· In my experience Colombia is perfectly safe for tourists, particularly if ypou confine your visit to the northern Caribbean coastal strip from Cartagena to Santa Marta. This area is largely free from guerrilla and paramilitary problems and you will enjoy fantastic value for money without the tourist hordes of other Latin destinations.

Cartagena is a beautiful 16th-century colonial port city and boat trips can be taken to the nearby Rosario islands (fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling). Further along the coast around Santa Marta is Tayrona National Park, where the rainforest falls down mountainous terrain onto pristine sandy beaches. Good value accommodation is available in the park, from hammocks to thatched cottages.

The adventurous can take a three-day trek to the 14th-century ruins of Ciudad Perdidad, "the lost city" high up in the Sierra Madre. A truly magical place, it can only be reached on foot.

Bogota is also worth a visit. As in all Latin American cities, sensible precautions need to be taken - and basic Spanish helps. A good itinerary would be London-Bogota-Cartagena by air, and bus to Santa Marta for a two-week holiday. The best time to visit is November-March.
Chris Fletcher

· Hotel Playpus in Bogota (Calle 16 N 2-43, tel: 0057 1 3413104/3520127, platypushotel@yahoo.com) is safe and friendly. The owner, German Escobar, speaks five languages and can give up-to-date information on the political situation as well as help with travel arrangements.
Marj Cook

· Since many of the roads are dangerous, it is best to travel by plane. Avianca offers a highly discounted Colombian Pass when you book your transatlantic trip. If you do travel by road, avoid the one from Cali to Pasto along the border with Ecuador, from Bogota to Medellin and Medellin to the Caribbean coast, and don't travel by night. Also avoid the cheapest hotels; you are likely to be robbed and approached for some "white stuff".
Mario Giraldo

· I am a young white female and travelled solo through Colombia. I did find Bogota a little scary, but it's worth going to visit the Gold Museum. Take a good guide book. I would recommend the South American Handbook from the Footprint series. If it tells you not to do something, don't do it.
Sheila Wilson

· Greetings! It may be of some help and a boost to your confidence when I tell you that my 23-year old niece has "bagpacked" her way with a girl friend to the USA, on to Hawaii, NZ and Australia, with absolutely no problems. Encouraged by that trip, and to the great concern of her mother, my niece then did Mexico and other areas, again no problems.

She is doing it again, she is now on her way from Guatemala (learning Spanish), and on her way to Mexico, Eucador etc. etc. for 18 months. She emails and phones regularly so we know where she is.

The only problems she has had have been fellow hostellers (male) and the odd Latin American, who, as she says, she gets rid of with a smiling "get lost". The locals are very friendly and protective, but I'm sure female intuition will warnl you of adverse situations, and of course a little local lingo helps a lot!

Lots of luck with your trip, a safe journey, and a Very Happy Holiday!
Pat Sham

· Before travelling to Colombia I think you seriously need to do some research. Although it is an extremely beautiful country, it is also extremely dangerous. If you look at most countries department of foreign affairs there is currently a travel warning to Colombia due to increase violence and political upheaval. There is an election this May with all reports indicating that there will escalating incidence of violence until the election. The company I work for has a large project in Colombia, and we monitor the situation daily through our security team in Bogota. My advice would be not to travel to Colombia in the near future!
Stacey Schorr

· I never found Colombia dangerous because I was a woman. It can be dangerous in other ways. My experiences however are from the early mid-nineties and from what I gather, things have got a bit rougher now. But this is not gender or tourist related.

I live in Hackney in London, so I follow the same rules abroad as I do locally e.g. being aware of my surroundings, taking cabs from known firms at night, planning night time travel well, not flouting my jewelry etc.

Try not to be a very conspicuous "gringa" - tourist - the more you blend in the better. Dress down, but not too scruffy, people in Latin America take pride in their clothes - however poor they might be - so it is respectful not to be mega shabby.

Research your routes prior to travel - some areas in the country are occupied by guerillas or other soldiers. Some other areas are susceptible to hijacking and roadblocks. Do not assume that a military person working for the government is better than a military person working against the government. Ask people - locals and other fellow travelers they will know. Ask several people because you might get varying answers.

Avoid night time travel - especially on buses.

Keep your money hidden in various places of your body including some money in case you do get mugged so that the muggers are kept happy!

Keep photocopies of your passport & insurance policies in various places in your luggage & clothes.

Lock your luggage and keep an eye on it when travelling. When riding open buses I tend to put my ruck sack in a black litter bag - so that its less visible.

I generally keep stuff such as passport etc. in the hostel safe.

When travelling in Latin America one tends to do very long bus journeys which are tiring so I try to avoid arriving in a place in the middle of the night and then having to find lodging because that makes me very vulnerable. If this is unavoidable however, I tend to leave my luggage in the deposit at the station, then I buy a coffee, freshen up in the toilets and then hit the town to search for lodging. Booking in advance & cabbing it from the station might be better, but I was on a budget. Bogota bus station had a very secure computerised taxi system when I was there in 1994.
Marian Farrugia