The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Colombia travel advice on 3 September 2026. The change updates information on the earthquake response and removes the earlier notice about the closure of Matecana International Airport in Pereira.
The advice records that on the morning of Monday 10 August 2026 Colombia was struck by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Choco that affected large parts of the country. The removal of the Matecana airport closure note indicates the airport has resumed operations, though operators should confirm schedules directly with carriers before travel.
Standing security advice is unchanged. The FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to all of Norte de Santander Department including Cucuta, all of Arauca Department, the municipality of Puerto Carreno in Vichada Department, areas within 5km of the rest of the border with Venezuela, and parts of Choco, western Valle del Cauca, Narino, Cordoba, Antioquia and Bolivar Departments, along with specified municipalities in Caqueta, Meta and Putumayo and areas within 5km of the border with Ecuador. Teams moving into affected regions should factor aftershock risk, infrastructure disruption and these standing no-go areas into planning.
