Most visits are trouble-free. 

It is advised against all travel to the departments of Putumayo, Arauca, Nariño (excluding Pasto), and Norte de Santander (excluding Cucuta); to the towns of Buenaventura and San José del Guaviare and the areas surrounding them; and to the Parque Nacional Natural de La Macarena in the department of Meta.

It is advised against all but essential travel to the rural areas of Cauca, Huila (including to San Agustin and the Parque Arqueologico San Agustin), Caqueta, Guaviare, southern and western Valle de Cauca, southern Tolima, southern parts of Meta, Chocó, northwest Antioquia, northeastern Boyacá, Córdoba, Sucre, southern Bolívar and southern Cesar departments. It is also advised against all but essential travel to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (including the ‘Lost City'). Six tourists were kidnapped from Nuqui in the province of Choco on 13 January 2008, reportedly by the FARC.

Activity by illegal armed groups in many parts of Colombia remains intense, including in parts of the country we do not advise against all travel to. On 2 September 2007, 10 soldiers were killed by the FARC in the area bordering Quindio and Tolima. Several others were injured. And on April 9 2007, a bomb exploded outside the Police Headquarters in Cali killing one person and injuring others.

Visitors should be aware that the security situation in Colombia is constantly changing and that you could be at serious risk in parts of the country not included in the list above. If it is essential for you to travel, you should review your security arrangements.

There is a high threat of terrorism in Colombia. Visitors should be vigilant, particularly when visiting or staying in public places used by foreigners, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping malls and in the vicinity of government buildings and military establishments. Roads, bridges and power supplies are also targeted.

There is a serious risk of kidnapping and crime throughout most parts of the country, including major cities. It is advised to avoid all unnecessary travel to deprived areas of all Colombian cities.

When travelling in rural areas it is strongly advised to follow local warnings about the presence of landmines.

On 17 January 2008, the Galeras volcano in Nariño Department erupted. The alert level is currently Level 2 (possible eruption within days or weeks) and the area surrounding the volcano has been evacuated. Any travellers in Nariño Department (with the exception of the city of Pasto) should pay careful attention to all warnings issued and follow the advice of the local Colombian authorities.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel