A lot of people ask me if Colombia is safe to travel to. My answer is usually yes, as long as you use common sense.
I've been to Colombia twice, once independently with my wife and once leading a group. I've never felt unsafe there. That does not make Colombia risk-free, and it does not mean everyone will have the same experience. It does mean the country I found was very different from the one many people still picture.
What does Colombia's Level 3 travel advisory mean?
The United States currently lists Colombia as Level 3: Reconsider Travel. That warning matters, and I would never tell someone to ignore it.
It also needs context. The same advisory identifies specific Level 4 areas: Arauca, Cauca except Popayán, Valle del Cauca except Cali, Norte de Santander, and the region within 10 kilometers of the Venezuelan border. Those areas are not part of the Threaded Expeditions itinerary, which visits Bogotá, Chingaza National Park, Leticia, and Puerto Nariño.
The national advisory also warns about crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters elsewhere in Colombia. Those concerns are real. It is still possible to take them seriously without treating every part of the country as if it carries the same level of risk.
What does no dar papaya mean?
There is a saying in Colombia: no dar papaya. Literally, it means don't give papaya. In practice, it means don't hand someone an easy opportunity.
That is probably the most useful travel advice I can give. Plan ahead. Keep your phone and cash put away when you are not using them. Check directions inside a shop rather than standing on the sidewalk looking lost. Watch your drinks. Use a ride app or an official taxi. Ask local people which areas to avoid, especially at night.
Most of that is the same advice I follow in any unfamiliar city.
How Colombia's travel warning compares with the United States
I find it helpful to read other countries' travel warnings about the United States. Canada says terrorist attacks could happen at any time. Australia warns about terrorism, mass-casualty violence, gun violence, and hate crimes directed at people from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The United Kingdom says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks here.
More than 120 civil-rights groups also issued a 2026 World Cup travel advisory that specifically warns visitors about racial profiling during immigration enforcement.
Those warnings are not wrong. Still, someone who only read them before visiting Denver might imagine something very different from ordinary life here. Travel advisories are written to identify risk, not to describe every visitor's experience.
My experience traveling in Colombia
On my two trips, I traveled through Bogotá and the Colombian Amazon, including Leticia and Puerto Nariño. I walked around, used public spaces, went birding, traveled by boat, and later brought a group back. I never felt unsafe.
So, is Colombia safe to travel to?
For the places I visit and the way I travel, yes. Colombia has serious problems, and there are regions I would not visit. It is also not the country many people remember from the early 1990s.
Plan ahead and listen to local advice. Caution is useful. Fear based on an outdated picture of the country is not.
Travel conditions can change quickly. This post reflects the U.S. State Department advisory issued March 31, 2026 and reviewed on August 17, 2026. Check current official guidance before traveling.