you songs etc. They might not rob you straight up but they can be spotters too!!! Don’t be naive people! Read all the comments on here and realize the real nature of living in Medellin. Just because you’ve been living here one, two theee years and all is peachy, the next day could be your life.
Just wanted to give some awareness. You’re welcome!
Thanks for your comment.
This is something that will never be agreed upon. There's a percentage of people that swear it's safe and a percentage of people that swear you will die as soon as you get off the plane.
Each person just needs to come and decide for themselves. Don't take anyone's word as scripture, not even mine.
I heard Medellin always been unsafe lmao
What was the Mayor recently incarcerated for?? Always pointing the finger at foreigners. Do some real policing and maybe things would change, standing on the corner is not policing. But I digress.
a decent dose of good luck, or bad luck, makes all the difference.
and we have zero control over luck.
a single man walks into a bar to have a drink and listen to the music and see if he can strike up a conversation.
it's all luck how the rest of the evening goes, if you decide you want to experience the social life of the city.
sure, you can stay in and watch netflix every night, but then you're not really in Medellín.
Bro Colombia isn’t safe no matter what way you put it. Stay away from Colombia until it’s safe to do so. As single men we tend to go for the women however your really playing with your life, once you step foot in Colombia.
You're 100% right. If you want to travel here for women, it's not safe.
I feel safer in Colombia than the USA.
According to recent stats 45 cities in the US have a worse murder rate than Medellin, so I understand why you feel that way!
Currently visiting Medellín. Awesome as usual. Safe? If you are smart it is. My first Airbnb this trip was close Metro Cable Popular station. Santo Domingo Savio I. A working class community. Walked out late to look for dinner... Totally cool. I suspect people who get in trouble "dan papaya" or do stupid things. Nobody can protect you from you... Follow simple common sense safe behavior and you will be cool... Get sh!t-faced, high on drugs or meet strange girls and you will probably become a statistic.
The people that share your point of view are usually the ones that live a happy and safe life here.
@@AKJoel I suggest people who are in the US/Europe still undecided come and stay in Envigado, Poblado, Itagui, etc. Test the waters and see how safe they feel behaving responsibly. They will have a good time. People who come to Medellin expecting to bag a few paisas getting drunk, high or whatever... Stay where you live. Don't come to Medellin to become a statistic... Your mom ain't here to look after you.
As for Fico, Medellin mayor... He doesn't have to beg people NOT to do s3x tourism... He can stop it by aprehending/limiting the supply side. If he does not, he can't blame it on travelers.
That's true - I interviewed a few people involved in politics and I think Fico is going to try to clean up all the open to the public prostitution. But easier said than done, let's see what happens lol
@@AKJoel It will be interesting to see what Fico does... S3x tourism is part of the problem. A lot of foreigners also come for cheap white powder. They offer it openly in Lleras.
passport pookies are the targets
Exactly
It's a jungle out there, right? Anyway, the mighty lions and confident tigers and bears are never concerned about safety in the jungle. It's always the little monkeys and the scared mice who bring up the subject of being extra careful when out and about. So if you're mentally weak and vulnerable as easy prey, then you should probably remain in the zoo. Avoid the jungle. LOL
Welcome to the Jungle! LOL
The US Travel Advisory is written by politicians. Anyone know any brave politicians? (aside from Ukraine's president). I find it USELESS. When I was travelling in Mexico in 2020 I would look up the crime stats of cities I visited vs cities in the US and the US Travel Advisory telling no government employees allowed in foreign city X, I wondered if they were also banned from working in many US cities.
Also, the news media is not representative of reality. If it were, you could find academic research papers footnotes referencing media reports. I dare you to find even one. Media news is about clicks and shiny objects. It reports facts, but with near 0 context to evaluate the relevance of those facts. Also, the news media is about copying other news media. If Big News Corp X does a report on Y, then nearly every other Big News Corp feels COMPELLED to also create a similar "news" report. So to the news junkie, Y appears to be much more prevalent and relevent than it really is.
CZcams video channels are also not immune to this story copy phenomena. Nearly every Colombia expat CZcams channel I know has done a Colombia Tourist Crime themed video in the last month. :-( Yes, they mostly are to debunk the stories, but IMO, it would simply be better if they ignored this. Because I guarantee in another month or two there will be no more news stories about Colombia Tourist Crime because the news has to keep chasing new bright shiny objects. While the CZcams algorithm on the other hand will keep recirculating these videos about Colombia Tourist Crime so that they keep showing up in user's feeds which by itself distorts reality... someone seeing lots of videos available (not watching them all, not looking at their time stamps or seeing one accurate enough) will also be misled into thinking this is a bigger issue than it really is.
Well said mate! The sad thing is that despite all these videos and articles circulating constantly, some guys still don't learn what not to do SMH
There's always a way to look at any bad news in a good light ;-)@@pedros1
Colombia will have a bad name for many years to come still. If you look at official figures out of the fifty most dangerous cities in the world Mexico has like 15 to 20 of them and Brazil 12 to 15, and yet people from other countries don't seem to have a problem with it. But mention Colombia, which normally has 2 to 3 cities in that list, and Medellín not one of them, and everyone rages all over the Internet about how dangerous the city is. I can't make sense of it.
I've been to most of the world's most dangerous cities in Mexico & Brazil and spent months in some of them. You know what's funny?
Many weren't dangerous at all. 🤔🤷🏾♂️
@@AKJoelyou probably haven't spent enough time , 80 % of Brazil is dangerous
I was only in Brazil for 3 months but I was in Mexico for 1.5 years - I think that's plenty of time to realize that the fearmongering they show on the news isn't all true.
Medellín is dangerous in the sense of chances of being mugged. Murder rates don’t say everything.
Hey bro,I will be visiting colombia for photography.Can you please guide me out.kindly provide your mail ID
Hey Joel, I’m from Medellin. And everything you say is real. Now I’m living in Miami. Thank you for talking about the reality of Medellín and warning people about what can happen to them.❤