Is Bogotá safe to visit right now? (November 2026)

Travel advisories for Colombia

What the advice says

• The US State Department advisory for Colombia is Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, dated 2026-03-31; this advisory applies at the country level, not specifically to Bogotá.
• The UK FCDO notes that armed groups remain active throughout Colombia despite the 2016 peace agreement with FARC, and attacks have historically targeted transportation hubs, markets, hotels, restaurants, and other public areas; police and military installations are frequently targeted, including in large cities.
• Pickpocketing, mugging, and armed robbery are described as a problem in major cities including Bogotá, and British nationals have been robbed at gunpoint specifically in the Candelaria area of Bogotá.
• The FCDO advises travelers to avoid carrying large amounts of money or wearing expensive-looking jewelry or watches, and to take extra care on city streets, especially in deprived areas, after dark, or when alone.
• Short-term opportunistic 'express kidnappings' are common, often involving criminals posing as taxi drivers who target victims near ATMs, frequently at night; the FCDO advises using ATMs during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or shopping center.
• Protests and demonstrations occur regularly across the country and can turn violent with little notice, sometimes causing road closures; the FCDO advises avoiding protests and allowing extra travel time, and notes heightened risk of violence around elections.
• The FCDO states that kidnapping rates remain high and widespread in Colombia, and that foreign nationals, including tourists and business travelers, have been kidnapped in recent years, so travelers should stay alert to their surroundings and keep a trusted contact informed of their whereabouts.