Are Ubers In Colombia Safe? (What I Used When Living Here)
Figuring Out The Transportation Details For Your Upcoming Colombia Trip, But Wondering If Ubers Are Available Or Safe Here?
I moved to Colombia after I graduated college to teach English, but halfway through my year the teachers went on strike so I had lots of extra time to travel around the country and experience all forms of transportation (planes, Ubers, taxis, busses, horses, motorcycles, metro, etc.), plus figure out the best ways to stay safe while out exploring by myself.
➡️ My Top Pick: Since Uber isn’t welcome at most airports in Colombia, I recommend the safest options of private transfers in Bogota, private transfers in Cartagena, or private transfers in Medellin.
⛑ Are Ubers Safe In Colombia?
Whenever it was available, Ubers were my preferred form of transportation in Colombia because they were known as a safe, nice, and cleaner alternative to taxis in most situations.
But while Ubers do exist in most parts of Colombia and are generally safe, there are a few situations/locations where they won’t be available and some safety tips I think are very important to know before using them on your South American vacation.
📍 Where Are Ubers Available In Colombia?
Currently, Uber is available in over 20 cities throughout Colombia including the four major cities (Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellín), plus smaller cities like Pereira, Pasto, Bucaramanga, and Popayán.
For Colombia’s two largest cities, Bogota and Medellin, Uber is definitely a great, safe option for getting around these crowded metropolises, but busses and the metro will definitely be the cheaper and more local way to get around.
Where Uber Isn’t Available In Colombia
Uber isn’t available in smaller rural towns in Colombia like Salento, Villa de Leyva, or San Agustín, so alternative transportation is definitely needed here, as well as at airports, bus terminals, or when traveling in between cities.
*️⃣ Tip: although small towns take more time and effort to get to, they’re some of the most beautiful places in Colombia in my opinion and definitely worth the trouble
➡️ What To Use When Ubers Aren’t Available In Colombia
Since Ubers aren’t available in situations like airport pickups, bus terminal pick ups, going in between cities, or in smaller towns, these are all the alternative transportation options for Colombia with my personal suggestions on their safety and whether or not you should use them while visiting:
Taxis
Taxi’s are not typically considered safe in Colombia (especially compared to Ubers), and it’s never recommended to hail them off the street, but they may be required at airports, bus terminals, or in smaller towns (I had to use them a few times from bus terminals).
When forced to use a taxi in Colombia, make sure to only use official certified taxis, and only get them from official taxi stands at airports or bus terminals, or if a hotel or restaurant calls an official taxi company for you.
Driving
Everyday I had to go to work, a coworker drove me from the bigger city we both lived in (Pereira) up to the smaller mountain town we worked in (Santa Rosa de Cabal), so I got lots of experience seeing what it was like driving a car in Colombia.
And while driving is technically doable in Colombia, I do not recommend it for a number of reasons (more details on driving in Colombia here):
- windy, curvy, + steep roads
- mostly manual cars
- lots of traffic
- tons of motorcycles to watch out for
- lots of unfollowed traffic rules
- very rainy weather (in many parts of Colombia)
- long driving times in between cities + towns
Busses
Whenever I wasn’t working, I took weekend trips around Colombia, traveling by bus, alone as a solo female traveler. I always felt safe on the bus, even on my longest 12 hour overnight bus ride (from Pereira to San Agustin), plus it’s a super cheap, though time consuming, way to travel around Colombia.
I also really enjoyed seeing more of the country by riding the bus. Some of my favorite bus window views were of waterfalls, volcanos, gorgeous green mountains, and an indigenous tribe living on the side of a mountain.
Private Transportation
Since Ubers aren’t available to pickup at most airports in Colombia, my top recommended option for safe transportation to your hotel is a private transfer because you’ll have all your belongings with you and some South American countries have experienced “luggage hostage” situations when traveling by taxi or even Uber with all your things.
➡️ For Private Bogotá Airport Transfers, I recommend Bogota Driver Guide Service
➡️ For Private Cartagena Airport Transfers, I recommend Guianza Express S.A.S.
➡️ For Private Medellin Airport Transfers, I recommend City Vibes Tours
Tours
While Ubers are typically safe whenever they’re available in Colombia, using them to get around cities to see the sights would get quite expensive. Although I’m not a fan of just any tour (I prefer sustainable options that are good for the locals), tours are a super easy way to see multiple locations or easily and safely go on day trips outside of the city.
Here are a few of the most popular tour options:
- Guatape Day Trip from Medellin
- Salento Cocora Valley Hiking Trip from Pereira
- Villa de Leyva Day Trip from Bogota
- Playa Blanca Day Trip from Cartagena
- Comuna 13 Tour in Medellin
- Lost City Trek from Santa Marta
- Bike Tour in Bogota
- Old Town Walking Tour in Cartagena
- Private City Tour in Bogota
Metro
Both Bogota and Medellin have a metro system which is the way many locals travel, and while it’s a pretty cheap and typically safe way to get around, they can get super crowded during rush hour times (not great for sensory issues).
The only transportation incident I experienced in Colombia was after getting off the metro in Medellin when it was super crowded and a young man tried to get in my bottom backpack pocket. I caught him and nothing happened, but pickpocketing can be a problem on a crowded metro.
ℹ️ How To Be Extra Safe With Ubers In Colombia
Although Ubers are generally considered safe in Colombia, in the past they’ve run into major problems with taxi drivers and the law, which have affected riders. These problems have supposedly been resolved, but there are still tips you can follow to stay extra safe when riding in Colombia.
1. Sit In The Front Seat
While riding alone (or even in a group), most Uber drivers ask someone to sit in the front seat to avoid looking like an Uber and causing issues with taxis or police.
Uber has technically existed in Colombia for years, but their official legality isn’t super clear. They do operate in Colombia and many use them, but that’s why they’ve had issues with the police.
2. Be A Little Inconspicuous
Again, Uber drivers don’t want to look like Uber drivers, so try not to be super obvious as they pull up (especially in view of taxi drivers).
Taxi drivers frequently protested when I lived in Colombia by blocking a two lane road (the only way between my home and work), plus Uber drivers told me that taxi drivers had even lit Uber cars on fire in the past (thankfully without anyone inside).
3. Double Check Names + License Plates
Cars in Colombia should have front and back license plates, so don’t forget to double check that they match in the app. Also discreetly ask their name (“Como te llamas” or “Como se llama” in Spanish) so they have to give you the correct answer.
4. Share The Ride
If possible, share your ride in the app with someone back home so there’s someone who knows where you are just in case.
5. Follow The Ride
Follow in the app to make sure the driver is going the right way, or going at all. In other countries (not Colombia), drivers have cancelled rides after the rider gets in (leaving no proof) so they can go to the ATM and rob them.
📶 The simplest way to get data when I lived in Colombia, was with a cheap Colombian SIM card
6. Only Accept Highly Rated Drivers
Although a cancellation fee may be applied, if your driver has low ratings, it’s better to pay the fee and have a better chance with a higher rated driver.
7. End The Ride
In other countries (even the US), I’ve had drivers continue the ride after I exited the vehicle so they get paid more money. Pay attention and contact the company to get refunded if this happens.
8. Don’t Uber To And From The Airport
To be extra safe, skip Ubers at airports in Colombia and use shuttles or private transfers (like the ones listed earlier) instead.
Some riders have mentioned both them and their drivers getting into trouble with police at airports, plus when you travel with all your things, drivers have an easier opportunity to hold them “hostage” until you pay more money.
9. Close The Car Door Gently
Colombian drivers HATE it when riders slam the car door shut. To be polite, carefully close car doors, just gently enough to barely shut it.
*️⃣ Tip: I also suggest using hotels over Airbnb’s in Colombia to be extra safe, unless you can find options with a lot of highly rated reviews
🔁 Sum Up: Are Ubers In Colombia Safe?
In Colombia, it’s important to be extra cautious and aware like you would in any foreign country, but in addition to Ubers, there are plenty of cheap and safe transportation options available here (even for solo female travelers). I recommend private transfers to and from the airport, tours to easily see multiple sights, busses for travel in between towns, and Ubers anywhere else you can find them.
