Is Popayán safe? Colombia travel risk
Is Popayán safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Popayán 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 15 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). The US State Department rates Cauca, where Popayán is, Level 4: Do Not Travel, higher than Colombia overall (Level 3). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. CDC travel health notice: Level 2, Yellow Fever in Colombia (18 Sep 2026). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Popayán scores 70/100 (Extreme). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and Colombia (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Popayán: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.
Driven by: security (84/100) and crime and scams (79/100).
A score of 70 is higher than the scores of 90% of the 241 countries we cover.
Consult the Colombia travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.
Geographic & Regional Coordinates
In the Cauca territory, Popayán is established at 2.4542° N, 76.6092° W. It lies 377.1 km NE relative to Bogotá. Time zone observed: America/Bogota.
Cauca
2.4542° N, 76.6092° W
1760 m
America/Bogota
300,837
Emergency & Aviation Access
Nearby Towns & Settlements in Colombia
Natural Hazard Calendar & History
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Volcanoes | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Popayán happened in October and December (2 of 2 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
CDC Traveler Health Notices for Colombia
- Level 2 - Yellow Fever in Colombia (Level 2, 18 Sep 2026)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Domain).
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Colombia travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Colombia entry requirements.
Evaluated Destinations in this Region
Questions travellers ask about Popayán
Is Popayán safe to visit?
Popayán currently scores 70/100 on our composite travel risk index (extreme risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Colombia (Level 3 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Popayán · Methodology
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