Malecón

Waterfront promenade with ocean views and breezes, but extreme harassment. Visit daytime only, preferably Sunday mornings when families are out. Avoid completely after dark - pickpocketing, drinking crowds, and safety issues.

A 14-kilometer waterfront promenade along the Caribbean Sea with ocean views and breezes that cut the heat and humidity. During daylight, especially at sunrise and sunset, families stroll, joggers exercise, and locals hang out by the water. Sundays it's car-free with vendors, street performers, and families. The atmosphere changes completely after dark when bars and clubs open and a party crowd shows up. The catcalling and harassment from men (often drinking) on the seawalls is relentless and exhausting. You can't walk more than a few steps without whistles, comments, and unwanted attention. Police are nearby but the harassment is so normalized they don't intervene unless things escalate. At night, pickpocketing increases and the combination of alcohol, crowds, and poorly lit sections makes it genuinely unsafe for women alone. The area near the Colonial Zone is somewhat better during early evening, but as you walk west toward residential areas, lighting decreases and it gets more isolated. If you want to see the waterfront, visit mid-morning or early afternoon. Bring sunscreen and water. Mentally prepare for constant harassment. Sunglasses and headphones help create a barrier but don't eliminate it. Skip the Malecón entirely after 7pm unless you're with a group.