Safety

Traveler Advice

By Lorraine Caputo

Even though this city’s streets buzz at night, care still needs to be taken, especially after 9 p.m. Locals warn about going to Parque de la Leyenda Vallenata, the University and Balneario Hurtado at “solitary hours”; go when there are plenty of people, such as late afternoons.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is closed to any independent trekking, due in part to the three indigenous (Arhuaco, Kogui and Arzario) nations' wishes; it is sacred land to them. Much of the mountain range is also a “hot zone” with coca cultivation and cocaine processing labs, plus the perseverance of guerrilla and paramilitary forces. On this side of the Sierra you can visit Pueblo Bello and Nabusimake, and on the Caribbean side La Ciudad Perdida—these last two only with guides.

Dengue fever has occasionally been reported in Valledupar.