Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
The U.S. State Department is warning American citizens against travel to Colombia, suggesting that they defer plans to visit the country.
On April 17, the State Department increased the travel advisory level for Colombia to Level 3: Reconsider Travel. In formulating the advisory level, the Department cited “crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.” The Department issued Level 4: Do Not Travel warnings for Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander due to crime and terrorism, and also for the Colombia-Venezuela border, citing crime, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of detention.
The State Department notes that the border between Colombia and Venezuela is not clearly marked, and it’s possible to inadvertently enter Venezuela in the region. The State Department warns that Americans who have entered Venezuela have been arrested on terrorism charges and held for long periods in that country. The U.S. currently rates Venezuela Level 4: Do Not Travel.
The State Department’s latest warning for Colombia outlines the risks of terrorist or organized crime attacks, political demonstrations, and steps American citizens can take to remain safe if they elect to travel. U.S. government employees in particular are prohibited from going to the country’s land borders, using motorcycles, or using public transportation that isn’t prearranged.
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Country information sheets for Colombia issued by diplomatic officials in both Canada and the United Kingdom offered much of the same advice. All three countries have similar warnings against travel to the same regions of the country where crime and terrorism have been widely reported, but perspectives on travel to other parts of Colombia are disparate.
Canada recommends travelers exercise a high degree of caution, which is roughly analogous to the U.S. State Department’s Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. The U.K.’s Foreign Office does not advise travelers to reconsider travel to the country, except for high crime or terrorism areas, where the higher “avoid all but essential travel” warning applies.
The U.K.’s Foreign Office also provides further historical context for its rating: “Colombia has suffered from internal armed conflict for over 50 years. In 2016, Colombia’s then-President Juan Manuel Santos signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) movement to end the civil war. The peace agreement is still in place today, but Colombia remains seriously affected by conflict.”
Kidnapping risk in Colombia affects both Colombians and foreign visitors. Early last month, 29 law enforcement officers were kidnapped in the country’s southwest and were only freed after local officials negotiated their release with armed dissidents who do not recognize the 2016 peace deal with the country’s government.
Separately, all three countries warned travelers about increased Yellow Fever cases in Colombia. The U.S. State Department warns that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted the increase in cases, and advises travelers to speak to their health providers about a vaccine before traveling to the country. If a vaccine is advised, they should be vaccinated at least 10 days before traveling.
Colombia and Guyana are currently the only countries in South America rated Level 3: Reconsider Travel, by the State Department. French Guiana, Suriname, Paraguay, and Argentina are rated Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, while the remaining countries on the continent are rated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.
U.S. citizens traveling abroad can register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which will allow them to provide contact information for their travels abroad so consular officials can send updates on the security situations, health, weather, and other safety topics affecting their travel. Providing contact information also gives consular officials a method for contacting them in emergency situations such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
