I’m visiting Colombia and in Medellin right now. Went to Provenza last night and Guatapé today, so amazing! I have friends here so that’s been great. 99% moving here by the end of the year!! I’ll definitely be looking into your community 🤗
My friend Tou Ger Xiong was just kidnapped and killed about a week ago. He was lured by a girl who led him to gangsters. Tou Ger was a humanitarian, activist, comedian, and well respected by the Hmong community worldwide. He fought hard for justice, but also partied hard. His weakness was attractive Columbian women. We are all mourning his loss. Be careful out there everyone. Always have a travel buddy and meet in public places. Don't do dating Apps.
@@Apricot90actually no he wasn't. I'm familiar with his story. He actually liked the girl and she played the long game. He went back and forth to see her and treated her nicely - much more than sex. She kept up the act for multiple visits for close to a yr. Definitely not a passport bro
I understand that the purpose of the video is to give advices to visit Medellín and it is very good. But what I want to clarify is that Medellín and Colombia in general is safe, obviously (as in all cities in the world) when you are looking for prostitutes, drugs and illegal things (like many foreigners) it is normal that you most likely will not have a good experience 😊
I can't agree with you more - this is something I always talk about - if you don't do stupid things you'll most likely be completely fine - if you're reckless and live like a trashbag (drugs and prostitutes) then bad things are gonna happen to you!
@@AKJoel I say this because I have hosted foreign travelers for many years in my house (for free), in a non-exclusive neighborhood and fortunately nothing has ever happened. My only condition to host them is that they are not looking for illicit things or plans in "strange" environments because bad things will happen out of common sense 😊
While it's true that thieves in Medellín prefer easier targets - don't kid yourselves, they are also incredibly brazen and will take amazing risks if the possible reward is there. I found this out the hard way in January of last year when thieves likely hoisted a ladder over the 8' outside security gate at my building and then climbed into my open 2nd floor apartment window to rob me in the middle of the night while I was sleeping in the adjacent bedroom. And all the while, a neighbor´s dog was going off like crazy on an adjacent balcony. Needless to say, the windows are now closed and locked when I go to bed. Witness also the recent high-profile lobby invasion and robbery at a popular high class hotel. Moral of the story is do everything possible to minimize every possible vulnerability you might have. Adopt a ´security first´ mindset with all your comings and goings.
@@ChineduOpara I think they were able emboldened to try it because of the large tree shielding that particular window from the street. I found debris from the tree inside my apartment in front of the window the next day, but no broken branches that would have indicated an attempt to climb up the tree itself. So yes, pretty sure a ladder it was...
I was there for almost a year. I must stick out. I don't have dark hair or eyes. I was told by the guard in my building not to go walking on the streets alone during the holiday (DURING the Day!). I'd come up from the metro and take a shortcut through the park and then my friends at the corrientazo informed me of a local being murdered in the park that morning. I am just saying that the guys who say they haven't had much trouble look like these two guys,. I'd argue that they don't "stick out" and are not easily targeted. With the the scop and the restaurant patrons being held up, having to keep my head on a swivel, avoid empty streets, etc. I was tired of having to be in situational awareness. Now, I live in a safe country and I never even think about safety as much as I did in Colombia. I could never relax. I was always being warned by friendly locals about the latest killing, motorcycle robbery, kidnap by a fake taxi, and I was unable to hide my eyes, hair, weight so I often felt like a target. I wish you luck. I couldn't do it.
I went to Bogotá, Sincelejo, and Medellín over the span of 2 weeks last year for school with a group of 15 students and a prof. We learnt about the 50 year civil conflict and how the country is recovering in many aspects. One of the best experiences of my life easily. I fell in love with Medellín especially and I’ve been selected to study abroad at UPB in Laureles. I’m super excited, but I’m still figuring out my living arrangements. Definitely staying in Laureles, but I’m not sure if I’ll have an apartment, live with a host family, shared home, etc. So hopefully me and my study abroad coordinators will be able to find a nice, and safe place in Laureles. I’ve been to the country before, and arguably more dangerous cities in the country like Bogotá and Sincelejo. So I know not to be an idiot, follow the rules of UPB, and take precautions before going out, and walk around with people if possible while I’m down there. I already have a gf, so while yes, las paisitas are admittedly gorgeous (there accent is easily the sexiest of any language in the world), I have a cute Japanese girl who I couldn’t be any grateful for, so I won’t be doing any fucking around with one night stands and shit. Hopefully will go to Provenza just for fun with some friends a few times while I’m down there though. I’ll obviously be careful. I went with my group last year when I went to Medallo, and Provenza was the shit. Let me know if there’s any extra advice you may wanna give me beforehand just incase I’m missing something. But I just hope to immerse myself in the culture, have good grades, meet some nice people, stay safe, ¡Y DISFRUTA LA VIDA!
Big tip. I wear a smart watch. One that doesn't look too expensive and everyone wears a watch here. Then Google maps is on my wrist to easily follow the map and not have my phone out
A friend was robbed and shot there last year. He’d been going for 20 years and is a HUGE guy and a retired cop. Bystanders say the gunmen were screaming and had Venezuelan accents. But if he can get robbed and shot, anyone can. We think about retiring in Manizales, as it is supposed to be smaller, safer, cooler temps, and a cost of living about 25% lower than Medellin…thoughts ?
It's hard to understand the situation without any context or details - what was your friend doing at the time and where did it happen? I've heard Manizales is a great place for people who like a slower pace of life - however for me it's just too boring haha
He was just out running errands and he got out of a taxi and two guys on the sidewalk got him. Yes, if I was younger then Manizales may not be my first choice. At 61, I need a good gym, a Jiu Jitsu school, and nice places for long walks. We are up early and home by supper time usually, so rarely looking for nightlife. We currently have a couple of senior dogs we enjoy spending time with but when they pass away we may be out a little later more often.
You might want to check out Envigado and Sabaneta - they're on the outskirts of Medellin and very safe and the pace of life is slower out there - also Envigado has amazing nature.
@@AKJoel Will do, thx. The other reason Manizales is appealing to us is we are cool weather lovers. My best friend used to live in Poblado and he always complained that Medellin was about 10 degrees to hot for him. We also thought maybe Rio Negro might be nice but we were told we’d need a car there and we want a walkable city and do not want a car. Thx for all the great info !
@@therehastobesomethingmoore No worries! I just spent a week in Rionegro and while it's super relaxing and beautiful, it really is in the middle of nowhere and it's very difficult to get an Uber in some parts - so a car is definitely an necessity!
Im Hispanic, my husband American. Literally pale Irish white, blonde amd green eyes... i got robbed in Bogotá... nobody targeted him. None of us was wearing anything flashy, we are backpackers🤷🏻♀️ but yeah, they took my stuff and i'm the one who grew up in a third world country and taught my husband how to navigate cities... I got mugged😂😂. It happens to anyone, it is true that geography vs skin color will be more catchy, but at the end of the day it'll come to WHO provides them with the easiest access to take stuff away😔
come to Aranjuez and manrrique you guys, today is father's day and we are gonna have a blast over these places, some of the most historical and visited neighbourhoods in this such a city. 🤙
Yeah those two places are great for family holidays. I usually go to my friends house in Aranjuez for Christmas and New Years. The street parties are legendary.
I knew a guy from my local salsa scene in Canada. He went to Colombia and 2 women back to his hotel and they drugged him up and he died. He had a wife and kids back in Canada.
Yeah, unfortunately this happens in Medellin, but it's not really of concern if you're a regular tourist not seeking women and fast s*x. I don't mean to offend, that's just a fact.
Both of you are on Fire 🔥! You make such a great team. Thanks for all the Tips and advice..I always had trouble dating in 🇺🇸 . I will probably fall hard & be victim if I dated a Colombian chica 😅
i;ve never heard anyone use the expression "downtown medellin" - are u referring to el centro? I think the most dangerous barrio in medellin for tourists is el poblado. It's where a few of my hood friends go to get some quick money, usually via a snatch and grap of some gold which they can turn into cash quickly. I go to el centro at nigh and spend most of my time there, the one time i went to el poblado i got my phone taken.
Ive spent 60 days there and I have a year visa now. I’ll be there next month. I never had any issues and I travel to anywhere south of the town center and all over outside of the city. I usually stay away from the north unless I’m just driving through. Never had any issues. Don’t wear jewelry, don’t wear stupid tourist shirts, don’t carry your debit card with you.
1st, you could pass as a colombian, going by your looks! 2nd, luck plays a factor, too. I’m 6.3, athletic, German, pale bright skin, bright blond hairs. No matter my lvl of street smarts, I WILL stand out and I WILL be a moving target! I keep going to Brazil for over 10 years, I’ve been at gun point 1x, knife point 1x, pick pocketed 5x. Lost phones, glasses, some cash, wallets and shoes like this!
I love how you snuck "athletic" in there when it added nothing to the point 😂😂😂 But yes, you have a point - tall white guys look rich and foreign so they are more likely to be targets.
I spent 7 straight months in Rio as a ginger blue eyed English dude and had no issues. Few cheeky street kids mayne... but dressing down and carrying yourself like you belong definitely helps.
I have a story about drugs. A criminal gangster in Colombia was drugged in Colombia, he was famous in the area so he followed the steps he took the day before and asked many people, and he eventually found the girl. He sent a guy and killed her (the story is on youtube)
I don’t know. Druggings happen soo often that some RUclipsrs stopped reporting on it. Even the locals get drugged so as a foreigner you’re not any better off.
I always carry pepper spray prevented me from getting mugged in Quito, Ecuador. If your walking around change sidewalks every once in a while look around you, stop abruptly, use reflections, put everything in your front pockets, if your walking then it seems people are trying to block cover your belongings. Becareful with people approaching you on the street especially if you are obvious tourist keep walking, say no thank you. Becareful with walking at night, order taxis or users, ask the locals for advice about safety corner stores , I always ask Taxi drivers they know everything.
@AK Joel Yeah the center can be we were going up these stairs that were well know for mugging there is like a statue and viewpoint,but we didn't know till after. Unfortunately the coast, guayaquil is pretty dangerous right now.
When I travel abroad I always have 2 places at my disposal. One is called a safehouse. if I decide to take a women home it is always to the safehouse. If I get drugged, all the things they can take, I would give away for free on any given day. In other words...there is nothing of value in the safehouse. No devices, laptops, money, CC etc
Once again another great video! Just a comment Joel on a video you made a while back about racism. I agree with everything you said... However as my Paisa wife noted in the first two minutes of this video her comment was.. Por supuesto no lo robaron (tu amigo) es que lo parece un paisa" .. So having said that it's obvious there is reverse racism here or shall we say preferred targets here. I live in a non-gringo neighbourhood in Medellin and I get stares and rude treatment all the time.. And by the way I speak high level Spanish. Not complaining just saying not to take it personally when people assume things about race... it's just part of life.
Yeah, I have heard similar testimonials from gringos living in areas where there aren't many gringos and/or tourists. In regards to why I have never been robbed here in Medellin, I don't think it has much to do with me looking Colombian. I mean the percentage of foreigners robbed in Medellin is very low compared to the every day muggings that occur to Paisas by Paisas everyday. It probably has more to do with the fact that I'm 6'3'', I'm young, I walk pretty fast, I don't really carry anything of value, and I don't have a friendly face, lol.
Nah I like having peace of mind and not being able to do something as simple as pulling out ur cellphone while on the street cuz sum1 may rob u is depressing af
Colombia is a beautiful country, with many beautiful locations and friendly people. That being said it gets tiresome and can be stressful always being on alert. I’m in Cali, I love the city and the people, always aware
is wearing a SMALL (and i mean really small, like barely visible, not long nor wide) cuban link gold chain 'les doy papaya' en Colombia? I have no luxury designer clothes outside of a couple pair of yeezys, but no gucci/versace/fendi anything, no luxury watches... just not sure how much 'luxury' is too much to become a target
@@check2000are you attached to your hand? Because you could lose it if they really want that watch. It doesn't matter what country we go to on vacation. No rings, no watches, no chains, no earrings. What do those things do for you on vacation? Only make you a target or heightens the risk you could lose them.
Great video, as always! Joel - what ever happened with those ominous comments you were receiving about meeting up at dodgy metro stations? Did RUclips/Google/etc. investigate?
I did some Sherlock Holmes level investigating and turns out it was an American RUclipsr all along, sending out bulk threats to other Medellin RUclipsrs to scare away the competition
Even if you are lost, walk like you know where you're going. Meet a woman in a public place, and when it comes to action, get a motel or hotel room by the hour. Yes, watch out for 'amor' and 'bb'.
I keep hearing about single dudes trying to find hookers in Medellin however I’m curious about the safety for raising a family in that city? I’m considering moving my wife and two kids there for a year but want to know if it’s safe for living a low key life with two young kids? Thanks
Thanks for the question. Well actually - those who live low key lives are generally very safe. If you examine the stats of crime in Medellin in 2023, 99% of the victims were trying to meet women on dating apps and bring them back to their hotels. As a married man I hope you won't be doing that 😅 so you'll be fine!
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Number 1 Rule = Don't leave your drink unattended.......... just hold on to it until you finish it..... its a good habit I didn't mean to go off writing all this, but it just happened so I'll leave it: I went to Colombia in 2015, not for girls but for the love of exploration and adventure.... I learned spanish over time, really dedicating to learning it for many reasons, including truly understanding people of latin cultures, to feel the immersion.......... looking back..... I am quite lucky, especially when it came to girls there One night had some beers & left the hostel, walked downtown (historic area) and hit it off with a girl...... I didn't know much about scopamine at the time, but I knew not to leave my drink unattended She said she was from Medellin but knew someone that could get a discount on a room at a hotel..... I guess I was along for the ride Luckily nothing went wrong--- amazing girl, so lively and we got some food the next day, only issue--- I didn't tell anyone I went off with her, so people at my hostel thought I got kidnapped and called the embassy..... I showed up at the perfect time, big ol smile on my face, her walking behind me with food in hand....... and everyone looked shocked as fuck Funny looking back, but I must have scared them big time..... I miss Colombia want to go back, never been to Medellin just the Caribbean coast up to tayrona So many more stories, but rather write them in a memoir or book than youtube comment, plus more details
haha thanks for sharing your story! I think they reason you had a good time and many other's don't is because of this... "I went to Colombia in 2015, not for girls but for the love of exploration and adventure." Everyone who comes with that mentality loves the country and 99% of the time has no issues whatsoever.
My issue is that i am 6'6". I cannot hide or blend in at all. However, I had no issues in Colombia last year. Maybe being tall and large makes them think....I'll get the next gringo.
Why not start a Chaperone service for tourists or new arrivals take them out in the evening show them the ropes. We all have good intentions until we get drunk. Good money maker and a service alot of people would take advantage of.
What about female safety? Im Canadian, have blue eyes and I'm quite tall. I don't mean it with any disrespect, a lot of these videos discuss safety with dating or men looking for women. I lived in Ecuador for a while and livef in Bogota in the 90's as a child. Ecuador is not Colombia and I'd be intrested to hear about safety for female women outside of the dont be flashy or take your phone out etc. Thanks!
Great question! I just made a video with a female expat and we spoke about safety for females. I'll be releasing it next week 🙂 But in summary, Colombia is the rare country where females are much safer than males. Out of all the murders of foreigners in 2023, (I'm 99% sure) none have been women.
From the sound of it you just apply the same rationale that applies to any major American city. Be aware of my surroundings, respect the locals and don’t draw attention to yourself. I live in LA so that’s standard.
Guys, how can I have a business in Medellin? I know the city, my wife is from there, so I visit many times Medellin...but I am thinking to move there from EU ..( why? well many reasons ) so I wanna think about a business. How much it cost for example to have a small business (kind of a restaurant ) for example .. Thx in advance
Hi Sebastian, we can give you the info on how to start a business etc. but to figure out all the costs you'd have to do some market research and also most likely speak to a lawyer.
As a Colombian, I must to say, be careful guys with the women in medellin or anyplace. always you guys act in low profile. Don't use date apps, and If you like hard party always go out with the locals recommendations and be aware of people kindness. Colombia is a beautiful place but with caution.
@AK Joel I'm Colombian so what's common sense is a little more obvious to me even though I live in the states but again it's not complicated. Be smart and you'll be fine
Beware of abuelita… she is the cornerstone of every sad story you will get from a Colombian girl. Make sure to find out as quick as possible how many abuelitas she has alive… this way she has to figure out some other sad story for any bs excuse she needs to create if there arent any alive. Abuelita needs to go to the ER, abuelita is sick, abuelita needs me to do an errand… you get the gist
"My grandmother needs money for an operation" Translation... My boyfriend (the real one, not you stupid gringo) and I are going shopping this weekend!! 😂😂😂
The funny thing is. I never heard so much advice on do this and don´t do that, take care of, be vigilant, blend in, and be aware of, when people talk about a safe place. Of course, you can get robbed everywhere but to be honest videos like that and many others wouldn´t be necessary when Colombia is such a safe place. Other channels drop out case by case of robbery, guys get drugged and even abducted and finally killed.
I agree with you, Medellin is NOT safe. But it's only not safe for a certain type of person. If you want to recklessly chase women or wear jewelry in the street, it's definitely not safe and something will sooner or later happen to you. For everybody else, I believe it can be an extremely safe city.
Tbf the guy on the right not probably been a target because he looks southern american anyway, good advantage as he won’t stand out like a white blonde american, Brit etc
It's definitely true that you're more at risk if you're white BUT that being said I also have mant 6 foot plus, white mates who've never had an issue in Medellin.
Crime is increasing globally so if you are in a place with relatively high crime, LEAVE. It will get much worse because the baseline is already "higher" than most.. Pick a place with a MUCH lower crime rate so you have room to "grow." I respectfully disagree.
The safest countries in the world are boring as sh*t to live in though lol Iceland Denmark Ireland New Zealand Austria Singapore Portugal Slovenia Japan Switzerland Yeah... no thanks lol the only interesting ones on that list would be Japan & Portugal.
Colombia is awesome and I definitely think everyone should be visiting, but yeah definitely do some research first and don't approach it like it were the US or any other 1st world country
Picking on the hood girls, what about the ones w/ foto's on a yacht, plane or in Europe? Might be more dangerous but there's more than that. Avoiding drinks, dangerous areas, and flash clothing is enough
In 99% of cases I don't think a girl who has money to go to Europe is gonna drug and rob you. Most definitely they could be gold diggers and take advantage of you in other ways - but drug and rob criminals, I doubt it.
Not all the gals from the hood is bad, you make it sound that gals who originate from te hood is bad, some of the most friendly and lovely people stay there, at times circumstances beyond they control. I came from the hood I know what it's like to be label bad...
Yeah I think we actually said this in the video. Not everyone from the hood is bad, but the majority of the girls that will drug and rob you are from the hood.
There are so many guys trying to do this same thing of “educating others” on medellin. 😂 Matter of fact is that there are many opinions that are no fact in these videos as well as many things that are accurate. If you don’t have streets smarts, you are in trouble. Period.
What's up with all this fear mongering in Medellin? I know you're just trying to protect this cheap charlie paradise but Colombia is going mainstream. It's going to be the next Thailand. There's no stopping it. I'm just hoping that when I visit in a few months, they still prefer dollars over the yuan.
Where's the fear mongering? The 3 situations we highlighted are extremely common for people who don't know about the dangers. We just explain the dangers and provide solutions of how to combat them. If anything, my channel encourages foreigners to visit Medellin.
Why would anyone choose to live in these places when there are so many other safer places to live in the rest of the world? Little to low police presence, access to drugs, high gang activity, and heartless beautiful girls = someplace you dont want to live
There's lots of benefits of living in Medellin. What most people don't realise is that if you don't spend all your time chasing women, there's 99% chance you'll never be in danger.
Keep victim blaming, you have to keep up the facade and put out one video after another after all! The crime there is REAL and in every corner! It also doesn't differenciate!
@@AKJoel I figured that much. While he was listing all the "dangerous" areas he's live without any issues 😆. That would be me telling people about the areas I lived in Chicago without.any issues.... and I'm from south Chicago 😆😆. Good video anyways though . Thank for the clarification ✌🏾
I’m visiting Colombia and in Medellin right now. Went to Provenza last night and Guatapé today, so amazing! I have friends here so that’s been great. 99% moving here by the end of the year!! I’ll definitely be looking into your community 🤗
It's an awesome place David, hope you enjoy your trip!!
My friend Tou Ger Xiong was just kidnapped and killed about a week ago. He was lured by a girl who led him to gangsters. Tou Ger was a humanitarian, activist, comedian, and well respected by the Hmong community worldwide. He fought hard for justice, but also partied hard. His weakness was attractive Columbian women. We are all mourning his loss. Be careful out there everyone. Always have a travel buddy and meet in public places. Don't do dating Apps.
Sorry for your loss - hopefully others can learn from this story.
I’ve heard he was a whoremonger
Yeah, we get it already! He was a passport bro who fucked around and found out!
@@Apricot90 Was that really a necessary comment to someone mourning his friend?
@@Apricot90actually no he wasn't. I'm familiar with his story. He actually liked the girl and she played the long game. He went back and forth to see her and treated her nicely - much more than sex. She kept up the act for multiple visits for close to a yr. Definitely not a passport bro
I understand that the purpose of the video is to give advices to visit Medellín and it is very good. But what I want to clarify is that Medellín and Colombia in general is safe, obviously (as in all cities in the world) when you are looking for prostitutes, drugs and illegal things (like many foreigners) it is normal that you most likely will not have a good experience 😊
I can't agree with you more - this is something I always talk about - if you don't do stupid things you'll most likely be completely fine - if you're reckless and live like a trashbag (drugs and prostitutes) then bad things are gonna happen to you!
@@AKJoel I say this because I have hosted foreign travelers for many years in my house (for free), in a non-exclusive neighborhood and fortunately nothing has ever happened. My only condition to host them is that they are not looking for illicit things or plans in "strange" environments because bad things will happen out of common sense 😊
While it's true that thieves in Medellín prefer easier targets - don't kid yourselves, they are also incredibly brazen and will take amazing risks if the possible reward is there. I found this out the hard way in January of last year when thieves likely hoisted a ladder over the 8' outside security gate at my building and then climbed into my open 2nd floor apartment window to rob me in the middle of the night while I was sleeping in the adjacent bedroom. And all the while, a neighbor´s dog was going off like crazy on an adjacent balcony. Needless to say, the windows are now closed and locked when I go to bed.
Witness also the recent high-profile lobby invasion and robbery at a popular high class hotel. Moral of the story is do everything possible to minimize every possible vulnerability you might have. Adopt a ´security first´ mindset with all your comings and goings.
True - a security first mindset goes a long way!
Ladder and everything? GodDAMN that's brazen!
@@ChineduOpara I think they were able emboldened to try it because of the large tree shielding that particular window from the street. I found debris from the tree inside my apartment in front of the window the next day, but no broken branches that would have indicated an attempt to climb up the tree itself. So yes, pretty sure a ladder it was...
😮
Crazy!!
Just booked my flight last night to there for th 4th of July. Been watching your videos to hype me up. Then I saw this 😂. Still super excited
You be fine mate! As I said, as long as you know about the dangers and don't do stupid things - you'll be completely safe. Enjoy your time here!!
I was there for almost a year. I must stick out. I don't have dark hair or eyes. I was told by the guard in my building not to go walking on the streets alone during the holiday (DURING the Day!). I'd come up from the metro and take a shortcut through the park and then my friends at the corrientazo informed me of a local being murdered in the park that morning. I am just saying that the guys who say they haven't had much trouble look like these two guys,. I'd argue that they don't "stick out" and are not easily targeted. With the the scop and the restaurant patrons being held up, having to keep my head on a swivel, avoid empty streets, etc. I was tired of having to be in situational awareness. Now, I live in a safe country and I never even think about safety as much as I did in Colombia. I could never relax. I was always being warned by friendly locals about the latest killing, motorcycle robbery, kidnap by a fake taxi, and I was unable to hide my eyes, hair, weight so I often felt like a target. I wish you luck. I couldn't do it.
Wow that sounds like hard work - yes Andrew looks like a local and I look like I don't have money - so I guess that helps us out lol
I went to Bogotá, Sincelejo, and Medellín over the span of 2 weeks last year for school with a group of 15 students and a prof. We learnt about the 50 year civil conflict and how the country is recovering in many aspects. One of the best experiences of my life easily. I fell in love with Medellín especially and I’ve been selected to study abroad at UPB in Laureles. I’m super excited, but I’m still figuring out my living arrangements. Definitely staying in Laureles, but I’m not sure if I’ll have an apartment, live with a host family, shared home, etc. So hopefully me and my study abroad coordinators will be able to find a nice, and safe place in Laureles. I’ve been to the country before, and arguably more dangerous cities in the country like Bogotá and Sincelejo. So I know not to be an idiot, follow the rules of UPB, and take precautions before going out, and walk around with people if possible while I’m down there. I already have a gf, so while yes, las paisitas are admittedly gorgeous (there accent is easily the sexiest of any language in the world), I have a cute Japanese girl who I couldn’t be any grateful for, so I won’t be doing any fucking around with one night stands and shit. Hopefully will go to Provenza just for fun with some friends a few times while I’m down there though. I’ll obviously be careful. I went with my group last year when I went to Medallo, and Provenza was the shit. Let me know if there’s any extra advice you may wanna give me beforehand just incase I’m missing something. But I just hope to immerse myself in the culture, have good grades, meet some nice people, stay safe, ¡Y DISFRUTA LA VIDA!
It's fun to make these videos with AK, great work!
Thanks for coming on mate! It's been great tapping into your knowledge!
Thanks guys for your always awesome content. Miss the Colombia Podcast!! Please can you guys do more of that
Colombia Podcast is done unfortunately mate, took too much time to produce.
Every time I hear it’s safe, I keep reading these stories and watching these videos.
Big tip. I wear a smart watch. One that doesn't look too expensive and everyone wears a watch here. Then Google maps is on my wrist to easily follow the map and not have my phone out
Interesting, haven't heard that one before!
Good advice, im landing there next week, Im looking forward to it.
Im going to print out my directions before i go, I wont be using my GPS
A friend was robbed and shot there last year. He’d been going for 20 years and is a HUGE guy and a retired cop. Bystanders say the gunmen were screaming and had Venezuelan accents.
But if he can get robbed and shot, anyone can.
We think about retiring in Manizales, as it is supposed to be smaller, safer, cooler temps, and a cost of living about 25% lower than Medellin…thoughts ?
It's hard to understand the situation without any context or details - what was your friend doing at the time and where did it happen?
I've heard Manizales is a great place for people who like a slower pace of life - however for me it's just too boring haha
He was just out running errands and he got out of a taxi and two guys on the sidewalk got him.
Yes, if I was younger then Manizales may not be my first choice. At 61, I need a good gym, a Jiu Jitsu school, and nice places for long walks. We are up early and home by supper time usually, so rarely looking for nightlife. We currently have a couple of senior dogs we enjoy spending time with but when they pass away we may be out a little later more often.
You might want to check out Envigado and Sabaneta - they're on the outskirts of Medellin and very safe and the pace of life is slower out there - also Envigado has amazing nature.
@@AKJoel
Will do, thx.
The other reason Manizales is appealing to us is we are cool weather lovers. My best friend used to live in Poblado and he always complained that Medellin was about 10 degrees to hot for him. We also thought maybe Rio Negro might be nice but we were told we’d need a car there and we want a walkable city and do not want a car.
Thx for all the great info !
@@therehastobesomethingmoore No worries! I just spent a week in Rionegro and while it's super relaxing and beautiful, it really is in the middle of nowhere and it's very difficult to get an Uber in some parts - so a car is definitely an necessity!
I loved the guys who flaunted all the flash, they keep guys like me safe...
😂 that's an interesting way to look at it!
Both of you can fit right in because of your looks. Anyone with blue eyes and seriously pale skin has a whole different situation on their hands.
Yeah I understand that but there's definitely things you can do to protect yourself
Im Hispanic, my husband American. Literally pale Irish white, blonde amd green eyes... i got robbed in Bogotá... nobody targeted him.
None of us was wearing anything flashy, we are backpackers🤷🏻♀️ but yeah, they took my stuff and i'm the one who grew up in a third world country and taught my husband how to navigate cities... I got mugged😂😂.
It happens to anyone, it is true that geography vs skin color will be more catchy, but at the end of the day it'll come to WHO provides them with the easiest access to take stuff away😔
So get a small safe and put a tacker on the safe is what you're saying?
Whats a tacker?
@@AKJoel a tracker without the r
Dude from LA is hilarious! You guys should consider a permanent duo podcast.
Haha it's been awesome having him on!!
And stay away from dating apps. They are all mad. But this is overkill. I have never had a problem in Medellin
You're probably street smart and don't do stupid things, unfortunately not everyone is like that lol
@@AKJoelstop calling normal things people do stupid. Focus on the useless criminal society you live in. COLOMBIA IS SHIT!
come to Aranjuez and manrrique you guys, today is father's day and we are gonna have a blast over these places, some of the most historical and visited neighbourhoods in this such a city. 🤙
My tennis coach is from Manrique and he's gonna give me a vlog tour one day, looking forward to that one!
Yeah those two places are great for family holidays. I usually go to my friends house in Aranjuez for Christmas and New Years. The street parties are legendary.
Andrew Macia💯🔥🐐
👑👑👑
I knew a guy from my local salsa scene in Canada. He went to Colombia and 2 women back to his hotel and they drugged him up and he died. He had a wife and kids back in Canada.
Yeah, unfortunately this happens in Medellin, but it's not really of concern if you're a regular tourist not seeking women and fast s*x. I don't mean to offend, that's just a fact.
Two (presumably) beautiful women should have been a red flag.
Both of you are on Fire 🔥! You make such a great team. Thanks for all the Tips and advice..I always had trouble dating in 🇺🇸 . I will probably fall hard & be victim if I dated a Colombian chica 😅
Haha you'll be fine just follow the tips and now how to spot the bad ones mate!
i;ve never heard anyone use the expression "downtown medellin" - are u referring to el centro? I think the most dangerous barrio in medellin for tourists is el poblado. It's where a few of my hood friends go to get some quick money, usually via a snatch and grap of some gold which they can turn into cash quickly. I go to el centro at nigh and spend most of my time there, the one time i went to el poblado i got my phone taken.
Ive spent 60 days there and I have a year visa now. I’ll be there next month. I never had any issues and I travel to anywhere south of the town center and all over outside of the city. I usually stay away from the north unless I’m just driving through. Never had any issues. Don’t wear jewelry, don’t wear stupid tourist shirts, don’t carry your debit card with you.
Yeah all great tips, jewelry is a big no no in Latin America
no debit card, so only cash?
1st, you could pass as a colombian, going by your looks! 2nd, luck plays a factor, too.
I’m 6.3, athletic, German, pale bright skin, bright blond hairs. No matter my lvl of street smarts, I WILL stand out and I WILL be a moving target!
I keep going to Brazil for over 10 years, I’ve been at gun point 1x, knife point 1x, pick pocketed 5x.
Lost phones, glasses, some cash, wallets and shoes like this!
I love how you snuck "athletic" in there when it added nothing to the point 😂😂😂
But yes, you have a point - tall white guys look rich and foreign so they are more likely to be targets.
@@AKJoel It does add to the point. I think what he was saying is that he's not an easy-looking target.
I spent 7 straight months in Rio as a ginger blue eyed English dude and had no issues. Few cheeky street kids mayne... but dressing down and carrying yourself like you belong definitely helps.
Stay in the south of Brazil where you won’t stand out. Enjoy some torta alemao
Sounds like you need to stop going to Brazil😂
I have a story about drugs. A criminal gangster in Colombia was drugged in Colombia, he was famous in the area so he followed the steps he took the day before and asked many people, and he eventually found the girl. He sent a guy and killed her (the story is on youtube)
crazy!
@@AKJoel I think the story was on vice but I'm not 100% sure.
@@harryukraine yh vice documentary, he tortured them
I don’t know. Druggings happen soo often that some RUclipsrs stopped reporting on it. Even the locals get drugged so as a foreigner you’re not any better off.
Andrew's dated for 13 years and never been drugged so there's definitely certain things you can do to avoid it
I always carry pepper spray prevented me from getting mugged in Quito, Ecuador. If your walking around change sidewalks every once in a while look around you, stop abruptly, use reflections, put everything in your front pockets, if your walking then it seems people are trying to block cover your belongings. Becareful with people approaching you on the street especially if you are obvious tourist keep walking, say no thank you. Becareful with walking at night, order taxis or users, ask the locals for advice about safety corner stores , I always ask Taxi drivers they know everything.
Quito is dangerous??!
@AK Joel Yeah the center can be we were going up these stairs that were well know for mugging there is like a statue and viewpoint,but we didn't know till after. Unfortunately the coast, guayaquil is pretty dangerous right now.
When I travel abroad I always have 2 places at my disposal. One is called a safehouse. if I decide to take a women home it is always to the safehouse. If I get drugged, all the things they can take, I would give away for free on any given day. In other words...there is nothing of value in the safehouse. No devices, laptops, money, CC etc
Very smart idea, although expensive haha
@@AKJoel ha ha, it is
That's a lot.
Once again another great video! Just a comment Joel on a video you made a while back about racism. I agree with everything you said... However as my Paisa wife noted in the first two minutes of this video her comment was.. Por supuesto no lo robaron (tu amigo) es que lo parece un paisa" .. So having said that it's obvious there is reverse racism here or shall we say preferred targets here. I live in a non-gringo neighbourhood in Medellin and I get stares and rude treatment all the time.. And by the way I speak high level Spanish. Not complaining just saying not to take it personally when people assume things about race... it's just part of life.
Yeah, I have heard similar testimonials from gringos living in areas where there aren't many gringos and/or tourists. In regards to why I have never been robbed here in Medellin, I don't think it has much to do with me looking Colombian. I mean the percentage of foreigners robbed in Medellin is very low compared to the every day muggings that occur to Paisas by Paisas everyday. It probably has more to do with the fact that I'm 6'3'', I'm young, I walk pretty fast, I don't really carry anything of value, and I don't have a friendly face, lol.
Yeah white people are more likely to be targets as white is seen as "rich"
Nah I like having peace of mind and not being able to do something as simple as pulling out ur cellphone while on the street cuz sum1 may rob u is depressing af
Yeah well it's 1/4 the price of the US so there has to be some kind of trade off! Lol
If I have to adjust myself to be in a place it's not safe
Colombia is a beautiful country, with many beautiful locations and friendly people. That being said it gets tiresome and can be stressful always being on alert. I’m in Cali, I love the city and the people, always aware
Yes, constantly being on alert can be irritating but I just got used to it after a while.
is wearing a SMALL (and i mean really small, like barely visible, not long nor wide) cuban link gold chain 'les doy papaya' en Colombia? I have no luxury designer clothes outside of a couple pair of yeezys, but no gucci/versace/fendi anything, no luxury watches... just not sure how much 'luxury' is too much to become a target
if they can see it, it's a bad idea.
@@AKJoel iwatch ?
@@check2000are you attached to your hand? Because you could lose it if they really want that watch. It doesn't matter what country we go to on vacation. No rings, no watches, no chains, no earrings. What do those things do for you on vacation? Only make you a target or heightens the risk you could lose them.
So in another city, like Bogotá, how do I tell which areas are more dangerous? Aside from your girl or guide informing you on the spot.
You can usually do a quick Google search and you'll find out which areas not to go to.
Great video, as always! Joel - what ever happened with those ominous comments you were receiving about meeting up at dodgy metro stations? Did RUclips/Google/etc. investigate?
I did some Sherlock Holmes level investigating and turns out it was an American RUclipsr all along, sending out bulk threats to other Medellin RUclipsrs to scare away the competition
Even if you are lost, walk like you know where you're going. Meet a woman in a public place, and when it comes to action, get a motel or hotel room by the hour. Yes, watch out for 'amor' and 'bb'.
All great tips Blake!!
Which security company would you recommend for personal security
I couldn't tell you sorry. I've never felt the need to use security.
Want to travel Colombia 🇨🇴 or Brazil 🇧🇷 but I think I won’t now
what if she says "Querido" immediately on the 2nd text?
It's not a great sign...
I keep hearing about single dudes trying to find hookers in Medellin however I’m curious about the safety for raising a family in that city? I’m considering moving my wife and two kids there for a year but want to know if it’s safe for living a low key life with two young kids? Thanks
Thanks for the question.
Well actually - those who live low key lives are generally very safe. If you examine the stats of crime in Medellin in 2023, 99% of the victims were trying to meet women on dating apps and bring them back to their hotels.
As a married man I hope you won't be doing that 😅 so you'll be fine!
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Number 1 Rule = Don't leave your drink unattended.......... just hold on to it until you finish it..... its a good habit
I didn't mean to go off writing all this, but it just happened so I'll leave it:
I went to Colombia in 2015, not for girls but for the love of exploration and adventure.... I learned spanish over time, really dedicating to learning it for many reasons, including truly understanding people of latin cultures, to feel the immersion.......... looking back..... I am quite lucky, especially when it came to girls there
One night had some beers & left the hostel, walked downtown (historic area) and hit it off with a girl......
I didn't know much about scopamine at the time, but I knew not to leave my drink unattended
She said she was from Medellin but knew someone that could get a discount on a room at a hotel..... I guess I was along for the ride
Luckily nothing went wrong--- amazing girl, so lively and we got some food the next day, only issue--- I didn't tell anyone I went off with her, so people at my hostel thought I got kidnapped and called the embassy..... I showed up at the perfect time, big ol smile on my face, her walking behind me with food in hand....... and everyone looked shocked as fuck
Funny looking back, but I must have scared them big time..... I miss Colombia want to go back, never been to Medellin just the Caribbean coast up to tayrona
So many more stories, but rather write them in a memoir or book than youtube comment, plus more details
haha thanks for sharing your story!
I think they reason you had a good time and many other's don't is because of this...
"I went to Colombia in 2015, not for girls but for the love of exploration and adventure."
Everyone who comes with that mentality loves the country and 99% of the time has no issues whatsoever.
this Aussie is awesome 😁
haha thanks mate!
your welcome my friend @@AKJoel
Good stuff!!
Glad you enjoyed it mate!
excellent advice. stay in a nice hotel, they will take the ID at the desk and you have a strong disincentive for them to drug you.
For those who can't afford nice hotels, just don't date trashy girls lol
My issue is that i am 6'6". I cannot hide or blend in at all. However, I had no issues in Colombia last year. Maybe being tall and large makes them think....I'll get the next gringo.
Yeah I guess that's what Andrew was talking about "don't be an easy target" - robbing someone 6'6" is definitely not easy lol
6ft3 here, I think height helps, but it will be more about the way you carry yourself. If you are a victim people will sense it.
Stay in Lleras and te busy areas. And stay away from downtown at night. And you will be safe. dont get drunk
Lleras is actually one of the most dangerous places in the whole of Medellin
Good imfo
Cheers Chris!
Here for education purposes because of friend was just robbed/murdered after meeting a girl on tinder in Medellin a few days ago. :(
Yup - if you want quick hookups on Tinder you definitely should avoid Medellin - it's not safe.
Ive walked around the entire city in 2 days.... not 1 issue. Fear is a emotion that causes negatuve things to happen... i dont have it.
Well said - most people who come here don't have any issues at all with safety.
Good video
Thanks, glad you found it informative!!
Why not start a Chaperone service for tourists or new arrivals take them out in the evening show them the ropes. We all have good intentions until we get drunk.
Good money maker and a service alot of people would take advantage of.
That's a good idea!
🔥
papaya is the V. don't give it up to everyone by advertising. don't look like scarface said "a great big papaya just waiting to get f'd"
Hahaha what a movie I've gotta watch that again!
What about female safety? Im Canadian, have blue eyes and I'm quite tall. I don't mean it with any disrespect, a lot of these videos discuss safety with dating or men looking for women. I lived in Ecuador for a while and livef in Bogota in the 90's as a child. Ecuador is not Colombia and I'd be intrested to hear about safety for female women outside of the dont be flashy or take your phone out etc.
Thanks!
Great question! I just made a video with a female expat and we spoke about safety for females. I'll be releasing it next week 🙂
But in summary, Colombia is the rare country where females are much safer than males. Out of all the murders of foreigners in 2023, (I'm 99% sure) none have been women.
From the sound of it you just apply the same rationale that applies to any major American city. Be aware of my surroundings, respect the locals and don’t draw attention to yourself. I live in LA so that’s standard.
Yup its pretty much just common sense lol
Guys, how can I have a business in Medellin? I know the city, my wife is from there, so I visit many times Medellin...but I am thinking to move there from EU ..( why? well many reasons ) so I wanna think about a business. How much it cost for example to have a small business (kind of a restaurant ) for example .. Thx in advance
Hi Sebastian, we can give you the info on how to start a business etc. but to figure out all the costs you'd have to do some market research and also most likely speak to a lawyer.
As a Colombian, I must to say, be careful guys with the women in medellin or anyplace. always you guys act in low profile. Don't use date apps, and If you like hard party always go out with the locals recommendations and be aware of people kindness. Colombia is a beautiful place but with caution.
Ive never had a problem. Dont look for trouble and youll be fine. Use common sense. Dont be flashy. Its not complicated
For people with common sense it's not complicated, unfortunately that's not everyone lol
@AK Joel I'm Colombian so what's common sense is a little more obvious to me even though I live in the states but again it's not complicated. Be smart and you'll be fine
How old are you all?
I'm 33 and Andrew is 42
Beware of abuelita… she is the cornerstone of every sad story you will get from a Colombian girl. Make sure to find out as quick as possible how many abuelitas she has alive… this way she has to figure out some other sad story for any bs excuse she needs to create if there arent any alive. Abuelita needs to go to the ER, abuelita is sick, abuelita needs me to do an errand… you get the gist
"My grandmother needs money for an operation"
Translation...
My boyfriend (the real one, not you stupid gringo) and I are going shopping this weekend!! 😂😂😂
@@AKJoel Exactly!!! Beware of abuelita… she is a cover story!
Scammers going to hate this video lmao
Y’all giving all the secrets 😂😂😂
Scammers usually don't speak English though 😅
The funny thing is. I never heard so much advice on do this and don´t do that, take care of, be vigilant, blend in, and be aware of, when people talk about a safe place. Of course, you can get robbed everywhere but to be honest videos like that and many others wouldn´t be necessary when Colombia is such a safe place. Other channels drop out case by case of robbery, guys get drugged and even abducted and finally killed.
I agree with you, Medellin is NOT safe. But it's only not safe for a certain type of person. If you want to recklessly chase women or wear jewelry in the street, it's definitely not safe and something will sooner or later happen to you. For everybody else, I believe it can be an extremely safe city.
Tbf the guy on the right not probably been a target because he looks southern american anyway, good advantage as he won’t stand out like a white blonde american, Brit etc
It's definitely true that you're more at risk if you're white BUT that being said I also have mant 6 foot plus, white mates who've never had an issue in Medellin.
@@AKJoel well yeah luck of the draw
Got me thinking why laws in colombia are not tough on these criminals. You try that shit in USA of you get slapped in 30 yrs in prison.
Yeah the legal system is horrible unfortunately
Why are you even wearing a rolex in a country full of poverty....showing off is dum in those countries
Yeah, I'll never understand people who do that.
Crime is increasing globally so if you are in a place with relatively high crime, LEAVE. It will get much worse because the baseline is already "higher" than most.. Pick a place with a MUCH lower crime rate so you have room to "grow." I respectfully disagree.
The safest countries in the world are boring as sh*t to live in though lol
Iceland
Denmark
Ireland
New Zealand
Austria
Singapore
Portugal
Slovenia
Japan
Switzerland
Yeah... no thanks lol the only interesting ones on that list would be Japan & Portugal.
RIP, asian fam of the hmong community, who just recently got murdered in Medellin........ I see why he went there tho... beautiful women.....
Very sad, RIP 🙏🏾
Lol…good advice and it should common sense but dudes are running 🏃♂️ to colombia 🇨🇴 like blind people.
Colombia is awesome and I definitely think everyone should be visiting, but yeah definitely do some research first and don't approach it like it were the US or any other 1st world country
They all say “amor”. That’s not a hood girl. That’s Colombia
I think most people know that if you receive "amor" immediately in a dating app exchange, that's a huge red flag.
Picking on the hood girls, what about the ones w/ foto's on a yacht, plane or in Europe? Might be more dangerous but there's more than that. Avoiding drinks, dangerous areas, and flash clothing is enough
In 99% of cases I don't think a girl who has money to go to Europe is gonna drug and rob you.
Most definitely they could be gold diggers and take advantage of you in other ways - but drug and rob criminals, I doubt it.
You can take the girl out the hood...put her on a yacht, on a plan, in EU, but you can't take the hood out the girl, lol.
Sounds like NY city.
If you wanna skip the drama go to Thailand instead of worrying about any of that
What does Thailand have to do with Colombia? Lol
Not all the gals from the hood is bad, you make it sound that gals who originate from te hood is bad, some of the most friendly and lovely people stay there, at times circumstances beyond they control. I came from the hood I know what it's like to be label bad...
Yeah I think we actually said this in the video. Not everyone from the hood is bad, but the majority of the girls that will drug and rob you are from the hood.
There are so many guys trying to do this same thing of “educating others” on medellin. 😂 Matter of fact is that there are many opinions that are no fact in these videos as well as many things that are accurate. If you don’t have streets smarts, you are in trouble. Period.
You're right - if you don't have some level of street smarts - Medellin is definitely not the place for you.
What's up with all this fear mongering in Medellin? I know you're just trying to protect this cheap charlie paradise but Colombia is going mainstream. It's going to be the next Thailand. There's no stopping it. I'm just hoping that when I visit in a few months, they still prefer dollars over the yuan.
Where's the fear mongering? The 3 situations we highlighted are extremely common for people who don't know about the dangers. We just explain the dangers and provide solutions of how to combat them. If anything, my channel encourages foreigners to visit Medellin.
This ignorant comment is appalling! FYI: I’m Colombia PESO IS THE Local currency
@@AKJoel I agreed. I’ve been. Yo Medellin over 15 times and all the info provided in this video is very true and very much appreciated
Why would anyone choose to live in these places when there are so many other safer places to live in the rest of the world? Little to low police presence, access to drugs, high gang activity, and heartless beautiful girls = someplace you dont want to live
There's lots of benefits of living in Medellin. What most people don't realise is that if you don't spend all your time chasing women, there's 99% chance you'll never be in danger.
Medellin murder rate would not Crack the top 20 for U.S. cities
And Medellin murder rate in respect to foreigners is only focused on guys looking for sex on Tinder, not sure that's also true in the US?
Lool definitely you two are looking a easy target for them brother 😉what are you doing there 😂
Yes we are! Easy pickings!
“I’ve never been robbed”, nice but you don’t look like a Gringo
Go Thailand. It’s safer
Colombia and Thailand are very different places with different cultures, I'm not sure how one is a substitute for the other? lol
Keep victim blaming, you have to keep up the facade and put out one video after another after all! The crime there is REAL and in every corner! It also doesn't differenciate!
Victim blaming is necessary in Colombia. People need to be prepared and aware of their surroundings.
No offense Andrew you look like you'd be from there😂
Andrew is Colombian!
@@AKJoel I figured that much. While he was listing all the "dangerous" areas he's live without any issues 😆. That would be me telling people about the areas I lived in Chicago without.any issues.... and I'm from south Chicago 😆😆. Good video anyways though . Thank for the clarification ✌🏾
Dont look like meat 😂😂
Don't look like a walking ATM lol
was this a wear your ugly shirt day ? :))
😂 apparently stripes make you look slimmer 🤔
The older you get the uglier your shirts get. LOL
Colombian peer pressure to wear a colourful shirt.
😂😂😂
10:40 ✴️◊Correction※... a $2 bill... ⁂ I see that far more often.
hahahaha get off Tinder bro!
@@AKJoel Im not on it. I see it person / physical when im there.