In the first months of 2011 there have been a large number of armed robberies against tourist establishments, with armed robbers taking over entire hostels and holding tourists to ransom. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Department have updated their travel warnings. (http://www.voyage.gc.ca/c...) Bogota is not as dangerous as it is perceived to be. The crime rate per capita shows that it is safer than Washington D.C. and most other Latin American cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Caracas, Mexico City and Guatemala City. It is very difficult to find drugs or be forced to buy them unless you go looking for them. Do, however, be careful outside the city especially at night.
Bogota's major safety problems are the drugged, homeless people that are found all around the city and muggers with knives. Avoid walking alone, and also avoid taking cabs in the streets; call them by phone!
Common sense prevails and note that driving a Mercedes through a poor neighborhood may be unpleasant for both you and the locals just like anywhere else in the world.
Bogotá's water is potable and of great quality. It actually is one of the finest waters in the world, but foreigners may want to mix bottled and tap water for the first few days. Bogotá has no tropical diseases like malaria because of its altitude. Altitude sickness is, in fact, the largest health problem affecting foreigners. Generally, a few days without hard physical activity or time spent in a mid-altitude city like MedellÃn will do the trick. If you have heart disease or a respiratory condition, talk to your doctor. El Dorado Airport provides wheelchairs for travelers with special needs. Private hospitals offer excellent health care.
talk
The Spanish spoken in Bogotá is considered among the most neutral and clear in the world. If you know the basics, you'll probably be fine. Bogotá is full of English academies and bilingual schools, so English is spoken by many young people. The most "touristy" areas are full of young students who go to bilingual schools, and generally, they will help you translate. Colombians love to show off the best of their country to reduce the negative image it has among foreigners.