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Is it Safe?

According to Seth Kugel in a New York Times article from February 2006, “Bogota is not just for the brave anymore.” Whether you are visiting Bogotá, Cartagena, Santa Marta, or one of the many other gems of Colombia, now seems to be a good time to visit. Even the US Department of State (January 2006) suggests that: “Violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban centers, including Bogotá.”

In another New York Times article from 19 March 2006, Taylor Holliday extols the virtues of Cartagena. She writes that visitors to this former hub of the Spanish empire will find a vibrant contemporary city with an intriguing history, within easy reach of the Caribbean Islands. With a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, tourists with a taste for Latin and Afro-Caribbean food and culture won’t be disappointed. 

The following links provide up-to-date information about travel to Colombia:

  • New York Times article on travel to Colombia (may require registration/payment for access).
  • US State Department travel advisory about travel to Colombia has the most recent information about the safety of travel to Colombia.
  • The Lonely Planet: Colombia, written by Krzysztof Dydynski (Lonely Planet Publications, 2003) is one of the few travel guides in English specifically written about Colombia, with wonderful summaries of things to do and see. However, its hotel and restaurant recommendations tend to be for the very budget-conscious.
  • Visit Colombia information.
  • Colombian Embassy website provides useful links on visiting Colombia including a list of the airlines that service Colombia.
  • Also on the Colombian Embassy website, a brief description of the major cities of Colombia including history and points of interest.