Safety and emergency numbers in Colombia

Safety is the first question most Americans ask about living in Colombia, and the honest answer has two parts. Millions of people live ordinary, settled lives in Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena and smaller cities, and many foreigners do too. At the same time, the US government rates Colombia at a high advisory level, and petty crime and scams are a real part of daily life in the cities. This guide gives you the emergency numbers to save, explains what the US Embassy can and cannot do, and lists the everyday habits residents use.

I lived and worked in Colombia. The safety habits below are general observations of how residents commonly behave, not official advice. The numbers and advisory level come from the Colombian National Police and the US Embassy.

Emergency numbers to save now

The Policía Nacional de Colombia lists these national lines:

• 123: care and emergencies. This is the general emergency number for police, ambulance and fire in most of the country.
• 165: anti-kidnapping and anti-extortion (GAULA).
• 155: guidance line for women, including cases of violence.
• #767: road safety, for accidents and incidents on highways.
• 167: anti-narcotics.
• 159: anti-smuggling.
• 157: anti-corruption.

Operators on 123 answer in Spanish. If your Spanish is limited, learn a few phrases in advance: your address, "necesito una ambulancia" (I need an ambulance), "me robaron" (I was robbed) and "hay un accidente" (there is an accident). Keep your address written in your phone in the format Colombians use, for example "Calle 93 # 11-26, apartamento 502."

Each police station area also has a local CAI (Comando de Atención Inmediata), small police posts found throughout the cities. The National Police website has a virtual CAI service for some reports.

The US travel advisory

The US Embassy in Bogota's website shows the State Department's current advisory for Colombia as Level 3: Reconsider Travel. The embassy site also shows the State Department's worldwide caution advising Americans everywhere to exercise increased caution. Advisory levels and the specific regions named as "do not travel" change, so read the full advisory on the State Department site before travelling outside the main cities.

For a resident, the advisory is useful mainly for its regional detail. Some departments and border areas are covered by stronger warnings than the big cities.

Register with STEP and follow the embassy

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free State Department service that lets US citizens and nationals register their stay abroad so the Department can contact them in an emergency. It sends updates about health, weather, safety and security and helps the embassy reach you in a natural disaster, civil unrest or a family emergency. The State Department says it takes about five minutes.

The US Embassy in Colombia also runs a WhatsApp channel for US citizens in Colombia, with safety, security and other updates. The link is on its American Citizens Services page.

What the US Embassy can do in an emergency

The embassy's American Citizens Services unit lists emergency assistance for:

• Arrest of a US citizen. The embassy can visit, provide a list of local lawyers and check on your treatment. It cannot get you released or pay legal costs.
• Death of a US citizen. It helps families with local procedures and repatriation options.
• Victims of crime. It can help you replace a stolen passport, contact family and understand the local process.
• Emergency financial assistance. It can help arrange for family to send money.
• International parental child abduction. It assists in cases where a child is taken or kept in breach of custody rights.

The embassy's emergency contact numbers, for both office hours and after hours, are on its website. Save them alongside the Colombian numbers. The embassy states it does not respond to a "derecho de petición" or "tutela," and asks people to use its online Navigator for consular questions.

Reporting a crime

If you are robbed, report it. You can file a "denuncia" with the police or through the Fiscalía General de la Nación, and you will usually need a copy for insurance, bank disputes and replacing documents. If your US passport is stolen, report it to the police first, then contact the embassy for a replacement.

If your phone is stolen, call your mobile operator to block it. The National Police explains that a registered IMEI lets the phone be blocked so it becomes useless to thieves, which is one reason to register any phone you bring from the US.

Everyday safety habits residents use

These are habits I saw residents use routinely, and that most long-term foreigners adopt:

• Phones out of sight on the street. Phone snatching is the most common street crime. Step into a shop to check directions instead of standing on the corner with your phone.
• App taxis, not street taxis. Request taxis and rides through an app or by phone, especially at night.
• "No dar papaya." This Colombian expression means "don't give an opportunity." Don't wear flashy jewellery, don't leave bags hanging on chairs, and don't count cash in public.
• ATMs inside. Use ATMs inside shopping centres, banks or supermarkets during the day.
• Drinks and dating apps. Never leave a drink unattended, and meet new people from dating apps in busy public places. Drugging with scopolamine ("burundanga") to rob people is a known risk in Colombian cities.
• Know your neighbourhood at night. Areas that are busy and safe by day can be empty at night. Ask neighbours and building staff which streets to avoid.
• Scam calls and messages. Fraudsters impersonate banks, operators and even relatives. Hang up and call the official number yourself.

Natural hazards

Colombia has active volcanoes and is in a seismic zone, and the rainy seasons bring landslides and flooding, particularly in mountain areas. Learn the evacuation route for your building, keep a small emergency kit with water, a torch and copies of documents, and follow local civil-defence announcements. STEP messages also cover natural disasters.

Health emergencies

Private hospitals in the major cities have emergency departments ("urgencias") that treat foreigners, and ambulance services can be reached through 123. If you have private health insurance or a prepaid medical plan, keep its emergency number and your policy number in your phone and wallet. The guide on the Colombian healthcare system covers EPS registration and prepaid plans in more detail.

A short checklist

1. Save 123, 165, 155 and #767 in your phone.
2. Save the US Embassy's emergency numbers from its website.
3. Enrol in STEP and join the embassy's WhatsApp channel.
4. Register your phone's IMEI with your operator.
5. Keep a photo of your passport and Cédula de Extranjería in a secure cloud folder.

Common questions

What is the emergency number in Colombia? 123 is the national line for care and emergencies, listed by the Colombian National Police. Other lines include 165 (anti-kidnapping and extortion), 155 (women's guidance) and #767 (road safety).

What is the US travel advisory level for Colombia? The US Embassy in Colombia's website shows Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Some regions carry stronger warnings, so read the full State Department advisory before travelling.

What should I do if my US passport is stolen in Colombia? Report the theft to the police and keep a copy of the report, then contact the US Embassy in Bogota's American Citizens Services unit for a replacement.

Is STEP useful if I live in Colombia rather than visit? Yes. STEP is free and lets the State Department and embassy contact you in an emergency, with updates on health, weather, safety and security.