US issues Colombia travel advisory

The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá warned Americans on April 27 to avoid parts of southwestern Colombia after 26 attacks killed at least 20 people over one weekend. (co.usembassy.gov) The embassy said the attacks on April 25 targeted transportation corridors, military installations, and police stations in southwestern Colombia. It told travelers that Cauca and Valle del Cauca, outside Popayán and Cali, are “unsafe for travelers.” (co.usembassy.gov) That warning tracks with the State Department’s current Colombia advisory, reissued March 31, which keeps the country at Level 3: “Reconsider travel.” It separately says Americans should not travel to Cauca, excluding Popayán, or Valle del Cauca, excluding Cali, because of crime and terrorism. (travel.state.gov) The State Department advisory also flags Arauca, Norte de Santander, and the Colombia-Venezuela border zone as places Americans should avoid. It says violent crime, kidnapping, extortion, and attacks with explosives can hit tourist areas, hotels, roads, airports, and shopping centers. (travel.state.gov) Britain updated its own Colombia travel advice on April 28 after explosive attacks in Cauca, Valle de Cauca, and Nariño between April 24 and April 27. The Foreign Office said travel insurance can be invalidated if travelers go against official advice. (gov.uk) The latest violence comes as Colombia’s security picture has worsened in 2026. Reporting tied to Indepaz data said the Cajibío bombing in Cauca was counted as the country’s 47th massacre of the year, and El País reported 48 massacres and 229 deaths by April 27. (vanguardia.com) (elpais.com) Human Rights Watch said explosive-device injuries and killings in Colombia were already rising sharply before this month’s attacks, with United Nations data showing 544 civilians injured or killed by explosive devices between January and August 2025. (hrw.org) For travelers, the immediate change is not a brand-new nationwide U.S. ban but a sharper warning tied to a fresh burst of attacks in regions already marked high risk. The embassy told Americans to stay alert near police stations, military sites, and main roads, and to keep a low profile. (co.usembassy.gov) (travel.state.gov) The practical message is narrower than “don’t go to Colombia” and broader than one city or one bombing. U.S. and British officials are both telling travelers to check region-by-region advice before crossing Colombia’s southwest. (travel.state.gov) (gov.uk)