Uber is typically a very safe option for transportation in Colombia, including the city of Cali, but there are also a few other good options for getting around.

Is Uber Safe In Cali Colombia (What I Used As A Solo Female Traveler)

ByHaley Posted on Updated on
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Planning Out The Details For Your Trip To Cali, Colombia, And Wondering If Uber Is Safe Here Or If There Are Better Transportation Options?

Since I lived in the Coffee Region of Colombia, Cali was an easy trip for me to make (it’s only about 3 hours away), but I visited on my own (as a solo female traveler) and I used a couple of different transportation options so I really got to see just how safe services like Uber, taxis, tours, and public transportation are here in this city, plus I’ve got a few extra tips to help make transportation even safer here.

🇨🇴 Can You Uber In Cali, Colombia?

Outside of taxis, there are plenty of great ways to get around.

Uber is available all over Colombia (20+ locations), mostly in the big cities like Cali, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Medellín, plus some of the more medium/small cities like Pereira, Pasto, Bucaramanga, and Popayán.

Uber isn’t typically a great option for travel between cities and towns or for seeing all the sites in a city (like Cali) because it would cost too much (although it would be more convenient), but for going to/from restaurants or a single site, it can be a great way to get around.

⛑ Is Uber Safe In Cali, Colombia?

Uber is typically safe all over Colombia, including Cali, plus it's usually cheaper than taxis.

All over Colombia, Uber is typically safe and one of the best transportation options (especially compared to taxis), but there have been conflicts in the past between Uber and taxi drivers so there are still some ways you can be extra safe when using these ride-shares while in Cali.

How To Make Uber Extra Safe In Cali, Colombia:

Even though they're typically safe, there are plenty of ways you can be extra safe with transportation here.
  • sit in the front seat – to avoid looking like an Uber and causing issues with taxis or police
  • be inconspicuous – try not to obviously look like you’re waiting for or getting into an Uber to avoid conflicts
  • check names & license plates – cars should have a front and back license plate and you should always ask the driver for their name so you can confirm it with the info in your app
  • share your ride in the app – let someone you trust follow along with your ride
  • pay attention yourself – you might not know the city well enough to know where you’re going, but still be aware instead of staring at your phone or sleeping
  • only ride with highly rated drivers – don’t even bother with those that have low ratings
  • don’t Uber to/from the airport – drivers and even riders have gotten into legal issues in the past with Uber at the airport (some good alternatives for Cali are listed below in the next section)
  • close car doors gently – drivers in Colombia hate it when you slam the door shut so just barely close it to be extra polite

*️⃣ 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

🚌 Safe Transportation Options For Cali, Colombia (Besides Uber)

Ride-shares are great, but there are also plenty of other great transportation options too.

For most of my weekend travels all around Colombia, Uber was typically always my go to for safe transportation, plus it’s usually cheaper and the cars are usually nicer compared to taxis, but sometimes it’s not always available or the best option for every situation, so you might want to check out some of these alternatives for your time in Cali.

Safe Ways To Get Around Cali, Colombia (Besides Uber):

  • Taxis: not always the best/safest option but sometimes necessary when Uber isn’t available, just make sure to get legit certified taxis, don’t hail them off the street (I had a restaurant here call a certified one for me and help confirm it once it arrived)
  • Public Transportation: while I don’t recommend public transportation as much for city travel (not all of Cali is safe), if you plan to explore other parts of Colombia, taking a bus to get there can be really interesting (depending on what areas you’re going through) and super cheap (I traveled this way all the time on my own and typically loved it)

*️⃣ FAQ: Do people speak English in Cali, Colombia? While some more touristy sites or tour guides might speak some English, not too many are going to speak English in Cali, Colombia (compared to cities like Medellin or Cartagena)

🔁 Sum Up: Is Uber Safe In Cali, Colombia?

As a female that visited Cali, Colombia on my own, I can say that I didn’t have any issues with any of the transportation options I used here (like Uber, taxis, tours, and public transportation) and I always felt safe, but I remained aware and cautious (even during the day) like I do wherever I travel, which is extra important to do in Cali since it’s not known as the absolute safest city.

Haley

Haley is the owner and author of Adventure Evermore, a travel blog that encourages users to explore, adventure, & bucket list around the world, no matter what anxieties or other difficulties they may have. When she's not writing blog posts about her favorite destinations, she's reading, playing soccer, or watching sports, movies, or TV (especially The X Files).