Common Scams and Annoyances

Cartagena

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Common Scams and Annoyances

Although Cartagena is generally safe to visit, there are a few things to watch out for during your stay. People posing as police officers and asking to inspect your documents and money, supposedly to ensure their authenticity, are one common way of catching unsuspecting tourists off guard. If this happens to you, demand to be taken to the nearest police station, at which point the scammers will likely be spooked off. Street salespeople will often approach cafe and restaurant customers, both at outdoor terraces and even in indoor seating areas. The best course of action would be to thank them and carry on with your meal. When getting a cab, call an official company and order a taxi that'll arrive and pick you up, rather than just getting into the nearest one. Alternatively, use ride sharing apps like Uber that pre-calculate the total cost of the ride in advance. That way, you'll avoid being overcharged. Do not leave your drinks unattended and don't accept drinks or cigarettes from strangers. When ordering drinks, chose ones with no ice in them, or request to leave the ice out. Carry a photocopy of your passport, along with the page containing your entry stamp, along with you at all times. Never leave the hotel carrying all your money and valuables — have most of it stowed away in a secure location while you're out exploring.

Tourist Information