Medellin Reports

[MarquisdeSade1]

For the record, Colombia hardly ranks, with only Palmyra and Cali making the list. You're more likely to be killed in Cancun than Medellin.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...te-per-capita/

You'll find the rankings change a little, but the cities are the same. Big cities are inherently dangerous, but you're in far more danger picking up a SW in Baltimore than in Medellin. Probably getting less for more, as well.

https://7news.com.au/travel/here-are...world-c-624230

Mexico and espec Tijuana usually have the highest murder rates in the world, period.

I've been studying Columbia and it appears that it is much more dangerous, why?

They seem to target gringos, I've been to Mexico and Tijuana 100 x some of the worst areas on the planet.

Zero issues, stats don't lie but, liars use stats.

Most of Mexico homicides are cartel violence.

The murder rate in Chicago is very very high, I feel it is one of the safest cities in the world.

Why?

I don't live where the killing is, they are not targeting me or tourists.

You have to learn the word nuance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lIunFoBzHM

Don't go out like this hombre.

[MarquisdeSade1]

You realize that LA 70 is a hell of a long way from El Centro, and there's no mongering there whatsoever? I stay in Laureles right off 70. It's just like any other stadium neighborhood (the Colombian national football stadium is on the other side of the Metro). I wish I had a dollar for everyone who gets mugged and knifed trying to find their car after a game at Wrigley Stadium, Yankee Stadium, or the Superdome. Don't compare apples to oranges. Laureles is a posh neighborhood in Medellin and the guy was three miles away from El Centro in a neighborhood much more similar to El Poblado.

I have lived in Chicago 53 yrs and have never ever heard of even 1 person getting robbed (let alone knifed) leaving Wrigley Field, I used to live 1/2 mile away.

[SubComm]

Should you choose to become a Centro rat, this is the fate that awaits you. The photo shows real live providers at Ground Zero, unobscured faces and all. I did not bother to obscure their faces because they work the Botero / Veracruz stroll on a daily basis. No shame in their game.

So drinking game alert, take a shot for each time you reckon Pollo Negro or Surfer have been with any of them. But seriously, consider how dolled up these girls could be with the benefit of an hour or two with Slapshot's credit card. Full disclosure, confession of a Centro rat, I may have smashed in more than one case.

Excellent! That's the kind of post and info I can use!

[RacShack]

Not arguing with this, just want to point out these articles are about homicides and murders.

It's starting out with one think I did not agree to but now it's a whole bunch of rambling going on, I speak no Spanish at all and have had many beers in el Centro with zero jam ups!

[RacShack]

You realize that LA 70 is a hell of a long way from El Centro, and there's no mongering there whatsoever? I stay in Laureles right off 70. It's just like any other stadium neighborhood (the Colombian national football stadium is on the other side of the Metro). I wish I had a dollar for everyone who gets mugged and knifed trying to find their car after a game at Wrigley Stadium, Yankee Stadium, or the Superdome. Don't compare apples to oranges. Laureles is a posh neighborhood in Medellin and the guy was three miles away from El Centro in a neighborhood much more similar to El Poblado.

Totally disagree on that statement, when staying in that area, it's definitely not a main bloodline but I've picked up few girls on the Main Street on way to supermarket once, just walking around another, and ended up in my apartment and had great time! So to make people believe no mongering whatsoever is stretching it, enjoy, stay safe, party on! Still waiting on information if no more test needed to land!

[Nounce]

For the record, Colombia hardly ranks, with only Palmyra and Cali making the list. You're more likely to be killed in Cancun than Medellin.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...te-per-capita/

You'll find the rankings change a little, but the cities are the same. Big cities are inherently dangerous, but you're in far more danger picking up a SW in Baltimore than in Medellin. Probably getting less for more, as well.

https://7news.com.au/travel/here-are...world-c-624230

Not arguing with this, just want to point out these articles are about homicides and murders.

[MiamiSammy]

For the record, Colombia hardly ranks, with only Palmyra and Cali making the list. You're more likely to be killed in Cancun than Medellin.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...te-per-capita/

You'll find the rankings change a little, but the cities are the same. Big cities are inherently dangerous, but you're in far more danger picking up a SW in Baltimore than in Medellin. Probably getting less for more, as well.

https://7news.com.au/travel/here-are...world-c-624230

[Nounce]

You realize that LA 70 is a hell of a long way from El Centro

My reply is not about El Centro and I quoted this in my reply.

I'm just saying that Medellin isn't nearly as dangerous as its made out to be- it's not Pablo and Narcos.

[MiamiSammy]

Very diplomatic of you Surfer, to compliment Sammy and analyze the pros and cons of his methods. However there's about as many pros to it as there are to jumping in a swamp full of aligators. "Yea the water's nice and warm, moonlight through the trees, lots of nice folk here if you know how to play the game. " LOL.

You know, I'd take all this a step further. El Centro is no place for a newbie, period. If you don't have any Spanish and stick out like a fly in a bowl of buttermilk, stick to the Mansion and El Poblado. Mongering in El Centro IS dangerous. You could get knifed or mugged just as easily going upstairs at noon as you could at midnight. The real problem here isn't whether or not you should be in El Centro after dark, it's whether or not you've got the skills to monger there at all. Definitely visit Botero Plaza, the museum, and all that stuff, but newbies should stick to Gringoland for pussy.

[SavePros321]

Additionally, your better off to carry a color copy of your Passport along with a photocopy of the date of entry into the Country.

Where do you get your color copy of your passport with entry date done?

[MiamiSammy]

Like Surfer mentioned, you are an exception. Buying drink or giving present can go both ways. What if someone see you buy drink and ask for a drink? And if they keep on asking? It is not just drink, one must weight the potential consequences when giving stuff to some people. If can go south pretty quick when you refuse.

That's true anywhere. Again, judgement and gauging the situation is all part of the deal.

I am not sure this is true. It is also about probability. Maybe there are less murders but I am not sure about robberies. I actually just read a report about it but I did not keep the report, otherwise I will point you to it.


Just yesterday, a Medellin gringo resident posted on FB his injury pictures from a knife when he was robbed on La 70. Someone followed up with 2 got robbed in Envigado, and another one got gun whipped. I think these are considered safer areas by most. The post was only there for a few hours before he deleted it.

You realize that LA 70 is a hell of a long way from El Centro, and there's no mongering there whatsoever? I stay in Laureles right off 70. It's just like any other stadium neighborhood (the Colombian national football stadium is on the other side of the Metro). I wish I had a dollar for everyone who gets mugged and knifed trying to find their car after a game at Wrigley Stadium, Yankee Stadium, or the Superdome. Don't compare apples to oranges. Laureles is a posh neighborhood in Medellin and the guy was three miles away from El Centro in a neighborhood much more similar to El Poblado.

[Nounce]

Whenever I go out of town for an overnight trip, like to Santa Fe or San Geronimo, yes I do take my main phone with me, and am super careful with it as I don't take my laptop, and need to be connected. But for a day trip only, if you have a local phone I wouldn't bother taking your main phone.

All my phones are main phone and all have US number. The main difference is the cost to replace them. I take the cheaper phone with me, put in the right sim card if necessary.

[Nounce]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying to stray beyond the well-populated areas, or that it doesn't hold risk.

Like Surfer mentioned, you are an exception. Buying drink or giving present can go both ways. What if someone see you buy drink and ask for a drink? And if they keep on asking? It is not just drink, one must weight the potential consequences when giving stuff to some people. If can go south pretty quick when you refuse.

I'm just saying that Medellin isn't nearly as dangerous as its made out to be- it's not Pablo and Narcos.

I am not sure this is true. It is also about probability. Maybe there are less murders but I am not sure about robberies. I actually just read a report about it but I did not keep the report, otherwise I will point you to it.

Just yesterday, a Medellin gringo resident posted on FB his injury pictures from a knife when he was robbed on La 70. Someone followed up with 2 got robbed in Envigado, and another one got gun whipped. I think these are considered safer areas by most. The post was only there for a few hours before he deleted it.

[Surfer500]

I'm a fellow Centro monger looking to return in about a month. What kind of prices are you seeing in general? Are the Venezuelan girls driving some competition? I've seen a vid or two coming out of EC that looks like things are booming again. Thanks for any info in advance, and feel free to hit me up if there's anything I can share.

Up until about three years ago, the Colombians had the place to themselves, and now they have to compete with the Vennies, and I have yet to meet a Colombian that doesn't despise them because they have undercut the Colombians price wise besides taking away business from them.

30 K is the "general" asking price, at least that's where it starts, and everything is negotiable. And there are girls asking for 20 K, but they are the older, fatter, and the less desirable ones.

Things are basically no different right now than before the Pandemic except people wearing masks. I was in Medellin in March of last year, came back in November for a week, and am now back, and from my observations of prior to the Pandemic and now, things do appear to be booming, however I do not like all the Vennies in El Centro. They outnumber the Colombians working El Centro now, and I find them a bit arrogant, especially the younger ones, and there is no shortage of them, and all of their lazy ass boyfriends hang around thinking their shit doesn't stink. And the place has become a lot more crowded, especially at the Intersection of Calle 52 & Carrera 52 which is ground zero for the Vennies.

Don't get me wrong, there are some nice and sweet Vennies to be had, but I typically don't go with them. And some of them are so desperate, anything goes, no holes barred!

You will do fine having previous experience in Medellin.

[MiamiSammy]

Yes, befriending the locals by buying them booze goes a long way, and you were able to work the El Centro scene, and able to reap the rewards of that, however your an exception. Very few members here would be comfortable walking around El Centro late at night, and it sounds as though your experience was a "cake walk" for you.

El Centro is dangerous, and I believe more so than other City's of the same size if your a foreigner. If you can pass looks wise as a local, and not draw attention as being a foreigner, that's huge as you will be less of a target, at least not somebody walking around with a bulls eye on them. I personally fall into that category, but I don't walk around El Centro late at night because whether I'm a foreigner or not, and whether I can pass as a local or not, everybody walking around there is prey.

I believe it's relatively safe to be out late at night, such as in front of the bars around Avenida De La Grief and other areas where there are lots of people out. But outside of heavily populated areas not a good idea.

Something I am sure your cognizant of, is that it's one thing to be-friend the locals, and it can open doors for you, yet word will get out about you, and your fortune could change in a heartbeat. I befriend people all the time, but not in El Centro.

You sound very experienced, yet most guys on this board won't stay where you stayed and be out late at night, versus the idiots mentioned in the previous post being totally clueless of their surroundings and ignorant, hence they got jacked up, and rightly so for being pompus.

Don't get me wrong,

I'm not saying to stray beyond the well-populated areas, or that it doesn't hold risk. I'm 6', 300 lbs and have long gray / white hair. I don't necessarily blend in well. I'm also not saying to bring moonshine to the native, simply not to be afraid to engage the regulars on the stroll. If you're out mongering, you're going to draw attention anyway. Colombians are incredibly friendly and respond robustly and sincerely if you try to engage them- even folks around El Centro. If you're sitting at one of the bars, buy the guy next to you a shot and toast with him. Definitely don't play the big man, but they know you have cash in your pocket and if you're conservative but a decent guy, it goes a long way. I'm just saying that Medellin isn't nearly as dangerous as its made out to be- it's not Pablo and Narcos. Its the city center in a major city of 2 million people. They're dangerous at night. That being said, The cops stay out in El Centro to at least midnight, its well lit, and there is a vibrant community that lives there. One of the best conversations I've ever had in a foreign country was a theological argument with a street guy late one night on Botero Plaza. You just have to be smart about it; don't be a dar papaya.