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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.
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 my town of San Carlos, in the town, you can drink water from the tap.
Once you are up in the mountains where we live, we boil it before we consume it. With 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…