Colombia
This page contains the main health risks for travellers and general recommendations. Travel conditions are different for everyone and each patient's health condition varies. Discuss your trip during a travel consultation with your doctor or in a travel clinic, preferably six to eight weeks before departure.
Register your trip and read the information about security, healthcare and other practical aspects on the FPS Foreign Affairs website.
Important health risks
Malaria risk areas
- High risk in areas below 2000 m :
- along the Pacific coast, particularly in the departments of Chocó (including parts of the Caribbean coast), Cauca, and Nariño.
- in parts of the departments of Antioquia, Córdoba, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca near Cali.
- in Boyacá department near the city of Cubará and in Atlántico department very close to Barranquilla.
- in the departments bordering Venezuela, Brazil and Peru, including the Amazon rainforest.
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures and preventive malaria tablets.
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures and preventive malaria tablets.
- Moderate in areas below 2000 m in some areas of the departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Caquetá, Córdoba, Guaviare, Meta, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Valle del Cauca, and Vichada; and in regions bordering the high-risk areas .
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures. Sometimes in combination wih preventive malaria tablets for people with an increased risk.
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures. Sometimes in combination wih preventive malaria tablets for people with an increased risk.
- Low in the rest of the country below 2000 m.
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures.
- Prevention: mosquito-repellent measures.
- None in Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín, island San Andrés (in the Caribbean Sea).
- Species: P. falciparum 39%.
In case of fever during or after your journey, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.
Yellow fever
There is a risk of yellow fever in most areas of the country. The Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), particularly around Ibagué and Los Nevados National Park (1,400–2,700m), is also considered at risk. The islands of San Andrés and Providencia are officially designated high-risk by Colombian health authorities.
The cities of Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Cali, and Barranquilla, as well as areas above 2,300 meters, are considered low or no risk for yellow fever. Note that the following nearby national parks are within yellow fever high-risk areas:
- Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (near Santa Marta)
- Farallones de Cali (near Cali)
- Chingaza (near Bogotá)
Other insect-borne diseases
Insects can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
Protect yourself against insects.
Ticks
Ticks can transmit diseases.
Rabies
Dogs and other mammals can be infected with rabies.
Altitude sickness
You may experience altitude sickness in areas above 2500 metres.
COVID-19
Take a look at the general preventive measures related to COVID-19.
- Carefully read the entry conditions and local measures of this country.
Other frequent health risks while travelling
Read these tips before you leave.
Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travellers from the age of one year.
In addition, vaccination is compulsory if you have been in certains countries where yellow fever may be present during the last six days, even if you are in transit through an airport.
This vaccination must be administered at least ten days prior to arrival by an official yellow fever vaccination centre and must be registered in an International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers.
Update of basic vaccinations
Other vaccinations
Discuss with your doctor whether one of the following vaccinations is recommended for you: