Medellín Travel Risk — Elevated Risk (60/100)
Is Medellín safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Medellín scores 60/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates Colombia Level 3 (Reconsider Travel, updated 31 Mar 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 15 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. CDC travel health notice: Level 2, Yellow Fever in Colombia (18 Sep 2026). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Official US advisory · Level 3
Reconsider Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical composite shown on this page.
Crime (score 25)
Environmental quality (score 60)
September 27, 2026
Medellín, Colombia has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 60 out of 100 (elevated risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is environmental quality at 60/100; the lowest-rated category is crime at 25/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Colombia travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Medellín to visit in 2026?
Medellín is currently under a US State Department Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 60/100 elevated composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The highest-rated risk category for Medellín is environmental quality (60/100), and the lowest is crime (25/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (80/100) and natural hazards (68/100).
A score of 60 is higher than the scores of 84% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Medellín, Colombia maintains an elevated baseline risk with a US State Department Level 3 advisory. Recent safety headlines include a green flood alert in Colombia, a Level 1 global dengue health notice, and local incidents involving flight disruptions and violent crime.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Environmental quality (score 60/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Natural disasters (score 35/100): Check seasonal hazard (hurricane, monsoon, earthquake) for your dates. Identify hotel evacuation routes on arrival.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Medellín
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime conditions are generally secure along major corridors and commercial districts. Keep bags zipped and avoid displaying high-value items openly.
Risk levels elevate noticeably after dark outside main central zones. Avoid walking alone through unlit parks, alleys, or quiet transit stations; favor pre-booked door-to-door transport.
Safety by Traveler Type in Medellín
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Medellín for solo travelers (Crime 25/100 · Transport 30/100), women traveling solo (Crime 25/100), families with children (Health 30/100 · Natural disaster 35/100), older travelers (Health 30/100 · Transport 30/100), business travelers (Digital 30/100 · Money 35/100 · Transport 30/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 30/100 · Political 25/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | low |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Medellín
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Official travel advisory
Level 3 · Reconsider Travel
Colombia - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green flood alert in Colombia GREEN · ~156 km away · 2026-09-30
On 26/09/2026, a flood started in Colombia, lasting until 14/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 15 displaced .
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:37:34 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
Most flood events within 100 km of Medellín happened in January and June (4 of 11 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
CDC Traveler Health Notices for Colombia
- Level 2 - Yellow Fever in Colombia (Level 2, 18 Sep 2026)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Domain).
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Colombia travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Colombia entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 2 - Yellow Fever in Colombia ALERT · 2026-09-18
An increased number of cases of yellow fever have been reported in Colombia.
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Medellín Colombia
-
Colombian authorities investigate bullet holes found on American Airlines plane
ABC7 Los Angeles · 1d ago
-
8 people hospitalized after severe turbulence diverts Avianca plane to MIA. Several people were hospitalized Friday morning after a New York City-bound flight from Colombia was diverted to Miami International Airport due to severe turbulence, according to of
Facebook · 6d ago
-
Sydney dad stabbed 25 times in Colombia
News.com.au · 1d ago
-
Aussie man stabbed 25 times in Colombia
News.com.au · 1d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:01:13 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Medellín
The most weather-stable two-month window for Medellín is December–January, when typical daily temperatures run from about 16°C to 26°C and monthly rain averages 154 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in March–June and September–November; hurricane season in June–November. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 10, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Emergency numbers (Colombia)
| Police | 123 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 125 |
| Fire | 119 |
| General | 123 |
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | medium |
The provided search results do not contain specific information about hospitals, emergency services, English‑speaking medical staff, pharmacy availability, or evacuation procedures in Medellín. Consequently, the level of medical support for travelers cannot be determined from these sources.
Common scam patterns
- label. Express kidnapping involves a rapid abduction of a traveler, typically for a short ransom paid directly to the kidnappers, and has been highlighted as a real threat in Medellín. Victims are often targeted in less crowded areas or after dark. Tip: Stay in well‑lit, busy neighborhoods and avoid traveling alone at night.
- label. Scopolamine (often called "burundanga") is a drug that criminals may use to incapacitate travelers by slipping it into drinks, making victims compliant and vulnerable. It has been reported as a notable risk for visitors in Medellín. Tip: Never leave drinks unattended and watch the bartender prepare your beverage.
- label. Dating‑app robbery occurs when a person meets a match from a dating platform and is then robbed or assaulted, a risk noted for Medellín travelers. Perpetrators may use the meeting as a pretext to isolate the victim. Tip: Arrange first meetings in public places and keep personal belongings secure.
Area notes
- El Poblado. El Poblado is described as a safe area for travelers, especially for expats and tourists.
- La Candelaria. The neighborhood is flagged as unsafe during the day and should be avoided.
- Guayabal. Guayabal is noted for drug activity and is not recommended for visitors.
Run a personalized assessment for Medellín
Get a tailored briefing in ~15 seconds, with live weather, advisories, and recent news.
Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 62 → 60 | elevated | Data update scoring v2 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 31 → 62 | moderate → elevated | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Jun 14, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
Every editorial change to Medellín's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Medellín
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Medellín, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.