Colombia Travel Risk

Reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Violent crime is common in many areas of Colombia, including murder, assault, and robbery. Other crimes, such as drugging, extortion, kidnapping, and armed break-ins—including at hotels and other places tourists stay—also occur frequently in some regions.

Street crime occurs throughout Colombia and can quickly become violent. If you are targeted by criminals, do not resist. Police procedures and investigations in Colombia differ from those in the United States, and crimes against tourists are not always prosecuted. This can be a source of frustration for victims.

Terrorism

There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism to learn more.

Terrorists in Colombia may attack with little or no warning and target:

• U.S. government facilities
• Local government facilities
• Tourist areas and attractions
• Transportation centers
• Shopping malls and markets
• Military and police facilities
• Hotels
• Clubs
• Restaurants
• Airports

Do Not Travel to:

Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali) and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Temporary deployment of security forces in the city of Cucuta

On 29 October, President de la Espriella ordered the temporary deployment of security forces in the city of Cucuta. Further security measures are expected in the coming days. Travellers should plan ahead, follow advice of local authorities, and see the ‘Safety and security’ pages.

Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel

Colombia-Venezuela border and northern Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• all of Norte de Santander Department, including Cúcuta.
• all of Arauca Department
• the municipality of Puerto Carreño in Vichada Department
• within 5km of the rest of the border with Venezuela.

FCDO currently advises against all travel to Venezuela’s border regions with Colombia. You should not use any of the Colombia-Venezuela land crossings.

Pacific coast and Colombia-Panama border

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• Chocó Department, except for the department capital Quibdó, the towns of Nuquí and Bahía Solano and Capurganá
• the western part of Valle del Cauca Department, including Buenaventura
• the municipality of Jamundí, Valle del Cauca
• the South Pacific, Sanquianga and Telembi regions of Nariño Department
• the southern part of Córdoba Department
• the Urabá and Bajo Cauca regions of Antioquia Department
• the southern part of Bolívar Department

Central Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• all of Guaviare Department, except for the department capital San José del Guaviare
• Cartagena del Chairá, San Vicente del Caguan, Puerto Rico, El Doncello, Paujil and La Montañita in Caquetá Department
• the Ariari region of southern Meta, except for Caño Cristales

If travelling to the tourist site of Caño Cristales, travel by air from the town of La Macarena with a reputable tour company.

Colombia-Ecuador border and southern Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 5km of the border with Ecuador except for:

• all of Cauca Department, except for the department capital Popayán
• the border crossing on the Pan-American highway at the Puente Internacional de Rumichaca
• the city of Ipiales in Nariño Department

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Orito, San Miguel, Valle del Guamuez, Puerto Caicedo, Puerto Guzmán, Puerto Asis and Puerto Leguizamo in Putumayo Department.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Colombia

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Colombia.

Armed groups

Despite the landmark peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, many armed groups remain active throughout the country.

These groups may attack with little or no warning. The focus is predominantly in areas where there are active illicit economies and narco-trafficking but attacks have historically targeted some tourist locations, including:

• transportation hubs including airports
• markets and shopping malls
• local government facilities
• hotels, clubs and restaurants
• places of worship
• parks and other public areas
• major sporting and cultural events
• educational institutions

Police and military personnel and installations are frequently targeted, including in large cities.

Past methods of attack have included car bombs, grenade and drone attacks, and explosive devices left in buildings and on main roads. Stay alert and follow the advice of the local security authorities.

Regularly reassess your security arrangements and consider carefully any travel around the country.

This section has safety advice for regions of Colombia. It only covers regions where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.

Colombia-Venezuela border and northern Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander Department
• all of Arauca Department, except for the department capital, Arauca
• the municipality of Puerto Carreño in Vichada Department, except for the department capital, Puerto Carreño
• within 5km of the rest of the border with Venezuela, except for the city of Cúcuta

FCDO currently advises against all travel to Venezuela’s border regions with Colombia. You should not use any of the Colombia-Venezuela land crossings.

Pacific coast and Colombia-Panama border

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• Chocó Department, except for the department capital Quibdó, the whale-watching towns of Nuquí and Bahía Solano and the tourist site of Capurganá
• the western part of Valle del Cauca Department, including Buenaventura
• the municipality of Jamundí, Valle del Cauca
• the western part of Cauca Department
• the South Pacific, Sanquianga and Telembi regions of Nariño Department
• the southern part of Córdoba Department
• the Urabá and Bajo Cauca regions of Antioquia Department
• the southern part of Bolívar Department

The Pacific coast of Chocó is a popular eco-tourist destination. However, much of Chocó is remote. Illegal armed groups are active and involved in the drugs trade throughout the department and particularly near the border with Panama. If you intend to travel to the whale-watching towns of Bahia Solano and Nuqui, only do so by air and do not travel inland or along the coast out of town.

Darien Gap

The ‘Darien Gap’ is a dangerous area renowned for the presence of several illegal armed groups, illegal migration and drugs trafficking. There’s no road crossing between Colombia and Panama. Avoid crossing between Panama and Colombia by land.

Colombia-Ecuador border and southern Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 5km of the border with Ecuador except for:

• the border crossing on the Pan-American highway at the Puente Internacional de Rumichaca
• the city of Ipiales in Nariño Department

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Orito, San Miguel, Valle del Guamuez, Puerto Caicedo, Puerto Guzmán, Puerto Asis and Puerto Leguizamo in Putumayo Department.

Central Colombia

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• all of Guaviare Department, except for the department capital San José de Guaviare
• Cartagena del Chairá, San Vicente del Caguan, Puerto Rico, El Doncello, Paujil and La Montañita in Caquetá Department
• the Ariari region of southern Meta, except for Caño Cristales

If travelling to the tourist site of Caño Cristales, travel by air from the town of La Macarena with a reputable tour company.

Partial regional extract; read the full official section.

Risk level

Colombia - Exercise a high degree of caution

Exercise a high degree of caution in Colombia due to high levels of crime.

Regional risks

Border areas - Avoid all travel

Avoid all travel to the following departments and border areas due to the risk of kidnapping and violence posed by the presence of illegal armed groups and other criminal organizations, with exclusions where you should avoid non-essential travel:

• Arauca
• Caquetá, excluding the city of Florencia
• Cauca, excluding the city of Popayan
• Cesar, in the municipalities of González and Río de Oro
• Chocó, excluding the towns of: Bahía Solano Capurganá Nuquí
• within 50 km of the border with Venezuela, excluding the city of Cúcuta
• within 100 km of the border with Panama
• within 50 km of the border with Ecuador, excluding the border crossing at Ipiales
• Norte de Santander, excluding the city of Cúcuta
• the Port of Tumaco and the city of Buenaventura

Regional advisory - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the following departments, cities and border areas due to drug-related criminal activity by illegal armed groups and other criminal organizations:

• Amazonas, within 20 km of the border with Peru, west of Puerto Narino
• Antioquia, the area along the border with Choco department that is north of highway 60 and west of highway 62 and all areas north of the city of Buriticá
• Córdoba, in the Paramillo National Natural Park
• city of Cúcuta
• city of Florencia
• city of Ipiales and Ipiales border crossing
• city of Popayan
• Guainía
• Guaviare
• Meta, excluding: Caño Cristales city of Villavicencio
• Nariño, excluding the city of Pasto
• Putumayo
• the following towns in Chocó: Bahía Solano Capurganá Nuquí
• Valle del Cauca, excluding the cities of: Buga Cali Palmira
• Vaupés
• Vichada

If you intend to travel to any of the above excluded areas, do so by air.

Island of Providencia and the town of San Andrés - Take normal security precautions

Take normal security precautions in the island of Providencia and in the town of San Andrés on the island of San Andrés.

Land border crossings with Ecuador

Most land border crossings with Ecuador are closed until further notice. Only the Rumichaca International Bridge, near Ipiales-Tulcán, remains open.

Online dating applications

There has been an increase in deaths related to online dating applications used by criminals to identify and lure foreigners looking to meet people in Colombia.

Incidents occur most frequently in larger cities, including but not limited to:

• Bogota
• Cartagena
• Medellin

Online dating applications are often used by criminals to identify and lure foreigners travelling alone and looking to meet local people. Victims often build virtual relationships and attend multiple dates with the same person, often in public places. Once trust is established, the victim is drugged with scopolamine or another incapacitating drug and is robbed and/or kidnapped. Drugging of victims has led to overdose and death.

If you are in Colombia:

• be cautious if using online dating apps
• avoid meetings in isolated locations
• don’t bring new acquaintances to your accommodations
• inform a family member or friend of your plans, including details of with whom and where your date is

哥伦比亚现有红色(极高风险)地区1个，为北桑坦德省；橙色(高风险)地区共18个，分别为阿劳卡省、桑坦德省、博亚卡省、梅塔省、托利马省、乌伊拉省、里萨拉尔达省、安蒂奥基亚省、瓜希拉省、纳里尼奥省、塞萨尔省、马格达莱娜省、苏克雷省、乔科省、玻利瓦尔省、考卡省、考卡山谷省、卡克塔省。

外交部提醒中国公民近期暂勿前往哥伦比亚北桑坦德省，已在当地人员和机构尽快撤离。谨慎前往阿劳卡省等18省，已在当地的人员和机构密切关注局势发展，保持高度警惕，加强安全防范和应急准备，确保人身和财产安全。在其他地区的人员也要加强防范,注意安全。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并联系中国驻当地使领馆取得联系。

外交部和驻外使领馆将继续密切关注海外安全形势变化，动态调整有关风险评估,并实时在中国领事服务网等平台发布、更新相应安全提醒,请持续关注。