Safety & Scams
The honest guide to not getting ripped off. Documented scams, danger zones, and the patterns that separate tourists from their money.
Critical Warnings
Gusto Night Club
Parque Lleras, Poblado
Medellín's most documented tourist trap. Ten years of consistent scam reports. At some point, the pattern becomes the point.
- • Bartenders auto-tip themselves $30 on customer cards without consent
- • Three beers + two lady drinks charged at $74 USD
- • Phantom charges added to tabs in the dark
- • Bouncer hit customer in face (documented incident)
- • Armed security described as "armed thugs"
Protection: Cash only. Count drinks. Never run a tab. Better yet—don't go.
Plaza Botero & Centro After Dark
Centro District
Highest homicide rate in Medellín. The government literally tells you not to be here after dark. This isn't paranoia—it's policy.
- • Safe-ish during day (before 3-4 PM)
- • Knife attacks documented in surrounding streets
- • Heavy drug activity after dark
- • Metro stops running late—you're stuck
- • Even daytime requires maximum situational awareness
Protection: Photos before 3 PM. Back on metro before sunset. No exceptions.
Street Hookups & Scopolamine
Parque Lleras & Surrounding Streets
She approached you. She's stunning. She's into you immediately. Congratulations—you're about to wake up with no wallet, no phone, and no memory of the last 12 hours.
- • Scopolamine ("Devil's Breath") turns you into a compliant zombie
- • You'll hand over your ATM PIN and help carry your own belongings
- • Delivered via drink, powder, cigarette, even a kiss
- • Every travel advisory warns about this—it happens constantly
- • Best case: lose everything. Worst case: hospital or morgue.
Protection: If it seems too easy, it's a trap. Stick to venues. Trust no one who approaches you at 2 AM.
Common Scams
Drink Pricing Tricks
- •$20+ single drinks (normal = $2-3 beer)
- •Phantom "lady drinks" added to tab you didn't order
- •Dark venues make receipt verification impossible
- •Prices quoted in pesos, charged in dollars
Bill Padding
- •Items appear on bill you never ordered
- •Bartenders write their own tips on credit cards
- •Prices change mid-visit (especially after midnight)
- •"Creative math" that doesn't match mental count
The "Girlfriend" Trap
- •Woman gets you buying drinks (hers and yours) at inflated prices
- •Coordinated with bartenders—she gets a cut
- •Lady drinks marked up 2-3x over regular drinks
- •Agreeing to one drink is a decision; agreeing to five is a donation
The Midnight Switch
- •Prices "change" after midnight at some venues
- •Happy hour pricing vanishes, "creative math" begins
- •More girls, more action, more aggressive billing
- •Staff assumes inebriation = less scrutiny
Venue Safety Ratings
Safest (8-9/10)
- La Isla Club - 9/10
- Om Spa For Men - 9/10
- La Oculta - 9/10
- Envy Rooftop - 9/10
- 360° Rooftop - 9/10
- Bada Boom - 8/10
- Anfitrión - 8/10
- Jade Palace - 8/10
- El Tibiri - 8/10
- Perro Negro - 8/10
Medium (7/10)
- Parque Lleras - 7/10
- San Diego Show - 7/10
- Luna Lunera - 7/10
- Fantasia Show - 7/10
- Secret Garden - 7/10
- Gusto Night Club - 7/10*
*Gusto's "safety" rating is misleading—you're safe from violence but not from scams.
Dangerous (5 or below)
- Playmates Bar Show - 5/10
- Barra Ejecutiva - 5/10
- Conejitas Bar Show - 5/10
- New Life Casa - 4/10
- Plaza Botero - 2/10
All Centro locations. Budget pricing = budget safety.
Red Flags to Watch
Venue-Level Red Flags
- 🚩Multiple TripAdvisor warnings telling same story
- 🚩Expat forums naming venue as "place to avoid"
- 🚩Bartenders handling credit cards out of sight
- 🚩Receipts pre-filled or "accidentally" wrong
- 🚩Prices that change mid-visit
- 🚩Armed security described as aggressive
Area-Level Red Flags
- 🚩Government warns against area after dark
- 🚩Metro stops running (you're stuck with taxis)
- 🚩Phone charger vendors on blankets (sketchy indicator)
- 🚩Stray dogs with more street smarts than tourists
- 🚩Surrounding streets described as "nightmare"
- 🚩Heavy visible drug activity
Protection Protocols
Cash Management
- • Never run a tab—pay as you go
- • Leave credit cards at hotel
- • Count drinks before signing anything
- • Watch every transaction
Centro Protocol
- • Uber to door, Uber from door
- • Don't wander surrounding blocks
- • Text someone your location
- • Leave before metro stops
Timing Protection
- • Avoid scam venues after midnight
- • Happy hour = better treatment
- • Centro: gone by 4 PM
- • Staff assumes late = drunk = easy target
Phone & Valuables
- • Keep phone in front pocket
- • Don't flash wallet or cash
- • Minimal jewelry
- • Maximum situational awareness
Drink Safety
- • Never leave drink unattended
- • Bottle service = safer (sealed)
- • Watch bartender pour
- • Trust your instincts
Exit Strategy
- • Know where exits are
- • Uber app ready (not searching when needed)
- • Have backup transportation plan
- • If vibe feels wrong, leave
Where Safety Works
La Isla Club — Security actually works here. You're not getting scammed. You're not getting robbed. The worst thing that happens is your own decision-making. Professional security prevents criminal activity.
Poblado/Parque Lleras/Provenza — Well-lit areas, police presence, busy public squares. Pickpockets exist but violent crime is rare. Ubers available everywhere. The premium prices buy safety margin.
Mall-Based Spas (Om Spa) — Security guards, cameras, families nearby. The most legitimate setting possible. Professional establishments don't operate on scam models.
La 33/Laureles — Local crowd (70%+ Colombian) keeps venues honest. Less tourist markup means less hustle incentive. Reasonable pricing reflects reasonable treatment.
Pricing Red Flags
Warning Signs
- • $20+ single drinks (normal = $2-3 beer)
- • $30 automatic tips without asking
- • $74 for three beers + two lady drinks
- • Bottles costing more than airline tickets
- • Phantom charges appearing on bills
Fair Pricing Benchmark
- • Beer: 4,000-15,000 COP ($1-4)
- • Cocktails: 15,000-40,000 COP ($4-10)
- • Lady drinks: 15,000-40,000 COP ($4-10)
- • Cover: 10,000-50,000 COP ($2.50-12)
- • Private time: $40-100 USD (spas)
The Rule: Extreme pricing = hustle-dependent business model. Places with normal pricing don't need to scam—their business works honestly. Transparent pricing = legitimate operation. Prices that change = red flag.