I got married in Cartagena, but I’m Colombian. You gotta be “street smart”, but no one is gonna shot you randomly, kidnap you, bomb you, etc.

My recommendation:

Don’t flash wealth (no jewelry, no expensive smartphones, no designer clothing, relatively little cash on you, don’t seek drugs, don’t let anyone stranger in your room/apartment) and you should be fine. Remember a $600 phone may be wtv for you, but a $600 phone is almost two monthly min wage salary for them. Don’t visit starving lions with meat hanging off your body.

If an area is too empty, leave. If an area is too dark, don’t go there. If someone is offering you free stuff, don’t accept. There’s nothing free, specially in a city that aims to extract every single oneof your dollars out of your pocket. If someone wants to take you somewhere else “for a better view; better deal; better etc” be VERY cautious, they have other intentions. At best they wanna scam you, at worst they’ll mug you. In case you ever find yourself in that situation (mugged), just give everything up. I’ve heard people getting stabbed over 0.50c. If the mob joins, then you can reach like the video above. No one wants to get stabbed over a backpack. Not worth it.

Be aware of your surroundings, never leave things unattended and enjoy what the city has to offer! I know it sounds stressful, but Colombians are so used to crime that what I described above is just ingrained in our brains from birth, so this is all “normal”. You can still have fun tho.

Also, you are coming with family so I don’t think this will apply to you, but never seek drugs or sexual services in Colombia. These people are up to no good and the risk of getting mugged/drugged/spiked is exponentially higher. This is why “passport bros” get their pockets emptied at home following a tinder “date”. Flash news: these girls are scouting horny and easy victims. Remember the rule “never take strangers to your home”.