Colombia
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
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 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
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 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.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:
- women travellers
- disabled travellers
- LGBT+ travellers
- solo and independent travel
- volunteering and adventure travel
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Update history
2025-04-18 02:04
Information on increased cases of yellow fever in Colombia (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Health’)
2025-04-15 11:14
Removal of information on border closure due to Ecuadorean elections(‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2025-04-11 23:06
Information on border closure due to Ecuadorean elections (Warnings and insurance page) (Entry Requirements page)
2025-02-26 20:20
“FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Norte de Santander Department following declaration of a state of emergency on 24 January and attacks by illegal armed groups in Cúcuta on 19 February (see ‘Warnings and insurance’ page).”
2025-02-12 14:53
Removal of information on land border closures with Ecuador from 8 to 10 February 2025 (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-02-07 14:57
Addition of information on land border closures with Ecuador from 8 to 10 February 2025 due to presidential elections (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-02-04 15:32
This travel advice was reviewed for accuracy and reissued without any significant updates.
2024-09-09 12:33
Information on the COP16 Biodiversity Conference in Cali from 21 October to 1 November (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-18 14:51
Information on water rationing in Bogota (‘Regional risks’ page).
2024-03-11 15:14
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-02-28 13:59
Information about a restriction of movement for those aged 17 and under in some areas of Medellin (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-26 20:21
Update on wildfires in Colombia (Summary Page)
2024-01-26 17:58
Update on wildfires in Colombia (Safety and Security page).
2024-01-12 08:28
Update on crossing land border to Ecuador (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-10-23 16:14
Information on upcoming local elections (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-07-06 09:16
Removal of information on the evacuation of people away from Volcan Nevado del Ruiz (‘Natural disasters’ page).
2023-06-22 11:13
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-09 11:28
Updated information on COVID-19 vaccination requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-04-27 13:58
Updated information that altitude sickness is a risk in some parts of Colombia (‘Health’ page).
2023-04-18 15:13
Updated information that face masks continue to be mandatory in medical facilities and further information on the continued monitoring of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano by Colombian authorities (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2023-04-11 09:29
Clarification: the FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to the departments of Arauca and Guaviare (except their capital cities Arauca and San José de Guaviare); within 5km of the Venezuelan border, except the cities of Cúcuta, Arauca and Puerto Carreño; and within 5km of the Ecuadorian border, except for the border crossing on the Pan-American highway at the Puente Internacional de Rumichaca and the city of Ipiales. Read our advice for full list of areas where the FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel.
2023-04-01 04:04
Updated information on the raised alert level for Nevado del Ruiz volcano activity (‘Natural Disasters’ pages).
2022-12-20 13:25
Updated information on penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs. Addition of information on taking medication into Colombia (‘Local laws and customs’ and ‘Health’ pages).
2022-11-18 14:14
Removal of information on the election that took place in June 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2022-06-22 17:54
General security situation updated. Health emergency ending on 30 June 2022.
2022-06-18 16:11
Updated information on the increased security threat around Presidential elections including temporary land and sea borders closure.
2022-04-29 23:15
Updated information on Coronavirus rules (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2022-03-02 16:24
Removal of information on a strike between 23 and 26 February (‘Terrorism’ page)
2022-02-23 11:01
Update to ‘Terrorism’. The National Liberation Army (ELN) has announced a ‘national armed strike’ throughout Colombia from 6am on Wednesday 23 February to 6am on Saturday 26 February 2022.