Is Cucuta Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

If you and your travel companions cannot avoid traveling to Colombia, use the following safety tips to stay safer when visiting this highly volatile country.

1. Avoid Crowded Areas: Many of the violent crimes that happen in Cucuta break out unexpectedly in crowded areas. Avoid becoming the victim of a daylight robbery, pickpocketing, or worse, by steering clear of large crowds.
2. Learn Spanish!:  There is nothing worse than being surrounded by millions of other people and not understanding the language when an emergency arises. As such, Colombia-bound travelers should use free or paid apps to learn Spanish before traveling to highly volatile areas.
3. Respect Local Customs and Traditions: Avoid accidentally offending local residents by learning the basic values, customs, and traditions of Colombians before visiting the area. Pay close attention to unspoken rules and local dress codes to avoid standing out as an easy target.
4. Steer Clear of Abandoned Locations: The city of Cucuta is located in a highly volatile area. Its location near travel-banned countries contributes to high levels of murders, rapes, assaults, and kidnappings. Travelers need to remain on designated travel routes and avoid visiting locations that appear to be abandoned.
5. Keep Your Valuables Hidden: Use common sense travel tips when visiting Cucuta. Keep valuables like cash, cell phones, and wallets hidden from sight. This area is known for high levels of scams, robberies, and pickpocketing.
6. Keep a Low Profile: Blend in with the crowd and keep a low profile when traveling through the dangerous streets of Colombia. Adhering to local traditions and not standing out in a crowd is one of the best ways to avoid drawing the unwanted attention of nefarious criminals or warring drug gangs in the area.
7. Enroll in U.S. Travel Programs for Safety: The U.S. State Department currently advises travelers to postpone or reconsider travel to Cucuta based on high levels of crime and terror in the region. Travelers who are unable to postpone their trips can register their travel with the STEP program to make it easier to find local solutions in an emergency.
8. Have an Emergency Plan and Evacuation Route in Place: It is important for people traveling to violent and high-crime areas to be prepared with a pre-planned evacuation route and emergency plan. Create a plan that includes important contacts and safety routes in case emergency evacuation is needed.
9. Stay Away from the Venezuelan Border: Official government reports show that high levels of volatility near the Venezuelan border are resulting in large numbers of people being kidnapped and detained for indefinite periods at the border. It is crucial for U.S. travelers to adhere to designated travel routes and itineraries to avoid being targeted by criminals patrolling the border.
10. Erase Controversial Content from Your Public Networks and Channels: Consider erasing controversial or potentially offensive content from your social media channels when traveling. Many terrorist groups and criminals use social media to identify and target victims based on their social posts.