Medellin Reports

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I wish to advise all visitors to Medellin to ignore all reports here by those 'brave' mongers who speak about taking videos in El Centro at night. Are you certain that they really did that? It is a dangerous practice for 2 reasons. One, people have been killed in El Centro for their cell phones. Two, there are some shady characters who, for whatever reason, do not want their images recorded. It is a very dangerous practice. Will these brave mongers be there to help you when you find yourself in a dangerous situation?

I violently second all that you write here. Both reasons are enough to cause extreme danger.

I have utmost respect for MrE, and I am used to be on his same wavelength, but in this case he really wrote something extremely dangerous to all those who are naive enough and do not know what is a street in a SouthAmerican city as Medellin.

Mr. E, how would you feel if some idiot takes your words literally and dives without precautions in that environment? Think twice: the readers of this ISG are by a small percentage experienced people, while the vast majority is rather vulnerable.

From the number of reports that I have read in the last 1-2 years, about people going around at night in Medelllin like if they were on La Promenade des Anglais at Nice, I understood that the overall security in Medellin has dramatically improved. I personally witnessed robs and violent acts in front of me, while walking around under the metro of Prado at night more than 5 years ago. I have seen two guys attacking from the back a lonely man, taking everything from his pockets and backpack. I have seen a group of 10+ teenagers jumping on another lonely man to rob everything. I have seen a teenager hit to blood by someone who he tried to rob. I have been attacked twice with a small knife.

Maybe now all such acts are less common. Yet, it happens that people is killed for a cell phone. Life has little value for some people surviving in those barrios. I strongly advise everyone to be extremely considerate.

[Paulie97]

Ok some guys like Centro others do not. One thing I have learned in my long life is it is silly to try, and change other peoples opinions.

Lets get on to the trip reports.

I'll tell you the heart of the problem then others can pick up the ball and do what they wish with it. Most people posting on this thread have not set foot in Medellin in several years if ever at all. And yes there are guys that are that big a losers, who spend their lives in front of their computer screens, recycling info that they read off the same threads. That's why we get all the clutter from armchair philosophers. They do not even vacation in Medellin Hello?

[John Gault]

Ok some guys like Centro others do not. One thing I have learned in my long life is it is silly to try, and change other peoples opinions.

Lets get on to the trip reports.

[Balboa]

I did make a video, but I took snapshots out of that to post on here. All I am saying is that neither I nor anyone I know has ever had any problems downtown no matter what time. Took my young cousin and his best friend down once. We all came back in about 2 am. The next day him and his friend said they walked back down to Degrieff about 3:30 am. They were not scared and did not encounter any problems.

It has always been safe for me. Whether it will be safe for you is for you to judge. We have seen news of the foreigners getting robbed and killed in Poblado. Is it safe there? We have seen none of this about downtown, yet downtown is deemed to be unsafe.

Of course, it's extremely safe, el Poblado is definitely much more dangerous.

Your cousins not being afraid there is even more proof.

Excellent work!

[Newbie911]

Alright as a first time timer going to Medellin and curious about the street scene in centro what is the safest way to check it out? Is there a map of it anywhere or details on the streets to go to and from where to access it? I don't look like a victim at all and was never messed with even in some of the hoods of the Dominican where people said it wouldn't be safe for my white gringo ass. That said I also don't see the point in being dumb for no reason. I will be there in 2 days and have some normal girls lined up for dates as well as some semi pro and pros but would like to sample the street scene also.

[JjBee62]

So true. I went down there with an English dude that was former SAS and me former MMA competitor also with weapons training, both in shape and not the first targets you'd pick if you were a bad guy. We were there at 3 pm in the afternoon, and I'll tell you it was sketchy AF. Can't imagine what it would be. (this coming from two guys that were in war zones).

Now let me also tell you there are fake cops down there that shake down gringos walking out of Zandalay and other massage casas. I can't imagine being a retiree down here. You have no defense.

Also these cops and people have an anti-Donald trump / USA lean now and they are just looking for a reason to steal from you or police the reason to mess with you! Guys going to centro are literally risking their lives for some fanny. I know the cheap charlies on a pension will freak out about this, but it is true. Go down there and see for yourself. Anyone who says it is safe has on rose colored glasses and is what we call "a future victim".

I must have been doing it wrong. From late October 2017 to the end of March, I made between 60 and 100 trips to El Centro. I never took a taxi, mostly relying on the Metro, with an occasional bus ride. Twice I walked there from Laureles. About 90% of the time I walked alone. My walks covered from the Alpujarra metro station up to Prado. East of the Metro I covered most of the streets up to about Carrera 35. West of the Metro I went as far as Carrera 57. Call it about 250 miles of walking in El Centro over about 120 hours. The latest I was walking El Centro was about 10:30 pm.

Except for one botched pick pocket attempt I experienced no threats. There was one streetwalker who got a little grabby with a guy I was walking with and later the same night I saw 2 young guys beat up an old Colombian and take a phone from him.

Although I never made use of the streetwalkers, I walked those streets many times. I preferred the casas and my Facebook contacts. Not one of the women tried to extort me or threatened to call the police, and not one tried to raise the price. A few wanted to stay longer and a few did, but none asked for more money. More than one came over and just hung out on an evening when I didn't want anything. All I paid was their taxi (although 2 took the Metro, so cost me nothing).

I know people personally who were robbed in El Centro. When I asked what happened the response was "I wasn't paying attention."

If all the girls are trying to extort you, then you must be doing something wrong. Almost every girl I was with over the 353 consecutive days I was in Colombia (5 of those days in Bogota, the rest in Medellin) either wanted to see me again, or wanted to see me again and wanted to bring a friend. Almost every time I ran into a girl I'd been with before, at least one of the friends she was with would give me a number and ask when we could get together.

I'm not a former MMA fighter, never really been in a fight. Always seemed a silly pursuit to me. While I have my share of military experience, I never was anywhere near to combat, except for watching a few bar fights. However, I always felt right at home in El Centro. I visited the restaurants and bars, and saw the sights, whenever I had the opportunity.

The people are not savages. Most of them are fine and friendly people. If your opinion is that they are savages I seriously doubt that you've ever been within 1000 miles of Medellin.

[Balboa]

You have been very lucky as every gringo I know that has stayed in El Centro for at least a week has had problems specifically around the Church area and the north side of the Museum and during daylight hours. Most of them won't go out much at night in that area. Again the area around the Church is not safe and down the street past Avenida de La Grief there is what I would call a drug area that I wouldn't go near period. The typical problems my friends had were guys with knives demanding money, pickpockets, and aggressive trannies.

I am in El Centro a lot and if an obvious foreigner was making a video in the area I described with a nice phone there's a very good chance they would be tackled on the street if there was no police presence.

Excuse me Surfer, you have obviously not seen the proof already posted on the relative safety of el Centro.

Your gringo friends must have been very unlucky.

I’m being silly because the el Centro at night safety debate is ridiculous.
Of course all the ex Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Bronx tough guys, etc, have had no problems.
And they didn’t kill MrE that night for his cell phone, so it must be safe right.

For new guys; use common sense, take precautions, think that it’s dangerous, and you’ll be better off.

[Turgid]

I wish to advise all visitors to Medellin to ignore all reports here by those 'brave' mongers who speak about taking videos in El Centro at night. Are you certain that they really did that? It is a dangerous practice for 2 reasons. One, people have been killed in El Centro for their cell phones. Two, there are some shady characters who, for whatever reason, do not want their images recorded. It is a very dangerous practice. Will these brave mongers be there to help you when you find yourself in a dangerous situation?

[Wolf662]

Again, excellent proof that I was wrong.

Centro is definitely one of the safer areas of Medellin.

Between your evidence and MrE and Pollos real life tests, we have all the proof we need.

Balboa out!

I just posted some facts with no commentary at all. And those facts showed 4 foreigners killed in Poblado & Laurales and none in Centro in 2016. Does that prove Centro is safe, no but it does show Poblado & Laurales can be dangerous also.

[El Bacano]

Well Mr. Enter national may mean well he's obviously not experienced about late night El Central. I lived there for a month and a half last year and even as big strong dude as my self was threatened many times, I do not recommend letting your gaurd down there. The poor Colombian even only armed with a small 22 can still pose a legitimate threat to the baddest of gringos. Men proceed with caution in this seedy area or face an uncertainty you may not want.

[Balboa]

Foreigner Homicides in Medelland in 2016.

On June 4, Mexican national Jess Estrada de La Rosa, aged 48, was shot dead in Beland when he reportedly tried to prevent the theft of a motorcycle in the Los Alpes barrio.

June 15, Israeli Shay Azran, aged 37, was killed with a firearm near the Exito in Laureles. He was allegedly involved in drug and sex tourism according to news reports.

June 16, Danish Tomas Willemoes, aged 41, was shot to the head in Provenza near Parque Lleras in El Poblado at about 9:30 pm. News reports claim this was a murder for hire so it may have involved shady activities.

September 29, the body of Australian Anthony Hasselback, aged 49, who was living in El Poblado was found along a road with two shots to the head in the municipality of Santo Domingo in Northeastern Antioquia. News reports claim he was involved in sex tourism.

November 19, Ryo Izaki, a 22-year-old Japanese man was shot dead in Estadio on a Saturday at about 4 pm after chasing a pair of suspects who had allegedly taken his mobile phone and tablet.

December 3, a Venezuelan member of the LBGT community was murdered who reportedly had sentimental problems.

In December, the body of a 23-year-old Dutch man was found in Laureles. News reports indicate that on December 10 this backpacker had a discussion with a woman and was shot.

December 14, American Jigar Patel from Illinois was attacked by a knife and killed in the barrio Miranda north of Medelland by two assailants.

On December 16, a body of a man from Dominica was found buried in a wooded area of the Santa Elena district. He was reportedly kidnapped from a shopping mall in El Poblado in October. News reports indicate this homicide was related to the collection of money by drug trafficking networks.

That's:

1 Bellen.

1 Santo Domingo.

1 Estadio.

1 Miranda.

2 Laureles.

2 Poblado.

1 no location given.

https://medellinliving.com/2017-security-in-medellin/

Me and wolf shot an incredible Hi-def video in Centro, its for my own use, but it is of damn near Hollywood quality! And I didn't get mugged for my equipment!

Again, excellent proof that I was wrong.

Centro is definitely one of the safer areas of Medellin.

Between your evidence and MrE and Pollo’s real life tests, we have all the proof we need.

Balboa out!

[Surfer500]

Why is that? I have had a better time with every 30 k Vera Cruz street girl then I did with the 150 k Energy girl who was horrible..

Right on I don't even waste my time with the Strip Clubs or the Casas. I have a stable of Street girls that are solid performers!

[Surfer500]

I did make a video, but I took snapshots out of that to post on here. All I am saying is that neither I nor anyone I know has ever had any problems downtown no matter what time. Took my young cousin and his best friend down once. We all came back in about 2 am. The next day him and his friend said they walked back down to Degrieff about 3:30 am. They were not scared and did not encounter any problems.

It has always been safe for me. Whether it will be safe for you is for you to judge. We have seen news of the foreigners getting robbed and killed in Poblado. Is it safe there? We have seen none of this about downtown, yet downtown is deemed to be unsafe.

You have been very lucky as every gringo I know that has stayed in El Centro for at least a week has had problems specifically around the Church area and the north side of the Museum and during daylight hours. Most of them won't go out much at night in that area. Again the area around the Church is not safe and down the street past Avenida de La Grief there is what I would call a drug area that I wouldn't go near period. The typical problems my friends had were guys with knives demanding money, pickpockets, and aggressive trannies.

I am in El Centro a lot and if an obvious foreigner was making a video in the area I described with a nice phone there's a very good chance they would be tackled on the street if there was no police presence.

[PolloNegro]

Yeah, on second thought, if you showed your Samsung cell that night, and didn't get mugged or killed, it must be all safe.

I take all the danger talk back.

Mr E proved me wrong.

Nice work!

Me and wolf shot an incredible Hi-def video in Centro, its for my own use, but it is of damn near Hollywood quality! And I didn't get mugged for my equipment!

[Mr Enternational]

So you to are implying it's safe for a foreigner to be walking around El Centro late at night when others don't think it would be a good idea.

Well perhaps then next time your in town you can take a video downtown late at night and I hope we all get to see it.

I did make a video, but I took snapshots out of that to post on here. All I am saying is that neither I nor anyone I know has ever had any problems downtown no matter what time. Took my young cousin and his best friend down once. We all came back in about 2 am. The next day him and his friend said they walked back down to Degrieff about 3:30 am. They were not scared and did not encounter any problems.

It has always been safe for me. Whether it will be safe for you is for you to judge. We have seen news of the foreigners getting robbed and killed in Poblado. Is it safe there? We have seen none of this about downtown, yet downtown is deemed to be unsafe.