Thank you for telling the truth about safety, I am married to a Colombiana, have been to Colombia many times, and have lived in Medellin for 2 years. I have never had any problems but have always practiced common sense safety. Stay away from drugs, working girls, and TINDER and you eliminate 90% of your risk
Expats who live in Medellin/Colombia have a tendency to minimize crime in Colombia by saying you can find crime anywhere, but in Colombia, you can find it everywhere. I've visited Cali, Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena and stayed in many parts of Medellin from strata 3-6 and you have to keep your head on a swivel. There is a reason that all the locals tell you to put your phone away or don't wear nice jewelry or nice watches. Yes, it's cheap, the weather is nice, and the people are friendly, but ultimately many expats move on from Colombia. It's on my list of top 7 places to retire and currently, it sits at number 7.
I find people exaggerate crime for normal everyday citizens and 99% of Colombians love love their country, feel safe and are happy which is quite a good thing. I see the danger reported via RUclips is always from gangsta types or people engaging in risky behavior. Tourists in every country are targets for petty crime. Please tell me what strata 6 neighborhood did you feel frightened when you visited Medellin?
Thanks, bro. I'm going to Medellin for the first time in my life in a few days coming from Montana but I've traveled to several 'poorer' countries in my life and I know what common pitfalls there are for a Western tourist. Your balanced approach is most helpful and puts me more at ease even though I wasn't overly concerned about crime to begin with. Ahora, estoy seguro q voy a disfrutar mi viaje a Colombia! Mil gracias!
Lots of Homelessness in El Centro Medellin.... from watching utube Videos... Canceled my trip last year to colombia... went to Philippines 🇵🇭... hopefully I visit colombia 🇨🇴 n near future
@@freedomfiles_ I had a dream I was drugged n Colombia 🇨🇴... woke up frm my dream canceled all my hotels n medellin & Cartagena 🇨🇴 & went to the philippines 🇵🇭 I believe that where God wanted me 🤣👌.... I be n thailand 🇹🇭 this year &... hopefully south America peru or Colombia 🇨🇴 next year... God bless Bro stay safe n Colombia 🇨🇴 Jesus said YOU MUST be born again to enter n2 heaven I Pray Amen ☝️😊
@@mcluvin65 I'm a city person LOVE staying in Big city's... I've traveled to 13 countries around the world 🌎🌎🌎 I DONT like el Poblado I don't like been around tourists lol 🤣👌I know where to stay n el centro Medellin when I visit n near future... God bless & stay safe mate Cheerz 😎👌
I wear my valuables on my front chest when squeezed standing room on the Metro train. When there are open seats available; then I’m in a relaxed tranquil mode. My zipper pants pocket was picked when squeezed standing; after that I now keep valuable cards in a neck wallet under my shirt.
My Medellin girlfriends understand to continue our relationship they must meet me at the time we agreed. Normally they are not late. However, if going to be more than 10 minutes late , then they must contact me. I do text them in the evening and again the morning of our date as reminder. I’ve been sharing joy, happiness, and love exploring Colombia on adventures with one or the other girlfriend. I was introduced to both in year 2021.
you are late to the game...this video should have came out in 2015..After watching hundreds of videos on medellin over the last 10 years Ive learned Medellin is not the paradise that you portray..You dont mention one word about the drastic increase in crime against foreigners since 2020 and its not just the sex tourists. Not one word about havng a gun held to your head by a passing moto while sitting at a sidewalk restaurant Not one word about guys being kidnapped and killed by their long term girlfriends and her goon friends. The way you portray it is how it was when I 1st started researching it 10 years ago, not now.
Sadly, I agree. Too much crime. It's not about chasing chicas, drogas, and Tinder. Avoiding those things is not a guarantee to not becoming a victim ill. These Moto robberies, kidnappings and scopamine episodes are becoming too common. I feel like I'd have to constantly be on heightened awareness. I'm sure there are lovely things about this country. But for me the negatives outweigh the positives I'll pass.
All fair arguments, Mike. I appreciate your perspective. But what people portray in videos is not real life. Most just try to get views with fear porn and doom-posting. I tried to give a balanced take here (pros AND cons). I've never dealt with any issues that you talk about here, so I just shared my personal experience. The only way to really know what life is like here is by visiting. 🤷♂️
I don't understand why corn-fed beef gets such a negative view. Corn is simply the seed of a grass plant, so corn-'fed beef is really grass fed beef! Cattle are vegetarians! They eat plants, including the seeds of plants! And hormone use is down considerably nowadays! Grass-fed beef is older beef, twice as old if not more, so their meat will naturally be tougher and has less flavor because of the lack of marbling! It does sound like Colombia is getting a little more dangerous for foreigners once again, but what you say about the women of Colombia is so true! They are truly feminine and love to show it!
For the people who have actually been to Colombia, we know that he’s just doing some sugar coating. If you are a tourist, you automatically become a target, especially if you are travelling solo, period. Victims of crime could come forward without being stigmatized by the media. Not everyone who has had bad experiences in Colombia is a drug addict, sex tourist, or pedophile. It is true that you can try to minimize your risk, but you can also get caught in the crossfire.
i believe the well done steaks is engrained in their culture because of fear of bacteria in the meat so they would do it well done to eleminate some of the risks and it just became part of their culture i heard that somewhere dont know how true it is though but makes sense considering they dont give a bunch of medication to their cows like in north america
Awesome video! Subscribed. What part of poblado or Medellin do you recommend staying that’s the safest! Specifically to digital nomad for a week or two. Thanks!
For just a week or two, I'd recommend Poblado but stay out of Provenza and Manila. Try out something more residential like Castropol or San Lucas or Envigado.
@@freedomfiles_ thanks! Why no Manila? I’ve heard a it’s quieter with good restaurants? That’s what I’m looking for preferably- not into any of the vices you mentioned on the video.
this is a well thought out pleasant conservative view of Colombia. I would like to add a few things in my 12 years of experience while traveling. currently, there is a crackdown on sex, tourism and exploitation of minors the general consensus of the Colombian public is that most people that come to Medellin are there for drugs and hookers which is not true there’s a lot of people that come for a girlfriends for dating for cultural reasons . The general public thinks you were guilty until proven innocent also, the organized crime has no mercy for you if you’re with a girl that’s 20 and you are 45 and their mind. You deserve what you get even if she is your wife. they have a program right now “Eyes in all parts“ this is like a neighborhood watch program if you’re an older American with a young girl, there’s a possibility of the neighbors calling the police on you. They will come in and check the identification of the girls and and question you . if your girlfriend brings her little sister there to hang out in your apartment and she is not 18 you will probably be plastered all over RUclips in the newspapers as a pedo it doesn’t matter if it’s her little sister it’s not your daughter. You should not be in the presence of a minor anytime anywhere for no reason. Guilty until proven innocent. Don’t trust anybody don’t be too friendly to anybody you can say hello and no thank you but that’s it . Stay off the dating apps.
Lolola 😅 Am not much of a beef eater, myself. I will eat some occasionally. I have to say, that the best beef, which, I ever have had. Has been in; Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Truly, sensational. 😊 Oh, also, in, Miami, Florida. Which, it's usually, imported, from Argentina, Brazil. I recently, had a hamburger, here in Cali, Colombia, and they called it "carne de la casa" from a selected cut of beef and it was, Great!!!
Started my own online business and realized I didn't need to trap myself in the Midwest anymore. Lived in 7 countries in Latin America in the last two years.
Prostitutes are not the biggest threat! Bumble and Tinder are ! I have lived in Colombia for the past six years, and I stay updated on the current news. Distinguishing between good and bad girls can be quite difficult. I have seen foreigners who were drugged and robbed even after getting to know girls for months. The number of foreigner deaths in Medellin alone is three per week on average. That means there are probably about a good 40 robberies per week using these apps. Medellin is a VERY small city BTW.
"The number of foreigner deaths in Medellín alone is 3 per week on average." This is not true, unless you're extrapolating a single week in December 2023 or something. Not sure where you got that number. In my experience here, it's very easy to tell the difference between good and bad girls.
👉🏻👉🏻🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴. Brother, what are you talking about, why are you telling so many lies about Medellín? Colombia, the city of Medellín has become a very touristy city. There are many tourists from all over the world. It is also the second city with the most tourists in all of Colombia. Medellín is a very beautiful city. The tourist sites of Medellín are Provenza Street, there are also the parks that are the Botanical Park, there is also the Arvi Park, there is also the stone of Guatape, the town of Paisa, there is also the town of Guatape, which is very beautiful, it also has a very beautiful restaurant in the city of Medellín is called the eighth wonder of commune 13, Botero Park in Medellín is in the center of the city... ❤❤
I have no idea what he is talking about when he said that the beef in medellin is tougher in texture and less tastier than the USA or Canadá! What?? 😂😂😂 bro… i stopped watching after that.
how does one get a healthcare plan for a retirement visa there. after they froze the visa's yr or so ago to revamp their requirements they took away the availability for the local EPS system for seniors guessing Petro fears we'll swamp their healthcare with old peoples woes. I can't afford the min $500 a month these global healthcare comps want plus I can't afford a lump sum I need to be able to pay monthly
I met a girl working at UNICENTRO took her out to eat she tried to put scopolamina in my drink.. met another girl anr tried to set me up.. f that place.. its a 50 50 russian roulette play.. 😢
Thanks for saying grass fed beef is less tasty, its completely true...US beef is fed on corn which has a buttery flavor it tastes better actually than grass fed but is less healthy because there are probably other hormones. I ate a lot of Australian and New Zealand grass fed beef and I realize its less flavorful! For some reason a lot of people think grass fed tastes better than US beef which I also got into my head at first too until I started eating grass fed over and over and realized its pure BS...however I can agree that its likely more healthy than corn fed beef.
Thank you for telling the truth about safety, I am married to a Colombiana, have been to Colombia many times, and have lived in Medellin for 2 years. I have never had any problems but have always practiced common sense safety. Stay away from drugs, working girls, and TINDER and you eliminate 90% of your risk
This is accurate. Too many guys out here either claiming Medellín is a 100% hellscape or that you're 100% safe. Neither are true.
Not true- big lie
I’ve had friends walk to the grocery store get their ear bit off
I’ve had regular girls also rob Expats
common sense LOL, 35 deaths last year alone. What do you do? just stay at the Airport on the secure side? LOL I LIVE in poblado, I know!
Expats who live in Medellin/Colombia have a tendency to minimize crime in Colombia by saying you can find crime anywhere, but in Colombia, you can find it everywhere. I've visited Cali, Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena and stayed in many parts of Medellin from strata 3-6 and you have to keep your head on a swivel. There is a reason that all the locals tell you to put your phone away or don't wear nice jewelry or nice watches. Yes, it's cheap, the weather is nice, and the people are friendly, but ultimately many expats move on from Colombia. It's on my list of top 7 places to retire and currently, it sits at number 7.
Yep, good breakdown. I don't really feel I have to keep my head on a swivel, but many people do here. In Cartagena, I felt most uncomfortable.
Curious what the other 6 are...I am also looking...Mexico City is one for me...
I find people exaggerate crime for normal everyday citizens and 99% of Colombians love love their country, feel safe and are happy which is quite a good thing. I see the danger reported via RUclips is always from gangsta types or people engaging in risky behavior. Tourists in every country are targets for petty crime. Please tell me what strata 6 neighborhood did you feel frightened when you visited Medellin?
I am also curious what destination is your #1
Immigrants*
So many nuggets in this vid man. The fact you can just step outside and pluck fresh mango is nuts 🙏 appreciate the nuanced takes
🔥 thanks nick, yeah life here is pretty different. i love it
Based on coming and living in Medellín for 3 to 5 months per year since 2003, James your explanation's are excellent 🙂
Thanks Jason!
Thanks, bro. I'm going to Medellin for the first time in my life in a few days coming from Montana but I've traveled to several 'poorer' countries in my life and I know what common pitfalls there are for a Western tourist. Your balanced approach is most helpful and puts me more at ease even though I wasn't overly concerned about crime to begin with. Ahora, estoy seguro q voy a disfrutar mi viaje a Colombia! Mil gracias!
Welcome to Latin America. This is a special place, but take your precautions, man.
Bienvenidos a nuestra ciudad
gracias parce 🙏
Lots of Homelessness in El Centro Medellin.... from watching utube Videos... Canceled my trip last year to colombia... went to Philippines 🇵🇭... hopefully I visit colombia 🇨🇴 n near future
You realize El Centro is not a place most tourists or expats would go except when seeking some bargain shopping right?
Honestly, lots of homelessness everywhere. Colombia is a wonderful place regardless ❤️
@@freedomfiles_
I had a dream I was drugged n Colombia 🇨🇴... woke up frm my dream canceled all my hotels n medellin & Cartagena 🇨🇴
& went to the philippines 🇵🇭 I believe that where God wanted me 🤣👌.... I be n thailand 🇹🇭 this year &... hopefully south America peru or Colombia 🇨🇴 next year... God bless Bro stay safe n Colombia 🇨🇴 Jesus said YOU MUST be born again to enter n2 heaven I Pray Amen ☝️😊
@@Justflyaway7 Say Fool you been to Philadelphia. SMH
@@mcluvin65
I'm a city person LOVE staying in Big city's... I've traveled to 13 countries around the world 🌎🌎🌎
I DONT like el Poblado I don't like been around tourists lol 🤣👌I know where to stay n el centro
Medellin when I visit n near future... God bless & stay safe mate Cheerz 😎👌
I wear my valuables on my front chest when squeezed standing room on the Metro train. When there are open seats available; then I’m in a relaxed tranquil mode. My zipper pants pocket was picked when squeezed standing; after that I now keep valuable cards in a neck wallet under my shirt.
👍
Great job James! The editing was spot-on and the info was great!
Thanks SVRN!
My Medellin girlfriends understand to continue our relationship they must meet me at the time we agreed. Normally they are not late. However, if going to be more than 10 minutes late , then they must contact me. I do text them in the evening and again the morning of our date as reminder. I’ve been sharing joy, happiness, and love exploring Colombia on adventures with one or the other girlfriend. I was introduced to both in year 2021.
You do you 👍
Married to a Colombian from Medellin. Been there in vacations never had any issues. I feel safer in Medellin than here in NYC🙄
Nice!
lol 😂
you are late to the game...this video should have came out in 2015..After watching hundreds of videos on medellin over the last 10 years Ive learned Medellin is not the paradise that you portray..You dont mention one word about the drastic increase in crime against foreigners since 2020 and its not just the sex tourists. Not one word about havng a gun held to your head by a passing moto while sitting at a sidewalk restaurant
Not one word about guys being kidnapped and killed by their long term girlfriends and her goon friends. The way you portray it is how it was when I 1st started researching it 10 years ago, not now.
Sadly, I agree.
Too much crime. It's not about chasing chicas, drogas, and Tinder. Avoiding those things is not a guarantee to not becoming a victim ill. These Moto robberies, kidnappings and scopamine episodes are becoming too common. I feel like I'd have to constantly be on heightened awareness. I'm sure there are lovely things about this country. But for me the negatives outweigh the positives I'll pass.
@@sabrinamerrick1271 yep, me too...its too bad because I never got to go and now I never will unless maybe Im with a group that knows people there
All fair arguments, Mike. I appreciate your perspective. But what people portray in videos is not real life. Most just try to get views with fear porn and doom-posting.
I tried to give a balanced take here (pros AND cons). I've never dealt with any issues that you talk about here, so I just shared my personal experience. The only way to really know what life is like here is by visiting. 🤷♂️
@@mikeb2611 if you go, I wish you a safe journey.
you gave a realistic point of view I'm surprised congratulations I've lived here for 10 years
Thanks, José. Appreciate you.
I don't understand why corn-fed beef gets such a negative view. Corn is simply the seed of a grass plant, so corn-'fed beef is really grass fed beef! Cattle are vegetarians! They eat plants, including the seeds of plants! And hormone use is down considerably nowadays! Grass-fed beef is older beef, twice as old if not more, so their meat will naturally be tougher and has less flavor because of the lack of marbling! It does sound like Colombia is getting a little more dangerous for foreigners once again, but what you say about the women of Colombia is so true! They are truly feminine and love to show it!
Yep, November-February is always more dangerous than the rest of the year. Not sure why that is.
For the people who have actually been to Colombia, we know that he’s just doing some sugar coating. If you are a tourist, you automatically become a target, especially if you are travelling solo, period. Victims of crime could come forward without being stigmatized by the media. Not everyone who has had bad experiences in Colombia is a drug addict, sex tourist, or pedophile. It is true that you can try to minimize your risk, but you can also get caught in the crossfire.
Definitely. This is accurate!
It’s still dangerous. Statistically speaking every 1 out 5 tourists who stay longer than 1 month gets robbed at least once
False
Where did you get that stat? And they're not tourists if they're living there for more than a month.
💯 on point about quality of Metro-better than most others
Best in the world that I've seen
lots of great information, loved the video. refreshing change from the party people vids, cant wait to see what else you'll put out
Thanks! Yeah, I'm not about that life 👍
Is Medellin safe in 2024............FUGG NO!!!! I lived there and it is TERRIBLE!!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience 👍
Great video bruv
Appreciate you Alex
Hello James, you talked about Medellin, Bogota, Cartagena but not from Cali, you should come and visit our City, I am sure you will love it.
He visitado. Me encanta Cali!
i believe the well done steaks is engrained in their culture because of fear of bacteria in the meat so they would do it well done to eleminate some of the risks and it just became part of their culture i heard that somewhere dont know how true it is though but makes sense considering they dont give a bunch of medication to their cows like in north america
I've heard this argument before. Not sure if it's myth or true 🤷♂️
Hi I am coming in at the end of the month. Any recomendations where to stay?
If just for less than a week and you're not fluent in Spanish nor want a local vibe? Poblado.
@@freedomfiles_ I would like to stay in a place with a local vibe is long as its safe. Staying for 2 days. I am not fluent, I can get by with Spanish
Awesome video! Subscribed. What part of poblado or Medellin do you recommend staying that’s the safest! Specifically to digital nomad for a week or two. Thanks!
For just a week or two, I'd recommend Poblado but stay out of Provenza and Manila. Try out something more residential like Castropol or San Lucas or Envigado.
@@freedomfiles_ thanks! Why no Manila? I’ve heard a it’s quieter with good restaurants? That’s what I’m looking for preferably- not into any of the vices you mentioned on the video.
Wish You to Learn More and Share More Through Your Channel Peace
this is a well thought out pleasant conservative view of Colombia. I would like to add a few things in my 12 years of experience while traveling.
currently, there is a crackdown on sex, tourism and exploitation of minors the general consensus of the Colombian public is that most people that come to Medellin are there for drugs and hookers which is not true there’s a lot of people that come for a girlfriends for dating for cultural reasons . The general public thinks you were guilty until proven innocent also, the organized crime has no mercy for you if you’re with a girl that’s 20 and you are 45 and their mind. You deserve what you get even if she is your wife. they have a program right now “Eyes in all parts“ this is like a neighborhood watch program if you’re an older American with a young girl, there’s a possibility of the neighbors calling the police on you. They will come in and check the identification of the girls and and question you . if your girlfriend brings her little sister there to hang out in your apartment and she is not 18 you will probably be plastered all over RUclips in the newspapers as a pedo it doesn’t matter if it’s her little sister it’s not your daughter. You should not be in the presence of a minor anytime anywhere for no reason. Guilty until proven innocent. Don’t trust anybody don’t be too friendly to anybody you can say hello and no thank you but that’s it . Stay off the dating apps.
👍
Beef in colombia is awful, other then high end restaurants where they get usa beef
USA and Argentine beef 👌
Lolola 😅
Am not much of a beef eater, myself. I will eat some occasionally.
I have to say, that the best beef, which, I ever have had. Has been in; Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
Truly, sensational. 😊
Oh, also, in, Miami, Florida.
Which, it's usually, imported, from Argentina, Brazil. I recently, had a hamburger, here in Cali, Colombia, and they called it "carne de la casa" from a selected cut of beef and it was, Great!!!
@@freedomfiles_
I concur. Chile, also,has, amazing beef; so tender.
Most, definitely, you can get great beef in The USA, I LOVE, TEXAS 🎉
I stumbled onto your Video. Great review. I wonder how you got to Colombia from ND? Thanks.
Started my own online business and realized I didn't need to trap myself in the Midwest anymore. Lived in 7 countries in Latin America in the last two years.
By way of, Miami, Florida. 😊
Prostitutes are not the biggest threat! Bumble and Tinder are ! I have lived in Colombia for the past six years, and I stay updated on the current news. Distinguishing between good and bad girls can be quite difficult. I have seen foreigners who were drugged and robbed even after getting to know girls for months. The number of foreigner deaths in Medellin alone is three per week on average. That means there are probably about a good 40 robberies per week using these apps. Medellin is a VERY small city BTW.
"The number of foreigner deaths in Medellín alone is 3 per week on average." This is not true, unless you're extrapolating a single week in December 2023 or something. Not sure where you got that number.
In my experience here, it's very easy to tell the difference between good and bad girls.
👉🏻👉🏻🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴. Brother, what are you talking about, why are you telling so many lies about Medellín? Colombia, the city of Medellín has become a very touristy city. There are many tourists from all over the world. It is also the second city with the most tourists in all of Colombia. Medellín is a very beautiful city. The tourist sites of Medellín are Provenza Street, there are also the parks that are the Botanical Park, there is also the Arvi Park, there is also the stone of Guatape, the town of Paisa, there is also the town of Guatape, which is very beautiful, it also has a very beautiful restaurant in the city of Medellín is called the eighth wonder of commune 13, Botero Park in Medellín is in the center of the city... ❤❤
Parce 🤣 No mentí por nada. Amo a este país y especialmente a esta ciudad. Y he pasado por casi todo de esos lugares que dijiste. Son especiales.
@@freedomfiles_ 😂😂😂😂 jajajajajajaja disculpa por ese mensaje
Scope?
What about it?
Yeah I like mine well done too. I can't take any chances that red looks nasty
🤣 You and I are different, sir.
I have forgotten about colombia, I will never return there again.. everyone from the uk will boycott the country due to the killings of 3 uk citizens.
I have several really good British buddies here 🤣
I have no idea what he is talking about when he said that the beef in medellin is tougher in texture and less tastier than the USA or Canadá! What?? 😂😂😂 bro… i stopped watching after that.
Do you disagree? 🤔
bro come on, ranting about the taste of steak, who cares thats too specific
Thanks for the feedback 👍
I’d like to see you in with a more professional background. Let’s step this up.
🤣 I'm working on it. The home studio is coming along.
how does one get a healthcare plan for a retirement visa there. after they froze the visa's yr or so ago to revamp their requirements they took away the availability for the local EPS system for seniors guessing Petro fears we'll swamp their healthcare with old peoples woes. I can't afford the min $500 a month these global healthcare comps want plus I can't afford a lump sum I need to be able to pay monthly
I have a visa here and had nomad insurance through Safety Wing before I got an EPS plan that just covers me here. You can probably do the same.
I met a girl working at UNICENTRO took her out to eat she tried to put scopolamina in my drink.. met another girl anr tried to set me up.. f that place.. its a 50 50 russian roulette play.. 😢
Lmao Sorry man. That's what happens when you go out with trashy girls.
@@freedomfiles_ she worked at the mall??? Didn't seem trashy.. colombia is a 50 50 chance witha anyone
It behooves me to think people dont cook their beef properly and eat it with blood running. Thats just nasty.
Look up the word "behooves" ... 🤣
Thanks for saying grass fed beef is less tasty, its completely true...US beef is fed on corn which has a buttery flavor it tastes better actually than grass fed but is less healthy because there are probably other hormones. I ate a lot of Australian and New Zealand grass fed beef and I realize its less flavorful! For some reason a lot of people think grass fed tastes better than US beef which I also got into my head at first too until I started eating grass fed over and over and realized its pure BS...however I can agree that its likely more healthy than corn fed beef.