Colombia Travel Risk Overview
Official US advisory · Level 3
Reconsider Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical baseline composite.
Is Colombia safe right now? Checked 15 October 2026
Colombia scores 70/100 on our travel risk index (Extreme). The US State Department rates Colombia Level 3 (Reconsider Travel, updated 31 Mar 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 6 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). CDC travel health notice: Level 2, Yellow Fever in Colombia (18 Sep 2026). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Colombia has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 70 out of 100 (extreme risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Colombia, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Colombia assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Colombia currently holds a baseline composite risk score of 70 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level of 3, accompanied by an active green flood alert. Recent safety headlines include a tsunami alert following a Panama earthquake, an earthquake impacting Ukumari Biopark, and a violent assault reported against a foreign visitor.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:15 UTC
How safe is Colombia to visit in 2026?
Colombia is currently under a US State Department Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 70/100 extreme baseline composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The full live US State Department advisory text for Colombia, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Bogotá, Cali, Barranquilla), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: security (80/100) and crime and scams (79/100).
Colombia's score of 70 is higher than the scores of 90% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Reconsider travelto Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Trave…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Colombia. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Colombia’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Colombia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Colombian Embassy in the UK (for English choose ‘Ingles’ from the drop down menu). Passport validity requirements To enter Colombia, your passport must be valid on entry. However, Colombian immigration authorities recommend your passport has an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Oct 6, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for Colombia within the last 7 days.
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France 24 · Oct 15
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The Herald Journal · Oct 14
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Anadolu Ajansı · Oct 14
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PROTEST Colombia Protest - GazetteXtraGazetteXtra · Oct 14
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Colombia Reports · Oct 14
What Changed This Month in Colombia
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Sep 30, 2026 GDACS Alert Green flood alert in Colombia (green).
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 12, 2026 Score Change Bucaramanga risk score moved from 61 to 62 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 11, 2026 Score Change Argelia risk score moved from 72 to 71 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 11, 2026 Score Change Almaguer risk score moved from 72 to 71 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in Colombia
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Colombia, ranked by demand and population.
Bogotá
Tier ABogotá
Cali
Tier AValle del Cauca
Barranquilla
Tier AAtlántico
Bucaramanga
Tier ASantander
Cartagena
Tier ABolívar
Medellín
Tier AAntioquia
Usme
Tier BBogotá
Ibagué
Tier BTolima
Santa Marta
Tier BMagdalena
Pasto
Tier BNariño
Pereira
Tier BRisaralda
Villavicencio
Tier BMeta
Chía
Tier BCundinamarca
Cúcuta
Tier BNorte de Santander
Buenaventura
Tier BValle del Cauca
Montería
Tier BCórdoba
Tuluá
Tier BValle del Cauca
Guarne
Tier BAntioquia
Calamar
Tier BBolívar
Sabana de Torres
Tier BSantander
Albania
Tier BLa Guajira
Sahagún
Tier BCórdoba
Soacha
Tier BCundinamarca
Armenia
Tier BQuindío
Maicao
Tier BLa Guajira
San Andrés de Sotavento
Tier BCórdoba
Túquerres
Tier BNariño
Villa de Leyva
Tier BBoyacá
Pitalito
Tier BHuila
Los Patios
Tier BNorte de Santander
Puerto Boyacá
Tier BBoyacá
Chimichagua
Tier BCesar
Guamal
Tier BMagdalena
Cumaral
Tier BMeta
El Rosal
Tier BCundinamarca
Toledo
Tier BNorte de Santander
Madrid
Tier BCundinamarca
Corozal
Tier BSucre
La Ceja
Tier BAntioquia
Pradera
Tier BValle del Cauca
Chinchiná
Tier BCaldas
Agustín Codazzi
Tier BCesar
Puerto Gaitán
Tier BMeta
Mahates
Tier BBolívar
Cáqueza
Tier BCundinamarca
Aquitania
Tier BBoyacá
Angelópolis
Tier BAntioquia
Chigorodó
Tier BAntioquia
Espinal
Tier BTolima
Calarcá
Tier BQuindío
Manaure
Tier BLa Guajira
San Agustín
Tier BHuila
Puebloviejo
Tier BMagdalena
Chiriguaná
Tier BCesar
Circasia
Tier BQuindío
Chocontá
Tier BCundinamarca
Hatonuevo
Tier BLa Guajira
Convención
Tier BNorte de Santander
La Apartada
Tier BCórdoba
Lejanías
Tier BMeta
All towns in Colombia (366 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Colombia
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 3 · Reconsider Travel
Colombia - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Colombia’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Colombia changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
Advice for women travellers
The British Embassy has received reports of criminals in Colombia using drugs to subdue their victims. This includes the use of scopolamine, which temporarily incapacitates victims. Criminals can administer drugs through food, drinks, cigarettes, aerosols and even paper flyers. Victims become disoriented quickly and are vulnerable to robbery, sexual assault, rape and other crimes.
Criminals use dating applications and websites to identify and lure foreign nationals who are travelling alone and looking to meet local people. Criminals work in teams, with women easing the victim into a false sense of security. Victims are incapacitated and robbed. Incidents have been reported in nightclubs, bars, restaurants, public transportation, including taxis, and on city streets. Do not accept invitations from strangers to their accommodation, and do not invite strangers to your accommodation.
Do not leave food or drinks unattended and do not take anything offered by strangers. These drugs can cause serious medical…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 6 Oct 2026. Full advice
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Colombia, but same-sex relationships are not widely accepted, especially in rural areas.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 6 Oct 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
Always carry a colour printout of the photo page and Colombian visa from your passport for identification. Keep the passport somewhere safe.
Alcohol
It is illegal to consume alcohol in public spaces.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
Colombia has severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs.
Colombian drug detection methods are sophisticated and anyone attempting to traffic drugs can expect to be arrested. British nationals have been arrested and detained for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. Prison conditions are harsh. Pack your own luggage and keep it with you at all times. Lock your cases to protect them from tampering. Never carry items for other people. Never exchange money for strangers, as this is a common practice among money launderers.
Spiritual cleansing
Traditional hallucinogenic tea, known as Yagé or Ayahuasca, is brewed and marketed to tourists as spiritual cleansing. The various preparations typically…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 6 Oct 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Colombia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Colombia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Colombian Embassy in the UK (for English choose ‘Ingles’ from the drop down menu).
Passport validity requirements
To enter Colombia, your passport must be valid on entry. However, Colombian immigration authorities recommend your passport has an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport…
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 6 Oct 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
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Green flood alert in Colombia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-09-30
On 26/09/2026, a flood started in Colombia, lasting until 14/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 15 displaced .
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:07:06 UTC
Health notices
CDC Traveler Health Notices
- Level 2 - Yellow Fever in Colombia (Level 2, 18 Sep 2026)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Domain).
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
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Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
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Level 2 - Yellow Fever in Colombia ALERT · 2026-09-18
An increased number of cases of yellow fever have been reported in Colombia.
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Colombia
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Ukumari Biopark Urges Visitors to Return After Colombia Earthquake
ColombiaOne.com · 1d ago
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Tsunami alert after Panama earthquake: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and 5 other countries at risk | Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times · 6d ago
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Aussie man stabbed 25 times in Colombia
News.com.au · 2d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:15:09 UTC
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Colombia
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- General Президентът на Панама след мощното земетресение : Страната е изправена пред голямо бедствие vesti.bg · Oct 10, 2026 06:45 UTC · via GDELT
- Disaster Natural Disaster Alert: Tsunami Warning (October 9, 2026) Colombia - U.S. Embassy in Colombia (.gov) co.usembassy.gov · Oct 9, 2026 23:01 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Protesters in Colombia rally against ties with Israel - Al Jazeera www.aljazeera.com · Oct 8, 2026 05:14 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics De La Espriella Sets Ground Rules for Indigenous Protest in Conflict Region - The City Paper Bogotá thecitypaperbogota.com · Oct 7, 2026 15:03 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Colombia’s new government backs fracking as debate over energy future heats up - Mongabay News news.mongabay.com · Oct 7, 2026 10:52 UTC · via Googlenews
- Disaster Colombia earthquake rescue operations continue with more than 224 dead - ABC7 San Francisco abc7news.com · Oct 6, 2026 19:10 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Colombia human rights update September 2026 - Justice For Colombia justiceforcolombia.org · Oct 6, 2026 11:23 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety Chips recalled because they were made in Colombia - Food Safety News www.foodsafetynews.com · Oct 2, 2026 23:56 UTC · via Googlenews
This country currently has a Level 3 US advisory. Compare the high-risk-country watchlist →
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Colombia
The most weather-stable two-month window for Colombia is August–September, when typical daily temperatures run from about 11°C to 20°C and monthly rain averages 26 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; April is the wettest typical month at about 169 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 26, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Bogotá
Embassy of Egypt and Embassy of El Salvador and 3 other embassies are mapped in Bogotá.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 123 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 125 |
| Fire | 119 |
| General emergency | 123 |
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colombia safe to visit right now?
Follow the current official advisory. The baseline composite is analytical context and does not weaken that decision. Composite baseline: 70/100 (Extreme risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Colombia?
The current US State Department advisory level for Colombia is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Colombia in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Colombia is 70/100 (Extreme risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Colombia?
City-specific files for Colombia are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Colombia were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Colombia?
August–September is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Colombia is August–September, when typical daily temperatures run from about 11°C to 20°C and monthly rain averages 26 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Colombia?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Community Safety Sentiment
Have you visited Colombia recently? What was your safety experience?
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.