Medellín Safety: What the US State Department Advisory Says (2026)

Last verified: Oct 19, 2026

General information. Not legal advice, and not a substitute for official alerts. Medellín Basic is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government. This page summarizes the US government's published guidance. Conditions change. Check the live advisory before you travel and follow local authorities' instructions. In an emergency in Colombia, call 123.

Short answer (checked Oct 19, 2026): The US State Department rates Colombia Level 3, "Reconsider travel" (issued March 31, 2026). Antioquia, where Medellín is, isn't on the Level 4 list, but the country-wide Level 3 applies. In an emergency in Colombia, call 123. Source: travel.state.gov, Colombia Travel Advisory.

What does the current advisory say?

• Colombia: Level 3, "Reconsider travel", issued March 31, 2026. (travel.state.gov, Colombia Travel Advisory) Rule last checked Oct 19, 2026 on travel.state.gov – Colombia Travel Advisory. If the official page says something different, the official page is right.
• Reasons given: crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters. The March 31, 2026 update kept the level unchanged, added the natural-disaster risk indicator and updated the summary.
• Level 4, "Do not travel" areas are the departments of Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali) and Norte de Santander, and anywhere within 10 km of the Venezuela border. Antioquia, where Medellín is, is not on the Level 4 list. The country-wide Level 3 still applies to it.

What the advisory says about living in Medellín

All points below are from the State Department's Colombia page.

Crime

• "Violent crime is common in many areas of Colombia, including murder, assault, and robbery." Street crime "can quickly become violent". The advice is: do not resist if targeted.
• People seen as wealthy are the main targets. Ride-by phone and bag robberies are common. Don't display phones, watches or jewelry.
• Crimes against tourists are "not always prosecuted".

Dating apps

• The advisory warns that criminals use dating apps to lure victims, and that "many U.S. citizens in Colombia have been drugged, robbed, and even killed by Colombian criminals posing as dates."
• Its advice: meet in a busy public place; avoid hotel rooms and private apartments; share the person's details and photo with someone you trust; do a video call first; never leave drinks unattended; refuse food or drinks from strangers.

Taxis and transport

• US citizens "have been killed during robberies while using taxis hailed off the street." Use a dispatch service or a ride app, and don't hail taxis on the street.
• US government employees in Colombia may not hail street taxis, use public transport, or ride motorcycles. The advisory says you "should follow these same precautions" for road travel.

ATMs and kidnapping

• Card skimming occurs. Use ATMs inside banks or malls, not on the street.
• Kidnappers "may force victims to use multiple ATMs". Tell trusted contacts your plans, and agree on an "alert word".

Natural hazards

• The advisory names landslide risk in informal settlements in mountain cities such as Bogotá and Medellín. It lists the rainy seasons as March–May and October–November.

Health and medical tourism

• Quality of elective and cosmetic surgery "varies widely", and US citizens "have suffered serious complications and even died". The advisory says there are "limited legal options in case of malpractice". See health insurance.

Drugs

• Penalties for drug possession, use or trafficking are "severe", and "long pre-trial detention" is common. The advisory also warns about ayahuasca ceremonies: it is illegal in many countries, including the US, and practitioners are unlicensed.

What are the emergency numbers?

US citizens can enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) to receive embassy alerts. (travel.state.gov)

Non-US readers

Other governments publish their own advisories, and their levels may differ. Check yours before you travel.

What we couldn't confirm

• Medellín-specific crime statistics. We did not verify official 2026 crime data for Medellín (for example from the Policía Nacional or the city's security observatory), so we don't compare neighborhoods by safety.
• Whether the State Department's August 11, 2025 "travel guidance" sections have been updated since. The page shows that date for those sections and March 31, 2026 for the advisory itself.
• Other countries' advisories (UK, Canada and others) were not checked for this page.

See also: The 90/180-day rule · Banking as a foreigner