Is it safe to drink the tap water in Colombia?
It is a question that I get asked, as well as one I ask. So I decided to get the answer today, kind of.
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First, I will tell you that in most places here in Colombia, you can drink tap water; there are only a few places where you are advised not to drink. Ok, I drink the tap water, I will provide information and you can make the decision to drink, or not drink!
The major cities where it is safe to drink include Medellín and Bogotá. As well as in some smaller towns, such as Jericó and Jardín.
If you are going off the beaten path to a more rural area, the locals may advise you to drink bottled water or you can boil the water. In the town of San Carlos (where I lived for a yea), in the town, you can drink water from the tap.
Once you are up in the mountains, where we lived, we would boil it before we consumed it. That said, I do drink from the tap and have never gotten sick. I asked the locals, and they said it is safe to drink; my boyfriend does not drink it from the tap.
My recommendation is to ask the locals: ¿Puedo beber el agua?
Most of the time, they will tell you the best answer, and I have been told not to drink the water, and the locals will say most foreigners get sick, so don’t drink it.
Then I will buy bottled water. If they say yes, other foreigners drink it, which is usually fine. Most of the locals I ask are at the hostels and in the tourism business, so they will give you the best answer.
Now, let’s talk about the most critical part. Where can I NOT drink the water?
The coast. It includes cities such as Santa Marta, Cartagena, Palomino, Minca, and any town on the beach.
I have read conflicting information online regarding Cartagena. Some sources say it is ok to drink the water; however, my boyfriend and his friend agree they would not drink the tap water there. Also, I got sick once from drinking water on the coast, so I would not drink it anywhere along the coast.
I always like to share a local point of view. In my case, it is my boyfriend, as he is from Colombia. I must add a caveat: I am a bit more risk-taker than my boyfriend. I ask about the water and usually drink it if they tell me locals do.
I understand most people are like my boyfriend. So when I asked him about drinking water, he sent me the official rules, as I would expect no less from him.
Because, honestly, a lot of what I looked up had conflicting answers. I would instead provide you with the official information, which is the following.
And as always, I like to provide my opinion, his opinion, and the official’s opinions!
Do not drink water from these regions. The levels of the quality of Water. This one is a DO NOT DRINK!
I would not drink this second one either. It states Water is not suitable for human consumption, the responsibility of the entity providing the service.
The next level is a lower risk and states water is not fit for human consumption but capable of improvement. If you are someone who gets sick easily, do not drink, but it is at your own risk.
Yet with this warning, you will see almost everyone in Bogotá drinking tap water. They most likely have the microbes built up in their stomach, and I also drank the tap water in Bogotá without issues.
The next level is drinkable.
So when you know which area you are visiting, you have a guide to refer to. Typically if you are in a hotel, or hostel and the water is not drinkable, they will provide filtered water for you.
This list obviously does not cover every city or town in Colombia. As stated above, ask if you can drink the water; I have never been led astray!
So do not forget your water bottle, with or without a filter, and enjoy!
XOXO
S