Armed Robberies of Backpackers in La Candaleria - Bogota

Hello,

Please see my post in the (general) South America section.

The amount of robberies of travellers at knifepoint in La Candaleria in Bogota is just crazy, from one hostel only, in the last week there have been 5 robberies plus 1 attempt.

Be Warned -Avoid La Candaleria in Bogota.

Happy and Safe Travelling.

actually last week there has been police support the 24 hours, its better now, this week police caught the kids that were assaulting the travelers, and if you really want to get to know bogota you have to go to candelaria

if you really want to get to know bogota you have to go to candelaria

I quite disagree that someone should visit the worst parts of any city to find out what city life is like-that is idiocy.

La Candelaria is a dirty dangerous part of town and few Bogota residents would go there without good reason and then only in daylight.

I'd argue that La Candelaria is the most beautiful part of Bogota. If you are really worried, just don't walk around by yourself.

Hey Papilio,

I noticed you are Colombian and Colombians would never lie about anything. I read your profile and your other posts about La Candaleria - Either you are Ignorant about La Candaleria (its a safe place) OR you are a lying sack of s***!
I was there during the time all those people were robbed or beaten!!!

Do you own a hostel/business in La Candaleria? is that your motivation?

Hi i have to say it may not be the safest area i have been to in the world but the way the people above are describing it are totally full of sh*t or have never been there or have never really been out of there own house much

easy easy guys, just exposing my point of view, for me and most of the travelers ive known that have been there, is the best place in bogota, if you go to bogota to hang in pubs, whore houses or expensive places for sure is not your neighborhood, chill and drop of coke

papilio is the kind of flake that gives his country a bad name-luckily there aren't too many of his type in Colombia.

La Candelaria certainly is one of the nicest areas of Bogota, although crime is a problem.
There is a reason why so many foriegners choose to live there and why the hostels are based there.

Some people enjoy modern apartments, nice bars and shopping centres which other areas offer. But many foriegners love the colonial buildings, small cafes and bars and bohemian atomsphere of la Candelaria.

Police have been on extra patrols and things have calmed down. Over the 5 years I've been here there has been times when crime against backpackers has risen and times when its been safer

People do need to know not to take out valuables when drinking or walking the streets at night.

But the fact that so many foriegners are moving to the Barrio is proof that it is definatly a highlight for many and not the dirty dangerous place as described above. Unfortunatly people in a place for a short period can form a very poor view of an area due to one bad experience.
sorry to those that experienced it

this kind of look-like reasonable, meditated posts like the one travdave posted are even more dangerous then the flat- out lies of Papito.

It leeds you to believe that is possible avoid to be victimized in a high crime area by being careful,
not walking at night or joining a tour...

It insinuate that since many travelers, especially foreigner make their home there it must be safer
than it looks.

It is simply not true.

Independent observer of the crime scene and human rights of colombia (that are not
mouthpiece of Urribe government) state in so many words that crime and violence is on the rise in colombia in rural and urban areas.

If the kind missinformation travdave dish- out is irresponsible in the best of cases, when confronted with the fact that very recently 5
fellow travelers within a week (from one single hostel only) as reported by a witness where atacked il la Candelaria area,it became just about criminal in itself and is incomprehensible to me ...

"Independent observer of the crime scene and human rights of colombia state in so many words that crime and violence is on the rise in colombia in rural and urban areas."

Link?

I'm in Bogota at the moment and love La Candelaria. There sre always lots of policemen around and I felt quite safe. I probably wouldn't wander around at nighttime on my own but there are not many places in the world where you can, really.
Anyway, I agree that you should definitely visit this area when in Bogota because it is beautiful and has a lot of nice museums around.

I don't know.. if you can't handle La Candaleria in Bogota,
better head back where you came from. Half of South
America is not gonna be to your liking!

Stayed there for >2 weeks over Xmas/New Years and while

it for sure is a bit shoddy (in probably the most charming way
possible) I felt much safer than in most parts of
Rio de Janeiro or anywhere in Jamaica or big parts of La Paz.

Tourists just happen to be targets anywhere (including most of Europe),
so play it smart, don't take valuables with you, ask around how
the situation currently is as all that changes VERY frequently. And check
boards like these.

so thanks to the original poster. Very valuable info to know it was bad.
thanks to the one saying they caught the guys.

To all the others portraying Candaleria as some kind of warzone, slum,
favela kinda place: GET REAL!