Solo Travel in Colombia - Safety Tips For Women

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I recently spent two months in Colombia as a solo traveller and have been raving about it ever since. I visited as part of a 9-month backpacking trip through Central and South America and, despite many wonderful places and experiences, Colombia comes out on top.

It’s my favourite country in Latin America apart from maybe Guatemala… Oh, and my beloved Mexico. From the warm, friendly people to the diverse landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to arid desert and lush jungle, you can’t beat it. Throw in salsa dancing, street art and Caribbean culture: you have a destination like no other!

Cali Colombia solo travel — Colourful Cali

I knew I would love Colombia because people I’d met in previous countries were RAVING about it. Almost everyone who’s been seems as obsessed as me. However, I did meet some women travellers who expressed safety concerns and felt off in certain places. And I met male travellers who experienced crime, too.

I’ll discuss the pros and cons, safety advice and tips as we go.

Misconceptions about Colombia

Colombia is one of those countries that prompts people (who haven’t been) to make a LOT of negative comments. Sadly, people still hear the word ‘Colombia’ and think Pablo Escobar, drugs and violence. I think Netflix and glamorisation of violence have a lot to answer for.

Forget what your uncle remembers from the news in the 1990s. Ignore what your colleague’s know-it-all boyfriend has to say about the Narcos series.

But don’t confuse this with ignoring all safety advice. While it’s possible to have a safe and enjoyable solo trip to Colombia (take me as proof of that!), it’s somewhere that does require caution and common sense.

For example, I just finished writing my guide to solo travel Costa Rica and it’s a completely different kettle of fish (in fact, I can’t believe there’s only one country separating them because they’re so different). In CR, I could get by with English, walk at night and hike alone without a thought to my safety.

Colombia is a bit different, but far from an undoable solo female travel destination. Let’s get stuck into it!

Is Colombia safe for solo female travel?

I would say YES because I spent a wonderful two months travelling alone in Colombia and had no negative experiences.

Yet, it’s worth noting that I’m a very experienced solo traveller by this stage, I acted cautiously and, to be honest, probably had good luck. I’m a big advocate that life comes down to luck a lot! Some people will behave recklessly and not face the repercussions, whereas some will take all the precautions and just run into the wrong pickpocket, for example.

Not to scare you, just move away from the narrative that those who experience crime somehow invited it. I have a chip on my shoulder after I had my phone stolen at 10am en route to a museum during solo travel in Chile then spent the rest of the trip hearing other travellers say that all the crime happened to that guy stumbling home drunk with his phone out at 2am.

I digress!

Bogota street art solo female travel Colombia — Colourful Bogota is safe in the day and certain areas

Firstly, I think the safety in Colombia is linked to location. Small towns in the coffee triangle such as Salento and Jardin felt idyllically safe. I hiked solo and walked in the dark alone to dinner without thinking twice.

Yet, big cities such as Bogota, Medellin and especially Santa Marta should not be treated in the same way. I called an Uber for a five-minute walk in Santa Marta because my hostel was slightly away from the main walking street and I didn’t feel safe walking in the dark at all.

I liked Bogota and Medellin but there’s undeniably abundant crime from pickpocketing to worse. In certain areas, you see people who are homeless and zombified on ‘blow’. And sadly, lots of dodgy men from Western countries visit to exploit the local women which is sad to see.

Overall, Colombia is a safe destination for experienced solo female travellers who exercise caution and have experience handling themselves overseas. Use my tips and you’re good to go!

More solo travel Latin America guides:

Is Colombia suitable for first time solo travellers?

No, I don’t think it’s the ideal destination for that.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m sure it’s been done and gone fine.

But would I recommend it? Not really. I would suggest getting practice and confidence in other places first before embarking on Colombia.

Other destinations in Latin America like Peru, Argentina, Guatemala and Costa Rica are better for first-time solo travellers due to their lower crime rates and advanced infrastructure (and are a bit easier if you’re still learning Spanish).

And many places in Southeast Asia and Europe are even better!

Good things about solo travel in Colombia

Affordable – although it varies by destination (with Cartagena being fairly pricey but small towns in Santander and the south being much cheaper), it’s not a destination where you’ll break the bank by being solo, for example when booking a private room or taking taxis
Some of the best hostels ever – especially on the North Coast, there are hostels that are more like resorts with infinity pools, jungle settings and even nightclubs onsite. Pick one for your vibe from tranquil to party
Easy to meet people – from guided hikes to free walking tours (I did amazing ones in Medellin and Cali), dance classes and Spanish schools, you won’t be alone unless you want to be.

What I personally loved about Colombia travel

Natural diversity – one week I was hiking a snowy mountain, the next I was in the desert, and the next the tropical jungle. You get 10 holidays in one
Cultural diversity – from music to dance and dress, there’s so much to experience, from salsa street parties in Cali to the second-biggest carnival in Barranquilla and the Caribbean culture on the coast
Friendly people – some of the nicest people I’ve encountered in Latin America, only rivalled by warm El Salvadorians
The best fruit ever! Seriously, I have never had fresher or sweeter fruit than in Colombia. I miss it.

Downsides to solo travel in Colombia

Some safety concerns – this isn’t somewhere you can switch off; you need to stay alert
Not that easy for English-only speakers – so I recommend learning as much Spanish as you can before your trip
Long journeys – many bus journeys (such as Cali to Neiva and Neiva to Bogota) took HOURS longer than expected due to traffic or natural disasters like falling rocks. Be patient and bring snacks!

How to travel around Colombia alone

Buses – these are comfy and safe. Some of the main companies are Bolivariano, Flota Occidental, Coomotor and Expreso Palmira.

Strangely, it was often cheaper to book on the redBus website than at the station and I see they promise an extra 15% off with the mobile app. Every little helps! (You still have to visit the ticket counter to collect your physical ticket).

Internal flights – I only took one to avoid the very long bus journey from Santa Marta to Medellin. Although I try to avoid them for environmental reasons, they’re conveniently cheap with budget airlines like Wingo, Viva and Avianca.

Jeeps in Quindío – when travelling between Salento and nearby places like Valle de Cocora and Filandia. Nicknamed ‘willys’, these open-top Jeeps are affordable local transport. Sometimes when they’re full, you’ll be instructed to stand on the back and hold on for dear life. Eek!

Within cities – Uber (especially at night), the Metro in Medellin and the TransMilenio bus network in Bogota. Elsewhere, I mainly walked.

Apps for navigation – in addition to Google Maps (download your chosen area to use offline), I like Maps.me where you can download the whole country in offline maps for free (and it shows hiking paths) and All Trails, although you do need to pay to use this offline.

Safety tips for solo Colombia travel

Without patronising you about the dangers of wearing short skirts or drinking alcohol (I’m sure you weren’t born yesterday and know how the world works; you can find your own balance with your dress and choice to drink or not), here are some savvy Colombia-specific tips to stay safe.

Read next: 101 solo travel safety tips

Travel by day where possible – although it’s unlikely, there can be robberies on night buses so it’s best to take day buses instead. The exception is the night bus from Santa Marta to Santander province which is a popular route for travellers.

Uber at night (swiftly when arriving at sketchy bus stations esp if it’s dark) – I would avoid walking alone at night in Colombia, with the exception of short distances in safe touristic towns like Jardin and Salento. Uber is cheap and readily available.

Mind your valuables on public transit – especially Bogota buses and the Medellin metro; I met people who had their wallets pinched when it was crowded. Have your valuables zipped away in a secure, cross-body bag.

Have multiple bank cards incase one is lost or stolen – this is a safety tip for anywhere not just Colombia! The cards I travel with that charge no or minimal cash withdrawal fees include Monzo, Starling (for UK travellers), Wise and Revolut (for various nationalities).

No dar papaya – don’t give papaya is a common saying that means don’t make yourself an easy target. Flashing around your valuables and wandering around the wrong neighbourhood may do exactly that. Be street smart, although I’m sure you know that already!

Coffee farm salento Colombia — Coffee tour in Salento

Be aware of scopolamine – also known as ‘Devil’s Breath’, this is a powerful drug that luckily I never had contact with. Victims may become compliant and lose all memory, allowing criminals to extort money. I hear it’s usually used on men at clubs but it’s still worth knowing about as a solo female traveller in Colombia as it can be used to spike drinks. Don’t leave yours unattended.

Avoid mentioning Pablo Escobar – this is not so much a safety tip as a sensitivity one. Given the horrors that he inflicted on locals, Escobar’s reign is a sensitive topic. If Spanish-speaking locals hear you mention his name, they’ll likely not know what else you’re saying about him. It’s best avoided to reduce misunderstandings and distress for locals.

Do you need to know Spanish?

If you stick to the well-trodden tourist trail, you can get by without but it’s certainly not as easy as in some countries.

A little Spanish will go a long way in appearing friendly and respectful to the locals but also making the journey easier for you when asking for directions or help.

Learning as much Spanish as possible before your trip is a wise idea, but if you haven’t, you could try an in-country language school. I spent two weeks at Blink in Medellin which is a fun, social school with group classes, shared mealtimes and evening events such as salsa classes and trips to different neighbourhoods. Learning the lingo is a bonus!

Where to go solo in Colombia

In this vast country, there are SO many places to go. Why do you think I stayed two months?

Arriving solo from Panama?

Just a quick note about this; see my review of the San Blas Islands boat trip for all details. The one place in Colombia I didn’t feel safe was the town of Capurganá where we arrived. There’s a lot of poverty, dark streets and stray dogs. I recommend staying right in the centre of town (near the port) rather than in the backstreets.

Also, the journey from Capurganá to Cartagena arrives at night into a sketchy bus station an hour’s drive from the city. Try to travel with others from your boat trip and have Uber downloaded and ready to go.

Note – I did a speedboat tour rather than a sailing tour; these arrive directly in Cartagena. I still think the speedboat is a better option though.

Medellin

I got to know Medellin well as I spent two weeks at Blink Spanish School in the El Poblado neighbourhood.

Perhaps because of how heavily Medellin had been hyped by other travellers, I found it didn’t quite live up to my expectations… But it’s certainly a cool place and a popular hub for digital nomads.

Things to do in Medellin:

Visit the city centre – take a free walking tour with Real City Tours, spot quirky statues in Botero Square, see modern art at the Museum of Antioquia and wander the decadent National Palace Mall (note, Centro isn’t the safest area so be vigilent and avoid at night)
Ride the cable car (an attraction in itself) to Parque Arvi where you can take a nature hike
Take a walking tour of Comuna 13 once the most dangerous neighbourhood on the planet and now somewhat of a Disneyworld. Honestly, this place has the capacity to underwhelm but I enjoyed taking an offbeat tour with a characterful local and getting beyond the touristy part (don’t expect a polished tour, though – it’s an ‘experience’). I also heard good things about Zippy Tours.

Don’t miss visiting Guatapé, an easy day trip from Medellin (although you can also stay overnight to take your time).

Day tours start from $25 including transport, two big meals, a boat trip, walking tour of the colourful town of Guatapé and trip to El Peñol, a dramatic natural rock formation with views of the artificial islands.

Lakes view from El Peñol Colombia — The view from El Peñol

Where to stay in Medellin: stay in El Poblado for a cool, hip neighbourhood with lots of restaurants and bars (I recommend the Manila side for solo female travellers in Colombia as the other end is a bit sleazy).

Another option that’s more residential – and charming – is Laureles. I got an Airbnb here for a bit of downtime after a fun and social time in El Poblado.

Bars, restaurants and cafes in Medellin:

Colombian food – in El Poblado, you can’t beat Alambique for elevated Colombian food and cool aesthetics (be sure to book on Instagram), or Mamasita for tasty local fare
International food – in El Poblado, I liked Halong for Vietnamese food, AMA for veggie Indian food and Hija Mía for brunch and coffee
Coffee – don’t miss rooftop Cafe 11:11 in El Poblado and Cafe Pergamino with its quirky Wes Anderson aesthetics in Laureles. Lavato is a handy spot where you can wait for your laundry while drinking speciality coffee
Nightlife – Mad Records for cocktails and music, Siete Pulgadas Listening Bar next door, Mosquito Rooftop for food and cocktails, Mad Radio for late night dancing.

Cartagena

Cartagena is truly stunning, like stepping out of an Instagram feed. It’s hot, tropical and arty with Caribbean vibes and beaches nearby (the Rosario Islands can easily be visited during a day tour).

I had mixed feelings, however, because Cartagena Old Town feels overly curated and artificially perfect compared to the wider city where there’s a lot of poverty. It’s not somewhere for authentic culture. Also, there have been recent reports of crimes and attempted kidnaps (usually to extort money from the victims).

That’s not to say it’ll happen to you: the worst thing that happened to me in Cartagena was inflated brunch and coffee costs! But it’s worth being aware and not travelling alone at night. Stick to the Old Town and play it safe.

North Coast (Tayrona, Minca, Palomino)

This city of Santa Marta is the gateway to the region (it’s easy to catch a bus in four hours from Cartagena) but definitely not the highlight. Though if you do stay overnight, I recommend Cacao Hostel with free breakfast, pool access and co-working space for $10 a night and Vívolo Cafe for funky coffees (I liked the orange espresso with honey).

Better places to visit include…

Tayrona National Park

This sublime coastal national park is home to monkeys, deer, caimans, iguanas and even rare jaguar. To visit, catch a bus from Santa Marta. I stayed at the Journey Hostel (from $18 a night), one of the best hostels from my trip and within walking distance of the park.

I made friends with three other solo female travellers (all in our 30s) at the hostel and we headed on an overnight hiking excursion where we slept in hammocks beside Cabo San Juan beach for $10. Book by WhatsApping +573112589907 and pay with Paypal.

Entry to the national park cosst 80-90,000 pesos ($20-25) depending on the season whether you stay hours or days. Food is pricey in the park so bring snacks and enough cash.

If doing the whole thing again, I would stay two nights in the park, walking from the entry to Cabo San Juan on day one, then to Playa Brava beach on day two (the camp has hammocks and a restaurant) and exiting on day three.

Tip – I recommend booking accommodation on the nights either side at Journey Hostel (or elsewhere) then leaving your big bags in storage while away, just taking a small backpack with you.

Minca

Also easily accessed from Santa Marta (change buses here if coming from Tayrona) is another stunning natural region with plenty of ‘destination hostels’ that feel more like resorts.

I stayed at Masaya Casa Viejas ($12 a night for the dorm) miles from anywhere with a pool and sublime views. The only downside is the crazy 35-minute moto taxi ride (the driver puts you on the back and your luggage between the handlebars) from Minca town. It’s not for the weak and costs $10 each way.

After the adventurous journey, relax by the pool or take a leisurely hike to the nearby waterfalls and reward yourself with a stop on the way back at Hacienda La Victoria, the coffee farm on the property (take a guided tour or just enjoy coffee and cake in the cafe).

To stay closer to Minca town, I heard good things about Jungle Joe’s hostel.

While the natural beauty is the highlight of the region, the colourful town of Minca is pleasant with decent food options. Don’t miss quality Colombian coffee and chocolate treats at La Miga Panaderia.

Palomino

I skipped this Northern Coast beach town as I was all beached out from Central America but I heard good things about Palomino. Especially if you’ve been hiking, you may want to chill at the beach, learn to surf or indulge at the town’s many restaurants serving backpacker fare and fresh seafood.

Along the coast between Tayrona and Palomino, I heard good things about Costeño Beach Hostal.

Now, some destinations in the south of Colombia suitable for solo travellers…

Jardin

I’d describe Jardin as my favourite place in Colombia apart from maybe Tayrona. This gorgeous town is utterly idyllic, surrounded by hiking trails and coffee farms. Also, it feels like stepping back in time with locals in cowboy hats riding their horses.

With some other solo female travellers in the hostel, I did a fantastic day hike to Splendour Caves. We caught a tuk-tuk up the hill and walked to the entry point where we paid $4 entry including a coffee and a guided waterfall hike.

However, my overall highlight of Jardin was hiking to Cafe Jardin overlooking the town. The uphill hike was rewarded with delicious Colombian coffee, cake and spectacular views.

Don’t miss Jardín de Rocas reserve for beautiful red cock-of-the-rock birds who come to rest in the afternoons. It’s a cute venue with a little cafe, too.

Although it was off limits due to floods when I visited, I hear good things about the 7 Waterfalls Hike.

Be sure to stay at Magic Jardin hostel; it’s a cosy spot. Arrive in Jardin on a 4-hour bus from Medellin.

Salento

Valle de Cocora girl travelling alone Colombia

This cute town is one of the most famous places in Colombia and for good reason!

Nearby Valle de Cocora is known for having the world’s tallest palm trees and offers a rewarding circular hike with a stop at the hummingbird hut (pay $5 entry including a hot chocolate with cheese, the Colombian speciality!).

Other side trips include idyllic town, Filandia (thought to inspire the Encanto movie), hiking to Santa Rita Waterfall and, my favourite, touring coffee farms in the region. There are lots of big commercial farms but, after chatting to the staff at a coffee shop, I got a great recommendation to visit Las Acacias Farm.

This family-run coffee farm surrounded by spectacular countryside is a 45-minute walk from Salento (I walked there and back alone and felt perfectly safe). Pay $8 for a coffee tour and cup of the good stuff. A bargain compared to the bigger farms!

Filandia colourful town — Filandia is just an hour’s drive from Salento

Where to stay in Salento: I stayed in two places, Bindi Ho s tel which is a modern, social base with evening activities (including free sweet tasting workshops!) where solo travellers in Colombia congregate. Then I stayed at Cattleya, a cosy hostel run by a friendly grandma and grandad and their dog. The homemade brekkie with coffee is great value for only $1!

Access Salento via an 8-hour bus from Medellin or a 4-hour bus from Jardin (with a change in Pereira). After, I travelled to Cali with a change in Armenia.

Bogota

Although I wouldn’t describe Bogota as my number 1 destination in Colombia, it’s likely somewhere you’ll transit to enter and exit Colombia. Despite not being somewhere people generally rave about, it exceeded my expectations and certainly doesn’t deserve its poor safety rating.

A couple of days in Bogota can be spent hiking 400m up Monserrate Mountain (or taking the cable car if you’re new to the altitude), visirting cute cafes in colourful La Candelaria, visiting museums like the Gold Museum and Botero Art Museum, and buying the sweetest and freshest fruit ever at Paloquemao Market.

Take a free walking tour with Capital Graffiti Tours to learn about the city via the striking murals.

The one attraction I found overrated was Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and the traffic back was horrendous. Skip it unless you’re overly invested in religious tourism.

Read next: why Bogota is worth visiting

Tatacoa Desert

Although it can’t compete with the Atacama Desert in Chile, this unique part of Colombia is worth visiting IF you have time. There’s really only a day’s worth of activities in the desert and you’ll need a full travel day on either side (I arrived from Cali and departed to Bogota, both by bus, although there’s also an airport).

Still, I found this arid area captivating. It was easy to explore because my hostel in Neiva city organised a door-to-door day trip including transport, a boat trip, a hike, nature-spotting (we saw crocs, giant iguanas, hummingbirds and more), lunch, sunset drink and stargazing for under $40.

Neiva city isn’t much to shout about and I heard of some people staying in Villavieja desert town instead. However, it’s more complicated to reach so I found it easier to stay in Neiva and let the tour handle the logistics.

Cali (the salsa capital)

Cali salsa capital Colombia solo female travel

This is a more advanced destination for solo travel in Colombia. I was debating going because it doesn’t have a positive safety rating and I’m truly a terrible dancer (and there’s not loads else to do)… But in the end, I was glad I went!

The energetic vibe of Cali needs to be experienced whether you’re a seasoned salsa dancer wanting to stay weeks (as many travellers were) or simply dipping your toes in the salsa world like me. The Friday night street party in central Cali was a highlight of my trip to Colombia. The locals are so talented and the atmosphere is electric!

I stayed at La Palmera, one of the best hostels of my entire Latin America trip with a speciality coffee shop inside. They offer free group salsa classes each night and paid private classes. Meet other travellers to visit salsa clubs like La Topa with.

The other great thing I did in Cali was a free walking tour dedicated to street art and social resistance. I learnt loads about Cali’s history of music and dance, plus social problems affecting wider Colombia through the meaningful murals.

Although Cali has some sketchy areas and you must NEVER walk at night, the area near the hostel was pleasant. Be sure to bankrupt yourself at La Linterna poster shop and lug your purchases around for months like I did ;)

Oh, and don’t miss excellent coffee shop, Tierradentro. They serve speciality coffee and the Colombian classic of hot chocolate with cheese… Don’t knock it ’til ya tried it!

Santander

This idyllic region in the east of Colombia is known for adrenaline and hiking. The town of San Gil offers adventure sports from bungee jumping to paragliding while idyllic town, Barichara, is where you can start multi-day hikes of the Chicamocha Canyon along the Camino Real to Guane.

To relax off-grid, stay at La Pacha Eco Camping or Nomad Hostel Barichara with vegetarian food and high chances of wildlife sightings. While on the hike, stay at Chicamocha Ecolodge for spectacular views from the hot tub!

Arrive by day bus from Bogota (into San Gil) or night bus from Santa Marta (transiting Bucaramanga).

Itinerary for solo travel in Colombia

If you have no time restraints, this is my ultimate itinerary. I did it over the course of two months (with a 3-week stop in Medellin for Spanish school).

1-2 days in Bogota: climb Cerro de Monserrate (or take the cable car), eat the best fruit of your life at Paloquemao Market, take a free Capital Graffiti Tour, learn at the Gold Museum and Botero Art Museum. Eat at Netflix-featured food market and the cute cafes and restaurants in La Candelaria.

4 days in Santander: get your thrills in the adventure capital of San Gil and hike from Barichara town.

Take a night bus to Santa Marta.

For avid hikers: 1 day in Santa Marta before departing on the four-day Lost City hike.

2 days in Tayrona National Park: stay outside the park (I liked Journey Hostel) and spend 1-3 days hiking and sleeping in hammocks in the park.

2 days in Minca: relax at a nice hostel like Jungle Joe’s or Masaya Casa Viejas. Hike, birdwatch and swim in waterfalls.

5 days in Medellin: after transiting Santa Marta for a long bus or quick flight, get stuck into this cool city. Highlights include Comuna 13, riding the cable car, a free walking tour and a day trip to Guatapé.

2 days in Jardin: hike, drink coffee at Cafe Jardin or a coffee farm, see cock-of-the-rock birds at the reserve.

3+ days in Salento: visit coffee farms, hike to waterfalls and around Valle de Cocora, take a day trip to Filandia town.

Hummingbirds — Hummingbird hut on the Valle de Cocora hike

2 days in Cali: dance, dance, dance! Time your trip around the Friday street party, if possible.

1 day in Neiva (if you have time) to tour the desert.

Travel back to Bogota for your exit flight.

If you just have 2 weeks in Colombia, prioritise Medellin and either the North (Tayrona, Minca, Cartagena) or the South (Jardin, Salento, Cali if you like salsa).

About the Amazon – I opted to visit the Peruvian Amazon instead, however many people have positive experiences visiting Leticia (best accessed by plane from Bogota). If you’re feeling adventurous, you can get a multi-day slow boat from here to Iquitos in Peru or even Brazil.

Staying connected – SIM card options

As I was there for two months, I picked up a local SIM; a month’s data costs around $10. Some of the main networks include Claro, Movistar and Tigo.

However, if you’re staying less time, or you want to be connected as soon as you land, consider an e-SIM. They’re more expensive but can be worth it for the convenience and security they provide. I have used Airalo around the world and found them reliable. Browse their packages for Colombia from $3.50.

Best time to visit Colombia

This depends exactly where you’re going as Colombia is full of microclimates.

However, you can’t go wrong with the dry season of December-March when the North Coast isn’t yet too hot or rainy (this season starts from April).

Although Medellin is known as the City of Eternal Spring, the best season is Dec-March and June-Aug as the rainy seasons cause afternoon downpours. It rained every day I was in Medellin in April. It wasn’t the end of the world, to be honest, I just learnt to get up early to make the most of the day, then do my travel planning or life admin (okay, Netflix binges!) in the afternoon.

Easter in Colombia was so crowded and generally a travel disaster… Avoid if possible!

Cost of a solo trip to Colombia

Compared to other countries in Latin America such as Chile and Argentina, you will find Colombia very affordable. In fact, I found it cheaper than all the countries in Central America apart from El Salvador.

My daily average spend in Colombia was $50; this was predominantly hostels mixed with private rooms and apartments when I needed a break.

I occasionally cooked at my accommodation but this was more for health reasons, often supermarkets are pricier than cheap restaurants (so look for local markets if possible).

Budget lunch — I’d be lying if I said Colombian was my favourite cuisine but I can’t complain at $5 for fish, sides, soup and drink!

Average prices (in USD):

Bed in a hostel dorm – $7-25 (some of the boujee ones on the North Coast are pricey but worth it!)
Private rooms – from $10
Small 1-bed apartment (Bogota) – $25
Meal in a modest restaurant – menu del dias (3 courses and a drink) from $4
Touristy restaurants – around $10 a main especially in upmarket areas like El Poblado in Medellin
Inter-country buses – roughly $2.50 per hour on the bus
Month’s data package – $10
Inter-city transport – $1 per use of Medellin’s metro.

Prices vary by region: I found Cartagena and the North Coast most expensive, then Medellin, then the South (Salento etc), then Santander. For the same quality of hostel in the most expensive and least expensive destination, you could be paying 3 x more or less!

How to make friends in Colombia

So many ways! Generally, I found it an easy destination to make friends although I recommend thinking about the type of interactions you want. Staying in the biggest party hostels in Medellin and Bogota may be a social choice but drinking and drugs may be a focus.

If you’re more into hiking and wholesome encounters, stay in hostels in more rural regions and join hiking trips. For culture and history, free walking tours in the cities will introduce you to kindred spirits.

How to make friends during solo travel in Colombia:

Hostels – the obvious one! Now there’s also a Hostelworld chat feature which lets you message others in the same destination, even if you’re not at the same hostel. Some of my fave hostels in Colombia were Magic Jardin (Jardin), Journey Hostel (Tayrona), Masaya Casa Viejas (Minca) and La Palmera (Cali)
Free walking tours – I love these everywhere but they were particularly good in Colombia especially the Beyond Colombia company (do their social resistance salsa & street art tour in Cali) and Real City Tours (I did their Medellin free tour and paid Comuna 4 tour)
Hiking – it will be impossible not to bond during four days with other travellers on the Lost City tour from Santa Marta! Hiking as a self-formed group in Tayrona (we all met at the Journey Hostel) was also a lot of fun
Spanish school – I met people to keep in touch with while taking classes at Blink Spanish school in Medellin and kept bumping into the other students all around Colombia!
Dance classes – I met plenty of fun people through salsa classes in Cali
Day tours – activities like visiting the Rosario islands from Cartagena and touring Guatapé and El Peñol from Medellin will get you chatting to other travellers in the group. Both Viator and GetYourGuide are reliable operators.

Do you need travel insurance?

Although I luckily never had to use it, you would be truly dumb to travel Colombia without insurance.

I recommend True Traveller which I use myself. I pay around £30 (€40) a month when getting a year’s plan. As well as pre-existing health conditions, they’ll cover you if you’re already travelling and/or don’t yet have your flight home booked. The claim process is easy; I’ve done it twice and received the money within days. Click to get a quote.

True Traveller is just for European residents (including the UK) so, for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.

Final thoughts about solo female travel in Colombia

I loved it!

It’s not the easiest destination to travel alone as a woman on Planet Earth and you do have to be cautious. However, it’s well, WELL worth it to experience this rich, diverse, friendly, exciting country.

Don’t give it a second thought!

Thanks for reading!

More Colombia blogs:

Solo travel, South America

Solo Travel in Colombia – Safety Tips For Women