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Violent crime
Violent crime and gang exercise is frequent.
‘Express kidnapping‘ additionally happens. Criminals abduct folks and pressure them to withdraw funds from ATMs earlier than releasing them. The sufferer could also be held in a single day so {that a} second withdrawal might be made the subsequent day. There have been incidents the place those that have resisted have been killed or injured. Hailing taxis on the road could make you weak to this risk. Use a cellphone dispatch service or taxi service app to guide a licensed taxi. Ask for assist from employees at resorts, eating places or leisure venues.
Hikers are generally robbed at gunpoint, together with when mountain climbing on trails in and round Bogotá. Cut back your threat by hiring a good, skilled tour information.
At all times be alert to your individual security and safety. Should you suspect criminals have drugged you or your fellow travellers, get pressing medical assist.
Criminals additionally goal overseas residents and vacationers utilizing fashionable relationship purposes and web sites, significantly in bigger cities akin to Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and Cartagena.
Should you journey to distant areas, journey with recognised tour operators and prepare in your safety all through your go to. Search for up-to-date recommendation from the native authorities earlier than every stage of your journey. Remember that cell and web connections in rural areas are sometimes restricted.
The cities of Bahía Solano, Nuquí and Capurganá in Chocó are fashionable eco-tourism locations. Nonetheless, most of Chocó division is distant. Unlawful armed teams are energetic and concerned within the drug commerce all through the division, significantly close to the border with Panama. Should you journey to those cities, solely achieve this by air and do not journey inland or alongside the coast out of city.
Should you journey to Ciudad Perdida (The Misplaced Metropolis) within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, it is best to do that as a part of an organised tour. Should you journey to Parque Nacional Tayrona, do not enterprise inland. Stick with designated paths, seashore areas and resorts.
The vacationer website of Caño Cristales is positioned within the Division of Meta, within the Parque Nacional Pure de la Macarena. If you’re travelling to Caño Cristales, solely achieve this with a good tour firm, and journey by air to and from the city of La Macarena.
If travelling in La Guajira, keep away from the world near the border with Venezuela. Remember that medical providers are restricted. Rent the providers of a good tour firm. Be prepared for top temperatures, scarce potable water and meals (deliver sufficient water and meals).
When travelling to the archaeological park at San Agustin within the division of Huila, solely enter and go away the park on the principle highway by Popayán or Neiva.
Drug-related felony exercise additionally creates hazard in locations the place cultivation, processing and transport happen. There’s proof of excessive ranges of coca cultivation and associated felony exercise within the following Departments in Colombia:
- Arauca
- Caquetá
- Cauca
- Guaviare
- Meta
- Nariño
- Putumayo
- Norte de Santander
- northern Antioquia and
- southern Bolivar
It additionally creates elevated hazard in:
- areas inside 20km of the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian borders
- the port cities of Buenaventura, Turbo and Tumaco
- the Darién Hole (Panamanian border)
There’s a threat to your security in any space the place coca, marijuana or opium poppies are cultivated and close to cocaine processing labs. In these areas, felony teams assault, extort, kidnap, detonate automotive bombs and harm infrastructure.
Do not take dangers or make your self a goal for criminals. To guard your self from violent crime:
- keep away from travelling at evening
- fly into Colombia through the day if doable
- maintain car doorways locked, home windows up and valuables out of sight, even whereas shifting
- keep in respected lodging with good safety
- attempt to not journey by highway in rural areas (fly as a substitute)
- watch out when travelling alone, or travelling in or close to tugurios (slums)
- use ATMs inside banks, procuring centres or different public areas throughout enterprise hours and keep away from utilizing ATMs on the road
- keep away from strolling alone in remoted or abandoned areas
Motion restrictions for minors in Medellin
Authorities in Medellin have imposed motion restrictions on unaccompanied minors (underneath the age of 18) in areas of town the place they’re thought-about to be at larger threat of sexual exploitation. Minors aren’t allowed to transit or keep in these areas between 7pm – 5am until accompanied by a father or mother or authorized guardian.
The areas of Medellin topic to the restrictions are listed in decree 0082 2024 (Spanish) and embody:
- El Poblado (together with Parque Lleras)
- elements of Corredor vial de la 33
- La Candelaria (together with Plaza de Botero
- Parroquia de la Veracruz, and
- elements of Corredor de la 70.
Should you’re travelling with a minor in Medellin, make sure that they carry correct identification (e.g. a photocopy of their passport) and observe the directions of native authorities.
These restrictions will stay in place till 31 July.
Incapacitating medication
Criminals in Colombia are more and more utilizing medication to subdue their victims, together with a rising variety of overseas residents. This will likely embody utilizing scopolamine or related medication that quickly incapacitate the sufferer. Robberies and assaults happen after victims settle for spiked meals, drinks, cigarettes or chewing gum. Some victims have been killed. Criminals can also administer these medication by aerosol spray or paper handouts. Numerous these incidents have concerned using on-line relationship apps to lure victims.
These medication may cause critical medical issues, together with lack of consciousness and reminiscence loss. Unsuspecting victims change into disoriented shortly and are weak to theft, sexual assault and different crimes. Hotspots embody nightclubs, bars, eating places, public buses and metropolis streets, the place criminals normally goal people who find themselves alone. Train warning when being approached by a stranger and keep away from conferences organized to happen in remoted areas.
At all times test that your drink has been opened or ready in entrance of you. Keep away from leaving meals or drinks unattended, and do not settle for something from strangers.
Petty crime
Petty crime, akin to pickpocketing and bag snatching, can be frequent, significantly in bigger cities akin to Bogota, Cali, Medellin and Cartagena. This contains in main vacationer areas, close to resorts and on the airport in Bogotá. Do not carry massive quantities of cash or put on priceless watches or jewelry. Keep away from utilizing your cell phone, cameras and different digital gear on the street. Keep away from disadvantaged areas of the cities. Vacationers have been robbed at gunpoint.
Organised criminals function in city areas, together with Bogotá and Medellín.
Criminals pose as law enforcement officials in Bogotá and fashionable vacationer cities to conduct scams (asking to confirm paperwork or overseas forex). Folks have reported harassment, theft and extortion. If approached, ask to be escorted to the closest CAI (‘Centro de Atención Inmediata’) – the native police station.
Be certain that your private belongings, together with your passport and different journey paperwork, are safe always. At all times maintain photocopies of those paperwork with you, as native authorities typically conduct identification checks.
Be alert on public transport. Do not go away your baggage unattended, in overhead bins or underneath the seat on buses, as they might be stolen when you’re not watching or asleep.
Card overcharging is frequent. Watch out in fashionable vacationer areas, the place scammers goal vacationers by charging them elevated costs for providers, foods and drinks. Ask for a printed value record earlier than ordering, and test for any unauthorised transactions in your account statements. Pay cautious consideration when your playing cards are being dealt with by others and canopy the keypad with one hand when coming into your PIN.
Smash-and-grab assaults are frequent. Thieves snatch gadgets from vehicles stopped at site visitors lights. Maintain car doorways locked, home windows up and valuables out of sight, even when shifting. Be alert to threats, together with when stopped in site visitors.
Take solely the money you want for the day and do not carry pointless valuables.
Ayahuasca or yage tourism
Ayahuasca or yage tourism is a rising trade, particularly within the jungle areas of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Shamans carry out psychedelic rituals of religious cleaning with this conventional plant.
Yage will not be unlawful in Colombia, however its consumption will not be regulated, and its interplay with present medical circumstances will not be properly understood.
Most amenities lack fundamental first support or emergency plans for individuals who endure bodily or psychological well being results after ceremonies. Contributors report signs from being extra alert however missing management to amnesia. Results might additionally embody extreme vomiting and diarrhoea.
Ceremonies typically happen in distant areas with no entry to medical or psychological well being sources and restricted communication with native authorities.
Some members have additionally been assaulted and robbed.
Should you determine to participate in ayahuasca tourism:
- analysis potential ayahuasca tour operators earlier than signing up
- keep away from collaborating in ayahuasca rituals with no trusted buddy current
- test if any present medical situation could also be aggravated by way of ayahuasca
- test in case your journey insurance coverage covers well being results because of the sort of expertise
Cyber safety
You could be liable to cyber-based threats throughout abroad journey to any nation. Digital identification theft is a rising concern. Your units and private knowledge might be compromised, particularly for those who’re connecting to Wi-Fi, utilizing or connecting to shared or public computer systems, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can be dangerous in locations the place there are social or political tensions, or legal guidelines which will appear unreasonable by Australian requirements. Travellers have been arrested for issues they’ve stated on social media. Do not touch upon native or political occasions in your social media.
Extra data:
Cyber security when travelling overseas
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