Safety in Zona Cafetera

Travel Tips

By Brenda Yun

The Zona Cafetera is a very laid back part of Colombia. Travelers will feel particularly at home, safe, and secure in the smaller towns. The larger cities are generally safe, even at night. However, the usual precautions are advised. Recent reports tell of adolescent students in Pereira carrying guns to class, so there is still a greater sense of danger in urban areas. Also, Pijao, a town near Armenia, is known by locals as a base for the FARC. The FARC is a leftist military group that is generally considered to be a terrorist regime. Always ask tourist information offices about current areas that should be avoided or ask your hotel about city neighborhoods that are more dangerous. These locations change fairly frequently, as both rural and urban areas in this region are experiencing growth.