Staying Safe in December

Medellín has undergone transformation in recent years, the city is trying to shed its notorious past and emerge as an international travel destination. However, this is still a work in progress, as the most constant tourism is nefarious in nature. In my humble opinion, what this city should be aiming towards is medical tourism, but sexual travel is what the focus has been.

While it's essential to approach any travel destination with a degree of caution at any time of the year, it’s especially important during peak seasons like December. December in Colombia is one of the most magical times of the year, filled with family time, and a month long celebrations. Medellin also has an intricate light that goes down the Medellin River, with a huge festival in Parques del Rio.

With all all of the beauty, there is a downside to all of it. With the influx of tourists, comes an influx of thieves, scammers and people looking to separate you from your money, by any means necessary. When you come here to party, you are even more susceptible to scams. If you are coming here in December to party here are some safety tips to help you enjoy your trip to Medellín while minimizing risks:

General Safety Tips

Research and Plan: Familiarize yourself with the city's layout, popular tourist areas, and neighborhoods to avoid. Utilize reputable travel guides such as Medellin.co, Facebook groups (Use the search feature before asking), and local advice to gain insights into safe zones and potential trouble spots.

Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or uncomfortable, remove yourself from the situation immediately. Your safety should always be the top priority.

Blend In: Avoid flashy jewelry, expensive watches, and excessive displays of wealth. Dress modestly and blend in with the local population to minimize attracting unwanted attention. There is a phrase “No Dar Papaya” - which means do not give thieves a reason to rob you.

Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid walking alone at night in dimly lit or deserted areas. It’s important to your safety to not be drunk or intoxicated in public, because you will need to be on your toes while here.

Secure Your Belongings: Use secure locks on your accommodation, and keep valuables in a safe or hotel safe. Be cautious when using ATMs, and avoid withdrawing large sums of cash. Same goes for going to money exchanges. The best safety tip I can give is to call for your ride while you're still inside. Don't leave until your ride arrives.

Learn Basic Spanish Phrases: While many people in tourist areas speak English, learning a few basic Spanish phrases can help you navigate and communicate more effectively.

Stay Connected: Inform friends and family of your travel plans, including your itinerary and accommodation details. Share your location with trusted contacts using location-sharing apps. This is something that is often overlooked, but important.

December Specific Considerations

Holiday Crowds: December is a popular time to visit Medellín, so expect larger crowds and increased activity. Be extra vigilant in crowded areas and tourist hotspots.

Increased Crime: Unfortunately, crime rates may rise during the holiday season due to economic pressures and increased opportunities for theft. Exercise caution and take extra precautions.

Partying in Medellin in December

As previously stated, December is a unique time to visit Medellín. The city is alive with the spirit of the holiday season, and the streets are filled with both locals and tourists. The famous "Alumbrados Navideños," or Christmas lights, illuminate the city, creating a festive atmosphere that draws crowds to popular areas like El Poblado and Laureles. However, this increased activity also brings heightened risks:

Increase in Crime Rates: The holiday season sees a spike in petty crime, such as pickpocketing and muggings, as opportunistic thieves target people who are distracted with the beauty around them.

Increased Police Presence: While there is a bigger police presence during December, this doesn't necessarily guarantee safety, as officers might be focused on traffic control and crowd management rather than individual protection.

Higher Prices and Scams: The influx of tourists during December leads to increased prices for accommodations, services, and activities. Additionally, scams targeting unsuspecting visitors are more prevalent. If you meet someone and a few days later, they are asking you to help them with paying for various expenses, feel free to say no. No matter what shaming they do, and they will pull it all out on you, say no if you don't want to help. Just know that they have a roster of dudes they're doing the same thing with. You are under no obligation to help them financially, just as they are under no obligation to have sex with you.

Party Smart: Be cautious with alcohol and drugs. Walking around drunk or looking for drugs is a genuine recipe for disaster. Safety dictates that you save your drinking for in your room/apartment. BUT, I want to stress, even though this is your epic vacation, when you are staying at an AirBnB, your neighbors don't share in your enthusiasm for your hedonistic weekend. Don't be that guy.

Avoid Excessive Drinking: Medellin’s famous (or infamous) nightlife can make it tempting to drink excessively, but doing so can leave you vulnerable to theft, assault, or worse. Always keep an eye on your drink, as cases of spiked drinks with benzos and even worse with scopolamine are reported frequently. Scopolamine has been reported on in many other places, so if you want more, email me and I’ll do an article about this.

Say No to Street Drugs: Nancy Reagan might have been onto something here. Although drugs like cocaine, marijuana and tussi are relatively easy to find in Medellín, purchasing or using them is illegal and dangerous, especially if you're a tourist, don't speak Spanish well and you try and buy them on the streets. Avoid the candy/cigarette vendors who quietly say 'coca' to you in Parque Lleras, Provenza and Laureles. Not only do you risk dealing with shady individuals who could easily rob or assault you with little to no consequences, you're also taking a risk that what you buy is cut with other dangerous drugs, including fentanyl.

Watch Out for Scopolamine and Benzos

Scopolamine, an infamous drug used to incapacitate victims, is a common threat in Medellín's nightlife scene. Victims of scopolamine are normally blacked out and compliant, allowing criminals to rob them without resistance. The drug is usually administered by mixing it into drinks or blowing it into a person's face, though there is debate about the effectiveness of it being blown in your face. Benzos are the more traditional route and are typically high doses of drugs such as Cloneapam or Xanax. They will just knock you out, and have equally bad side effects if not administered correctly.

Watch Your Drinks Like a Hawk: Most men in the western world don't think about this, but you MUST watch your drink like a hawk, and it's good to pour your own drinks here. Spiking drinks is the most common way that men get drugged here, so be vigilant.

Hire Reputable "Companions": In context, I realize that sounds weird, buy if you plan to engage with sex workers, it’s safer to use reputable services rather than picking up women from the streets or bars. Doing so reduces the risk of being drugged or robbed.

Stay off the dating apps: While Tinder, Colombian Cupid and Bumble seem to be a great way to pre-meet women for flirting, but these are less often opportunities to meet someone, because they are the domain of scammers and thieves. I'm just going to say this without any judgment, If you are coming here for sex, and be honest with yourself if you are, going on dating apps, or going to bars to meet girls is just plain idiotic. Yes, there are MANY successes of great relationships formed from online dating, but if you're coming here for a weekend, that's likely not what you're doing. If sex is what you desire, go to one of the many legal brothels in and around Medellin. I'm not going to help you find one, but I will say this, druggings at the legal brothels in Medellin are still at zero for the year. We can't even count the number of druggings on the streets and on the dating apps. Oh, and while we're on the topic - USE PROTECTION 100% OF THE TIME. Did I say that loud enough? There is an absolute epidemic of new HIV cases and we're in a health crisis here regarding Hepatitis-A. Don't take anything home with you or leave any children behind. Be smart.

Be realistic: If something seems too be good to be true, run. Fast. It’s not only too good to be true, but you’re leading yourself into a dangerous situation. The scammers will do everything to make the scam feel like it’s just the normal way of life here, use your common sense, and if something feels off, say no and don’t feel bad about saying no.

Accommodations: Choose Your Stay Wisely

Where you stay can significantly affect your safety in Medellín. Most single men visiting for nightlife choose to stay in El Poblado, a neighborhood known for its party atmosphere, abundance of bars and clubs, and relatively higher safety level.

Opt for Secure Accommodations: Stay in a reputable hotel or Airbnb with good reviews. Ensure the building has a doorman or security guard. This provides an added layer of protection, especially if you are returning late at night or bringing guests back to your place.

Check Guest Policies: If you plan on bringing a ‘companion’ back to your accommodation, make sure your hotel or Airbnb allows guests and has a proper registration process. This reduces the risk of inviting someone with ill intentions into your personal space. It's also a good idea to ask the guards to not allow anyone to leave without you. Not only do you look like a gentleman, but there is an element of safety as well.

Verify ANYONE coming into your room: Verify the ID of anyone coming into your room: Use Verificaa.com to do a cursory check of the ID to make sure the name they give you matches their ID, and you can see if they have a criminal record.

Plan Your Transportation

Getting around safely is crucial, especially if you’ve been drinking or are unfamiliar with the city.

Use Trusted Rideshare Apps: Stick to using Uber, Didi, or Cabify rather than hailing taxis off the street. While the official taxis in Medellín are generally safe, there have been reports of taxi-related scams, particularly at night.

Avoid Walking Alone at Night: Even in seemingly safe areas like El Poblado, it's not advisable to walk alone late at night. Opt for a rideshare service or ask your accommodation to call a trusted taxi for you.

Keep a Low Profile and Blend In

As a foreigner, especially if you don’t speak Spanish, you may already stand out in Medellín. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention:

Dress Casually: Leave flashy jewelry, expensive watches, and designer clothes at home. Dressing modestly can help you blend in and reduce the chances of being targeted by thieves.

Keep Valuables Safe: Carry only what you need for the night. Leave your passport, extra credit cards, and large amounts of cash in your hotel safe. Take a photo of your passport and the entry stamp and show it. If you have an expensive phone, I would recommend buying a burner with a cheap pre-paid service just to take in the streets.

Pay attention to your surroundings: Keep your head on a swivel, and always look around. Avoid being on your phone in public, paying more attention to it than what’s going on around you. Don’t be stupid, because phone theft is one of the most common crimes committed against foreign tourists. Be vigilant to what’s going on around you.

Be Mindful of Your Behavior: Acting overly drunk, loud, or aggressive can make you a target. Enjoy yourself but stay aware and composed.

Get on your return flight with everything you came with.

Medellín can be an incredible destination for travel. It’s not a place for people who are not already street smart. If you walk around in “vacation mode” your chances of becoming a statistic are incredibly high. Yes, people party here all the time without issues, but there have been 48 deaths of tourists here by sketchy ways. If you aren’t street smart and honest with yourself about why you’re coming here, your chances of being a victim are SO much higher. Don’t be that guy. Go read the other blogs if you want to get a clearer picture of what’s going on here, and how to stay safe. Until next time. If you have any themes you want to be covered, or want to know more specific information, email me at MedellinUnfiltered@gmail.com and I’ll reply to everyone. Until next time!