The U.S Embassy in Bogotá issued a Security Alert for specific areas of Cartagena, as Colombia’s historic port city prepares to receive more than 20 cruise ships in December and an estimated 25,000 tourists.
Namely, there has been increased criminal activity throughout Cartagena as Covid-19 restrictions have been reduced, and there have been several notable criminal events in the Chambacu neighborhood, the area to the East of Centro Comercial Caribe Plaza, and in Southern Cartagena.
The mention of Cartagena port in a U.S travel alert caught district officials by surprise, especially as it is one of select destinations in the country considered safe for U.S Embassy staffers.
In fact, David Múnera, Cartagena’s Secretariat of the Interior stated that with approximately 200,000 visitors to the port city in 2021, foreigners “circulate throughout the city without notable or representative events in the matter of thefts, homicides, sexual exploitation, among other crimes”.
Cartagena’s police chief Nicolás Zapata, also reiterated that Cartagena is “safe to visit” and proven by the fact that five international flights arrive every day, representing a daily influx of 780 travellers.
