The US State Department tells travelers to reconsider travel to Colombia, and that includes Bogotá. At Safe to Go, we re-check these advisories every day, and Bogotá is not on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) list of areas to avoid.
The live panel above displays the current advisory status for Colombia from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The FCDO warnings that name Bogotá are about pickpocketing, mugging, armed robbery and criminals posing as police.
What Travel Advisories Say About Bogotá Specifically
The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) explicitly names Bogotá in its warnings on violent street crime. According to the UK FCDO Colombia travel advice, pickpocketing, mugging, and armed robbery are a problem in major cities, specifically naming Bogotá alongside Medellín, Cali, and the Caribbean coast.
The UK advisory notes that British nationals have faced armed robbery at gunpoint within the Candelaria area of Bogotá. The US Department of State Colombia travel advisory says violent crime, including murder, assault and robbery, is common in many areas of Colombia, and that drugging, extortion, kidnapping and armed break-ins at hotels occur frequently in some regions. The State Department warns that street crime happens throughout the country and can turn violent quickly.
The Government of Canada Colombia travel advice asks travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Colombia, with regional advisories for some areas.
How Bogotá Compares with Regional Avoid Zones
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several defined regions of the country. These regional avoidance zones include the entire department of Norte de Santander including Cúcuta, all of Arauca, the municipality of Puerto Carreño in Vichada, and territory within 5 kilometres of the Venezuela border. The same advice covers Chocó Department (except Quibdó, Nuquí, Bahía Solano and Capurganá), western Valle del Cauca including Buenaventura, Jamundí, southern Córdoba, the Urabá and Bajo Cauca regions of Antioquia, and southern Bolívar.
The UK FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to Guaviare Department, parts of Caquetá, the Ariari region of southern Meta, and sections of Putumayo and Cauca. Caño Cristales is excluded, and the FCDO says to reach it by air from La Macarena with a reputable tour company. Our Is Colombia safe? guide covers these regions in more detail.
Street Crime Risks and Tourist Scams in the City
A documented scam in Bogotá involves criminals impersonating police officers. The UK FCDO reports that these impostors approach foreign visitors and demand to inspect their cash under the pretence of checking for counterfeit banknotes. If approached by someone claiming to be police who asks to inspect your money, ask them to escort you to the nearest local police station (CAI or Centro de Atención Inmediata).
Violent crime warnings from the US State Department emphasize that victims should never resist an armed robbery attempt. The advisory notes that police procedures and legal investigations in Colombia differ from those in the United States, and crimes committed against foreign tourists are not always prosecuted.
- Do not resist if criminals target you, because the US says street crime can quickly become violent.
- Decline street cash inspections and insist on walking to a CAI police station.
- Review your habits using our free travel safety checklist before walking through urban centres.
Authorised Airport Taxis and Protest Road Closures
El Dorado International Airport allows only authorized taxis to pick up passengers directly at its terminal buildings. These authorized taxis are yellow vehicles equipped with white licence plates, displaying licence numbers prominently on both the exterior doors and the roof. Inside the vehicle, the driver’s identification and official information must be posted visibly. Well-known taxi companies can also be booked through ride-hailing apps.
Political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and often start at short notice. Both the US and UK governments caution that protests can shut down highways, close roads without notice, cut access to public transit, and turn violent. Avoid all public demonstrations, strikes, and large political crowds.
Terrorism and Armed Group Activity in Major Cities
The UK FCDO says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Colombia. Despite the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), multiple armed groups and narcotrafficking organizations remain active throughout the country.
The US State Department and the UK FCDO warn that police and military installations and personnel are frequent targets of attacks, including inside large cities. Historical attacks have involved car bombs, grenades, drone-deployed explosives, and explosive devices left along main roads or in buildings. While armed conflict predominantly impacts rural areas tied to the drug trade, attacks have historically occurred at commercial centres, transportation hubs, hotels, restaurants, clubs, markets, and public parks.
The US State Department says illegal armed groups use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines in remote areas where they fight government forces, and civilians could be harmed unintentionally. Foreign visitors should remain vigilant in high-traffic public venues and follow all security directives issued by local Colombian police and military authorities.
How to Check Bogotá’s Advisories Before You Fly
British nationals can review updates through the UK FCDO Colombia travel advice, while Canadian travellers can consult the Government of Canada Colombia travel advice.
To review how regional safety warnings compare across other destinations in Colombia, consult our Is Medellín safe? and Is Cartagena safe? guides. Review the live advisory panel above before departure.