We have walked and experienced Medellin without any safety concerns. However, Medellin is still a big metropolitan area where certain precautions should be taken. When exploring during the day, we recommend keeping jewelry and other valuables in the hotel. We do recommend staying in tourist areas and to let us help you plan your excursions in Medellin or anywhere in Colombia.
We do not consider Zika a threat in Medellin. Medellin's altitude and the fact that is a major metropolitan area makes the risk extremely low. We do understand that some people might be overly concerned and we do encourage applying bug repellant on a daily basis.
Taxi's in Medellin are completely safe and you might be lucky and encounter a chatty guy. Taxis do not normally accept Credit Cards, it's a cash transaction. With that in mind, Ubers will ensure your fare price and you will not need to pay cash. We recommend this method.
Colombia does 10% tip included in all restaurant bills. Additional tipping is not required.
Restaurants, museums, shops, bars, and hotels will accept credit cards. Visa is the most widely accepted. Some cash is necessary. Conversion rate is about $1 USD to $3,000 COP. A coffee will average $3,000 COP.