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Colombia · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Tenerife scores 46/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. No. Tenerife, Colombia faces high violent crime and armed group activity, making it unsafe for visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Colombia · Assessed 13 October 2026
46
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Colombia-Venezuela border and northern Colombia FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: all of Norte de Santander Department, including Cúcuta.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:45:33Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Colombia: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-09T15:13:11.0763047-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and extortion are common, particularly on rural roads and in remote areas; visitors are targeted for kidnapping and ransom.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing occurs in markets and transport hubs in urban centers like Medellín and Bogotá, but Tenerife sees less street-level petty crime due to lower visitor volume.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
41/100
Travelers report feeling unsafe due to frequent armed checkpoints, extortion demands, and fear of kidnapping, especially when traveling outside major cities.
No. Tenerife, Colombia faces high violent crime and armed group activity, making it unsafe for visitors.
Tenerife, Colombia has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100k and is affected by armed conflict involving ELN guerrillas and criminal gangs, with frequent extortion, kidnapping, and robbery. While air quality is good and road safety moderate, the security environment remains dangerous due to ongoing violence and limited state presence in rural areas.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Tenerife, Colombia is not a tourist destination and presents significant safety risks due to ongoing armed activity. The UK Foreign Office updated its advisory on October 7, 2026, warning against all but essential travel to Norte de Santander and border regions, areas that affect movement near Tenerife. Canada’s advisory, issued October 9, 2026, reinforces a high degree of caution nationwide, citing kidnapping, extortion, and guerrilla presence. These warnings are not theoretical: armed groups including the ELN operate in rural zones, setting up illegal checkpoints and targeting vehicles for robbery or ransom.
While the town itself may see less visible crime than larger cities, the surrounding countryside is dangerous. Travelers have reported being stopped at unofficial roadblocks where demands for money or possessions are made under threat of violence. There are no recent reports of mass violence in Tenerife proper, but the broader department of Santander experiences frequent incidents tied to drug trafficking and insurgent activity. Pickpocketing is not a major concern due to low foot tourism, but fake taxis and impostor police remain risks in transit corridors.
To stay safe, avoid all non-essential travel. If movement is unavoidable, travel only during daylight hours using verified drivers from known accommodations. Never resist armed individuals—surrender belongings immediately to reduce the risk of harm. Monitor official advisories closely, as the situation can escalate quickly. Given the environment, Tenerife, Colombia should be avoided by tourists until security conditions improve substantially.
Was this Tenerife, Colombia report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Tenerife districts for visitors: 4 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Tenerife safety map.
Santa Cruz de TenerifecautionCapital city with moderate petty theft risk; exercise vigilance in crowded areas and at night.
Playa de las AméricascautionTourist hotspot with elevated pickpocketing and occasional nightlife-related incidents; avoid isolated areas after dark.
AdejecautionMixed-use area with tourist resorts; petty crime possible in busy zones like Costa Adeje; stay alert.
AronacautionIncludes Playa de las Américas; higher visitor density increases theft risk; safeguard valuables.
Los CristianossaferGenerally secure resort town with visible police presence; standard precautions advised for belongings.
Puerto de la CruzsaferHistoric northern town with low crime rates; safe for walking day and night with usual care.
La LagunasaferUNESCO university city with strong safety perception; minimal risk to visitors in central zones.
El MédanosaferRelaxed coastal village popular with windsurfers; low incident reports and welcoming to tourists.
07 · After Dark
53% of people in Colombia say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Armed robbery and extortion are common, particularly on rural roads and in remote areas; visitors are targeted for kidnapping and ransom.
After dark, be most careful around Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Playa de las Américas, Adeje, Arona. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
No. Tenerife, Colombia faces high violent crime and armed group activity, making it unsafe for visitors. Tenerife, Colombia has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100k and is affected by armed conflict involving ELN guerrillas and criminal gangs, with frequent extortion, kidnapping, and robbery. While air quality is good and road safety moderate, the security environment remains dangerous due to ongoing violence and limited state presence in rural areas. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Tenerife report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
Tenerife ranks #9 of 9 Colombia destinations we've assessed, scoring 46/100. See the Colombia safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: tenerife.json (CC BY 4.0).
