I thought it was time to share some practical advice based on my experience in the City of Eternal Spring so far. Fair warning, this list won’t be exhaustive nor terribly well organized. Hopefully, it’ll be informative and maybe a little entertaining nonetheless. Oh, and this is coming from a gringo and white European perspective. Some of these suggestions will not apply to travelers from other Latin American countries.

DON’T expect everyone to speak English or to have English menus at restaurants. In the tourist center of El Poblado, you’ll find more English speakers, but outside of that area, you should be willing to get by in Spanish. Make Google Translate your friend if you don’t have functional Spanish skills.

DON’T flag down a taxi, especially in Provenza. My guess is that you’d be safe 99% of the time, but from where I sit there are too many stories of visitors being preyed upon by fake taxis to consider that a safe form of transport.

DO use Didi and Uber to get around. Didi is a low-cost local equivalent of Uber that you can use either to secure a ride anywhere at a pre-set price or that you can use to summon a taxi via central dispatch and pay based on what the meter says. Unless you open a local bank account, you’ll have to pay in cash with Didi, but Uber works the same way here as it does everywhere. Uber costs more but is still super cheap compared to the U.S. and has the benefit of not requiring you to have cash. If you do use Didi, make sure you have small bills on you. Getting change from a 50,000 COP note for a 5,000 COP ride can be difficult. I’ve been told a few times that Uber is technically illegal (for the driver, not rider), but I use it all the time and have never had any issue. If you get stopped, the rule is that the driver is your friend giving you a ride, not an Uber driver.

DO ride in the front seat. Getting in the back seat of an Uber, Didi, or taxi is weird here.

DON’T slam the car door when you get in. Most vehicles here are very lightweight compacts, and closing the door gently is considered proper. Slamming doors is a great way to sink your rider rating on Uber and Didi.

DO use Rappi, a delivery service like DoorDash at a fraction of the cost. Both restaurant takeout and grocery delivery are available, and they have an option called Rappi Turbo that has your order on your doorstep in 10 minutes or less. Seriously. I have no idea how they do it. I came down with a cold a few weeks ago and wanted to make sure I didn’t have Covid. From placement of my order in the app for an at home test and some snacks to taking the test at home was 8 minutes.

DON’T accept the exchange rate initially offered to you at an ATM. The Bancolombia machines attach a fee that you have to pay, but others will show a low exchange rate and ask if you accept. If you say no, the transaction still goes through but at a better rate. I can’t explain this.

DON’T expect to be able to finish a Bandeja Paisa. It’s an ungodly amount of food.

DO go to the Jardín Botánico de Medellín. It’s a beautiful, peaceful oasis in the middle of the city. The giant iguanas are a little sketch, though. I wouldn’t trust them.

DON’T stand in the long line of people waiting to pay going into the Jardín Botánico. I don’t know what they are paying for, but entry is free. There will be someone off to the side waving you in as you approach.

DO go to the top floor of the Centro Comercial Palacio Nacional if you like art. Every room is a different art gallery with works that change every couple of weeks. It’s a like a free art museum. The downtown (Centro) area where this place is located is considered a no-go zone for tourists by some. I’ve never felt at risk there, but I also have lots of experience not looking vulnerable in foreign countries. It’s hectic, and you likely won’t find anyone who speaks English. It’s also a shopping area known as El Hueco that is jam-packed with anything and everything you could possibly want to buy at a very affordable price.

DON’T expect any of the name brand goods you see in El Hueco to be legitimate. If you’re just into labels and don’t care about whether you’re wearing a knock-off, you’ll be very pleased with what you find.

DON’T let your guard down in crowded areas. As a visitor to Colombia, you are by definition significantly wealthier than a vast majority of the population. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your wallet and phone in a front pocket or in a bag secured over your shoulder.

DON’T leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from anyone that you didn’t watch being opened or made by a bartender or delivered by a waiter. Scopolamine is a roofie-like drug that is used to make victims highly suggestable. According to Wikipedia, there is a debate over whether its effects are real. According to reports of hapless tourists who empty their bank accounts after having been dosed, it’s an experience you want to avoid. Better safe than sorry on this one.

DON’T come to Medellín and spend all of your time in El Poblado and Provenza. It’s a fun place to go out at night, but it’s a relatively expensive, decadent island in a large city with a lot more to offer.

DO take advantage of the many opportunities to experience the local culture. Go to a language exchange, take salsa or bachata lessons, or go to a fútbol game, making sure you are not wearing the wrong colors. Medellín has two teams. If you wear green to an Independiente game, you’re going to have a bad time.

DO go to a big shopping mall like Centro Commercial Santafé. Online shopping hasn’t really caught on in Colombia, and the shopping malls are huge and popular. Going to one is a cultural experience itself.

DO visit Medellín. It’s a vibrant city filled with arts and culture, good food from all over the world, and a hell of a party scene if you’re into that. The people on the whole are also very warm and welcoming, and the lush valley that holds it is beautiful.

As always, I don’t get paid for the links included in this post. They are there for your benefit.