Is Cali, Colombia Safe for Solo Female Travelers? My Experience Living in 3 Neighborhoods

If you search “Is Cali, Colombia safe for solo female travelers?” before booking a trip, there is a good chance Google is going to have you reconsidering your entire life.

Cali does not exactly have the best reputation when it comes to safety. Colombia already comes with plenty of warnings online, and Cali tends to get discussed as one of those cities where you need to be extra careful. Before living there, I saw the same things you probably saw: crime statistics, travel warnings, Reddit conversations, and people basically suggesting that if you step outside with an iPhone, somebody is going to descend from the mountains and snatch it out of your hand.

My actual experience was much less dramatic.

I lived in three different neighborhoods in Cali, Colombia: Miraflores, La Flora, and Cristales. I also spent quite a bit of time downtown in Centro, shopping, running errands, getting my hair done, buying random things I needed, and generally moving around the city like someone who actually lived there rather than someone staying inside a tourist bubble.

And during my time there, I never personally felt unsafe.

Now, that does not mean Cali has suddenly become crime-free because I showed up. I still took safety precautions, especially as a woman traveling and living alone. There is a difference between saying, “I felt safe,” and telling somebody, “Nothing can happen to you here.”

So if you're considering solo female travel in Cali, Colombia, here's what my experience was actually like.

So, Is Cali, Colombia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Based on my personal experience living there, yes, I felt comfortable living in Cali alone as a woman.

But I would describe Cali as a city where you need to move with awareness.

The current U.S. Department of State advisory for Colombia is Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and other risks. It's worth noting, however, that its highest-risk warning for Valle del Cauca specifically says “Valle del Cauca, excluding Cali,” meaning Cali itself is treated differently from some surrounding areas of the department.

That distinction matters because people sometimes hear “Valle del Cauca” and assume the exact same warning applies to every neighborhood in Cali.

Still, crime absolutely exists here. The State Department warns about robberies, phone theft, drugging, kidnapping, and crimes targeting people who appear wealthy.

So please do not read my experience as permission to abandon common sense.

I wasn't walking down the street at 2 a.m. waving my phone around yelling, I'm American! Does anybody know where the nearest ATM is?

I lived normally while also paying attention.

And honestly, that balance is how I approach most cities while living abroad. If you travel alone long enough, you quickly realize that everybody has a safety warning for you. I’ve talked before about why solo travelers eventually get tired of constantly being told to “be safe”, because there’s a difference between being aware of your surroundings and being taught to fear every place you visit.

My Experience Living in Miraflores, Cali

Of the three neighborhoods I lived in, Miraflores was probably where I did the most walking.

I liked this area because I could actually leave my apartment and function. I wasn't constantly ordering a car just to travel three blocks. I could walk around the neighborhood, go grab things I needed, explore nearby areas, and get more of that everyday-living experience that I prefer when I'm abroad.

The streets where I stayed were well lit, and I never had an incident that made me feel like I needed to stop walking around the neighborhood.

That doesn't mean I ignored my surroundings. If I'm walking somewhere alone, especially somewhere unfamiliar, I'm paying attention to who's around me, where I'm going, how busy the street is, and whether the environment changes.

But I wasn't walking through Miraflores feeling tense.

For someone looking at where to stay in Cali as a solo female traveler, I think Miraflores is worth researching, particularly if you want a neighborhood where you can experience more normal day-to-day Cali rather than staying somewhere that feels completely built around tourists.

What It Was Like Living in La Flora

La Flora felt even more residential to me.

I walked around this neighborhood during the day, and I also walked around at night.

One thing that immediately stood out to me was the neighborhood security presence. There were these small security stations or booths positioned throughout the area, sometimes what felt like every other block, with guards stationed inside or nearby.

La Flora was actually the only neighborhood of the three where I noticed that kind of visible private neighborhood security.

The streets around me were also well lit.

That combination made the neighborhood feel particularly comfortable for me when I was walking around alone.

I could leave, grab food, run errands, and come back without feeling like every outing needed to become a carefully planned transportation mission.

Of course, I still paid attention at night. I wouldn't tell women to start wandering around unfamiliar streets at midnight simply because I happened to feel comfortable there. Your immediate block matters. The time matters. How busy the street is matters.

But my experience living in La Flora as a solo woman was positive.

If you're considering a longer stay in Cali and want something quieter and more residential, La Flora would absolutely be on my list of neighborhoods to research.

Living in Cristales as a Solo Woman

Then there was Cristales.

I felt safe here too, but I did significantly less walking.

Not because I was afraid.

Because those hills were disrespectful.

Cristales is one of those places where Google Maps can tell you somewhere is technically walkable while conveniently failing to mention that you're about to participate in an unscheduled cardiovascular event.

So I used transportation much more frequently while staying there.

The neighborhood itself felt comfortable to me, and the streets around where I lived were well lit. I never personally had an experience in Cristales that made me feel unsafe.

If hills don't bother you, your experience might be completely different from mine. But if you plan on staying in Cristales without a car, I would look carefully at the exact location of your Airbnb or apartment before booking.

Two places can look very close together on a map while your calves know the truth.

I Also Spent a Lot of Time in Centro

This is important because I wasn't only staying inside my residential neighborhoods.

I went into Centro, or downtown Cali, regularly.

That's where I went when I needed everyday things. I shopped, explored, handled errands, and moved around more like a local.

Centro definitely has a different energy from La Flora or Miraflores. It's busier. There are more people. There is more street activity. Depending on where you are, things can feel much more hectic.

When I went downtown, I stayed aware of my surroundings and belongings.

This is also where the Colombian phrase “no dar papaya” starts making a whole lot of sense. Basically, don't unnecessarily make yourself an easy target.

I'm not standing on a crowded sidewalk holding my phone in the air for ten minutes trying to figure out which direction I'm supposed to walk.

If I need directions, I'll step somewhere appropriate, check what I need to check, and keep moving.

That is less about being afraid of Cali and more about understanding how to navigate a major city.

I Used Uber Instead of Hailing Taxis

One of my personal safety decisions in Cali was using Uber or app-based transportation instead of regularly hailing taxis from the street.

I like having the driver's information, vehicle information, route, and ride history available in the app.

This is something official travel guidance for women recommends considering as well. The U.S. State Department notes that app-based transportation can provide a record of the ride and may allow you to share your trip in real time with someone else.

That additional layer of information makes me more comfortable when I'm traveling alone.

I would also verify the license plate before getting into the car and make sure the person picking me up matched the driver displayed in the app.

Those little habits take seconds.

Cali Gets a Bad Reputation, but I Think There's Another Side to the City

One thing I noticed while living in Cali is that its reputation can overshadow what everyday life there actually feels like.

Cali isn't Cartagena.

It isn't Medellín.

And it doesn't feel like it's constantly trying to perform for tourists.

That's actually part of what I liked about it.

If you want rooftop restaurants packed with foreigners, tour companies around every corner, and an entire tourism infrastructure designed to make Colombia feel easy, there are other cities that will probably make more sense.

Cali can feel much more local.

You can go to the grocery store, get your hair done, your nails done, walk to a neighborhood restaurant, sit near the river, go to the library, find a salsa event, take an aerial class, and go about your business without feeling like you're spending every day on vacation.

And sometimes when you're living abroad, that's exactly what you want.

You don't always need another excursion.

Sometimes you just want to know where the good grocery store is.

Safety Precautions I Took as a Woman Living Alone in Cali

I don't think solo female travel requires constantly being scared, but I also don't believe in traveling as though location doesn't matter.

My basic approach in Cali was pretty simple:

• I primarily used Uber and app-based transportation when I wasn't walking.

• I paid attention to my surroundings instead of walking around completely distracted by my phone.

• I avoided displaying large amounts of cash or expensive items unnecessarily.

• I learned enough Spanish to communicate basic needs and understand what was happening around me.

• I paid attention to whether a street was busy, well lit, and comfortable before walking somewhere alone.

• I verified my driver's information before getting into a vehicle.

• I trusted myself when something or someone felt off.

Official travel guidance also recommends keeping trusted people aware of your plans, avoiding isolated unfamiliar areas, being particularly cautious at night, and not resisting if you're confronted during a robbery.

I would use the same approach in Cali that I use whenever I'm living abroad: learn the environment instead of assuming every part of a city operates the same way.

A Few Things I Like Having With Me When I Travel Solo

There are a few things I either keep with me or recommend having when you’re traveling alone. None of them replace being aware of your surroundings, but they can make everyday travel a little easier and give you an extra layer of security.

Portable Power Bank

A portable power bank is one of those things I think every solo traveler should have. When I’m abroad, my phone is basically my lifeline. I’m using it for Uber, Google Maps, translations, WhatsApp, banking, taking pictures, and probably seventeen other things at the same time. The last thing I want is for my phone to die when I’m somewhere unfamiliar and need to figure out how to get home.

I prefer a smaller power bank that I can easily throw in my purse or crossbody bag instead of carrying around something that feels like a second phone.

[Shop a portable power bank →]

Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag

I also like crossbody bags when I’m moving around a city because I can keep my belongings in front of me and close to my body. An anti-theft version gives you a few extra features, like locking zippers, slash-resistant straps, or RFID-blocking compartments.

This is especially useful if you’re going somewhere busy like Centro, riding public transportation, walking through a market, or spending the day somewhere with large crowds. I still pay attention to my belongings, but I would rather make accessing my stuff inconvenient for everybody except me.

[Shop an anti-theft crossbody bag →]

Portable Door Lock

If you stay in Airbnbs, hotels, hostels, or short-term rentals while traveling, a portable door lock is another inexpensive thing you can keep in your luggage. It adds an additional lock to certain inward-opening doors from the inside, so even if someone has a key or access code, the door has another barrier while you're inside.

I especially like the idea of having one when I'm staying somewhere by myself. Just make sure the style you buy works with the type of door you're using, because portable locks aren't compatible with every door.

[Shop a portable travel door lock →]

And One of My Favorites: A Phone Strap

I LOVE having a phone strap when I travel. Mine keeps my phone attached to me instead of me constantly putting it down, digging through my bag for it, or loosely carrying it in my hand while I'm walking around.

It’s especially convenient because I use my phone so much when I'm exploring. I may need Maps one minute, my camera the next, and Uber five minutes later. I can put the phone down without actually putting the phone down.

And from a safety standpoint, I also like that somebody can't as easily grab my phone out of my hand and keep going because... baby, we're attached now. 😂

I still wouldn't walk around distracted with my phone hanging out in every environment, but the strap has become one of those simple travel accessories that I genuinely love having.

[Shop a crossbody phone strap →]

Which Cali Neighborhood Felt Safest to Me?

If I were comparing the three neighborhoods strictly based on my personal experience:

La Flora probably had the strongest visible security presence. It was residential, well lit, and I regularly saw neighborhood security guards and their stations throughout the area.

Miraflores gave me the best experience for walking around and feeling connected to everyday life in the city.

Cristales felt comfortable, but I relied more heavily on transportation because of the hills.

I would stay in all three neighborhoods again.

Your exact location within any neighborhood still matters, though. Before booking accommodations, I always recommend looking at the actual street, recent reviews, nearby businesses, transportation options, and what previous guests say about walking in the area.

Don't book based solely on the neighborhood name.

This is something I’ve learned from moving around so much. Choosing the right neighborhood matters, but so does the actual building, street, transportation nearby, and what your day-to-day life will look like there. I have a full guide on how I find housing while living abroad if you’re trying to figure out what to look for before booking a longer stay.

Would I Recommend Cali for a First-Time Solo Female Traveler?

This depends on what kind of traveler you are.

If this is your very first international solo trip, you've never traveled somewhere where English isn't widely spoken, and navigating unfamiliar cities makes you extremely anxious, I don't know that Cali would be my first recommendation.

There are easier cities for easing yourself into solo travel.

But if you've traveled independently before, you're comfortable using transportation apps, you're willing to learn basic Spanish, and you actually want to experience normal Colombian city life, Cali can be a really interesting place to spend time.

That’s also why I think Cali makes more sense for someone interested in actually living abroad, not just checking another destination off a list. If that’s the kind of travel you’re moving toward, I also wrote about how to become a full-time nomad before you book the flight, including some of the things you need to think through before turning travel into your everyday life.

It is particularly good for travelers who like slower experiences.

You don't have to build your entire trip around sightseeing.

Cali gives you room to live.

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Did I Experience Harassment as a Solo Woman in Cali?

I did have men flirt with me while I was living in Cali, but I didn't experience constant aggressive street harassment.

A couple of men approached me or expressed interest, and when I wasn't interested, generally a simple “no, gracias” was enough.

That's another area where everyone's experience is going to vary.

Being a woman traveling alone can attract attention almost anywhere in the world, and your age, appearance, race, neighborhood, clothing, language ability, and where you're spending time can all affect your experience.

I can only tell you what happened to me.

I never felt like I needed to stop living my life because I was alone.

Is Cali Safe to Walk Around at Night?

I walked at night in La Flora without personally experiencing problems, and I found the streets around me to be well lit.

That does not mean I recommend walking anywhere in Cali at any hour.

There is a huge difference between walking several blocks through a residential area you're already familiar with at 8 p.m. and wandering through an unfamiliar part of the city alone at 1 a.m.

I made those decisions based on the specific environment around me.

For somewhere unfamiliar, somewhere isolated, or a longer nighttime trip, I'm calling the Uber.

The Canadian government's general guidance for women traveling abroad similarly recommends extra caution when going out alone at night and using reputable transportation.

So, Would I Live in Cali Again?

Yes.

And I think this might surprise people who only know Cali through its reputation.

I didn't spend my time there feeling like I was constantly in danger.

I lived in three different parts of the city. I went downtown. I walked around. I took Ubers. I shopped. I explored. I figured out where things were. I learned my neighborhoods.

I lived there.

And that is probably why my perspective on Cali is a little different.

I don't think Cali is the Colombian city you choose because you want the easiest tourist experience possible.

I think Cali works really well for people who want something a little more low-key, local, and lived-in.

You still need awareness. You still need precautions. You still need to research exactly where you're staying.

But I wouldn't personally tell a woman to avoid Cali simply because she's traveling alone.

My experience living in Miraflores, La Flora, and Cristales was overwhelmingly comfortable, and I never personally felt unsafe in any of the three neighborhoods.

For a city I had been warned so much about before arriving, Cali ended up feeling surprisingly normal.

And sometimes normal is the best thing a place can give you.

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