Colombia

Always carry a colour printout of the photo page and Colombian visa from your passport  for identification. Keep the passport somewhere safe.

It is illegal to consume alcohol in public spaces. 

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.

Traditional hallucinogenic tea, known as Yagé or Ayahuasca, is brewed and marketed to tourists as spiritual cleansing. The various preparations typically contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a strong hallucinogen that’s illegal in the UK and many other countries. 

There are many risks involved. Consumption is not regulated. Intoxicated travellers have been assaulted and robbed. There have also been reports of sexual assaults during these ceremonies. 

Health risks are not well understood and some people have suffered serious illnesses and in some cases death after taking these drugs. The jungle retreats are often a long way from medical facilities making the risks even greater. Some have basic medical services, but others do not. Some do not have an established plan for how you can access medical facilities in case of an emergency. 

Photographing military or strategic government sites is illegal. 

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. 

You can exchange US dollars and euros at banks and authorised money exchanges. Do not change money on the street.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. Keep the receipts in case you need to show customs what money you have spent when you leave. 

Although uncommon, hurricanes and tropical storms can affect the Caribbean coast and the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina. 

Monitor local news and check World Meteorological Organization weather reports for Colombia, the US National Hurricane Center, and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) (in Spanish).

There is a high risk of earthquakes across Colombia. Earthquakes occur regularly, particularly in Santander Department and the Andean Region.  

Familiarise yourself with safety procedures and any instructions in your hotel or accommodation. 

If an earthquake happens, monitor local media reports, follow instructions from the authorities and keep essential belongings, such as your passport and money, with you.  

Get real-time information (in Spanish) following an earthquake from: 

• National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) 
• Colombia’s Geological Services 

You can find a real-time earthquake map and further information about earthquakes in Colombia from Colombia’s Geological Services. 

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.  

There is a risk of floods and landslides after heavy rains throughout Colombia, especially in the Colombian Andes. Get local advice before travelling on mountain roads after heavy rain. 

There are 25 active and monitored volcanoes in Colombia. Check the latest daily bulletins about volcanic activity (in Spanish).

If you are in areas of volcanic activity, monitor the Servicio Geológico Colombiano for any updates or alerts.

Notify friends and family of your location, stay alert, and follow any advice from local security authorities or your travel operator. Be prepared to make travel arrangements or follow evacuation plans at short notice.

Check before travelling on the Pan-American highway, which passes near a volcano. Call 767 for information (in Spanish) from the Colombian Highway Police about road closures.