Colombia travel advice

Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)

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: 

• 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.

From FCDO: warnings and insurance.

Passport validity

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 entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.