Is Medellín Safe in 2025? An Honest Look

Let's address the elephant in the room: you've seen Narcos. You know the name Pablo Escobar. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you're wondering if flying to Medellín for dental work is actually safe.

It's a fair question. And the answer might surprise you: Medellín in 2025 is safer than many major American cities — and the data proves it.

The Numbers Don't Lie

In 2024, Medellín recorded its lowest homicide rate in 82 years: 11.04 per 100,000 residents. Only 300 homicides occurred citywide — a 21% drop from 2023.

Let's put that in perspective:

Read that again: Medellín is statistically as safe as Miami and significantly safer than Houston, Chicago, and most major American cities.

The Transformation: From 381 to 11

In 1991, Medellín recorded 381 homicides per 100,000 people — the highest rate ever recorded in any city, anywhere. That's approximately 6,500 murders in a single year. Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel controlled the city, and violence was daily life.

Today? 97% reduction.

What happened? Decades of intentional urban transformation:

• 93 Pablo Escobar killed. Beginning of the end for the cartel.
• 95 Metro de Medellín opens — Colombia's only metro system, connecting the city.
• 04 MetroCable opens — world's first gondola system for public transit, bringing hillside neighborhoods into the economy.
• 11 Comuna 13 escalators — outdoor escalators replace dangerous hillside stairs, symbolizing reinvestment in forgotten neighborhoods.
• 13 Named "Most Innovative City in the World" by Wall Street Journal/Citi — beating New York and Tel Aviv.

The city didn't just reduce crime — it completely reinvented itself. Libraries in the poorest neighborhoods. Parks where violence once ruled. Economic opportunity where there was none.

The Safe Neighborhoods for Tourists

As a dental tourist, you'll likely spend your time in one of three areas — all among the safest in the city:

What the State Department Actually Says

The U.S. State Department has Colombia at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Sounds scary — until you realize that's the same level as:

• Jamaica
• Egypt
• Trinidad and Tobago
• The Bahamas (certain areas)

Importantly, Medellín is not in a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" zone. Those warnings apply to specific border regions and rural areas far from the city — places you'd have no reason to visit.

The Level 3 advisory cites general crime concerns, not specific targeting of tourists. Standard travel precautions apply — the same ones you'd use in any major city.

The Real Risks (And How to Avoid Them)

Let's be real: Medellín isn't Disneyland. Here's what to actually watch out for:

Petty theft: Like any tourist destination. Don't flash expensive jewelry, keep your phone secure, use Uber instead of hailing street cabs at night.

Credit card skimming: Use cards with chip readers, monitor your statements. Same as traveling anywhere.

2024 Crime Improvements

The trend is clearly positive. According to Colombian National Police, 2024 saw:

• Overall crime: Down 44%
• Theft with firearms: Down 35%
• Commercial theft: Down 49%
• Weapons seized: Up 73.8% (784 guns off the streets)

The city isn't just maintaining safety — it's actively improving.

The Bottom Line

Should you be reckless? No. But should fear of 1990s Medellín stop you from visiting 2025 Medellín? Absolutely not.

The numbers are clear: you face similar or lower risk in El Poblado than you would in downtown Miami, and far less risk than in Houston, Chicago, or New Orleans.

Over 23,000 international patients came to Medellín for medical procedures in 2024 alone. The city has transformed from the world's most dangerous into a global healthcare destination. The only thing left from the Pablo Escobar era is outdated American assumptions.