UK FCDO Updates Colombia Travel Advice: Heightened Security in Santa Marta
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its Colombia travel advice on 23 September 2026, adding information on heightened security measures in Santa Marta following a major operation against armed groups. Public order has deteriorated, with damage to vehicles and local businesses and disruption to transport services; schools and many businesses have closed, and a further deployment of police and military is expected. Risks also exist along Route 90 (Troncal del Caribe), which links Santa Marta with Tayrona National Park, Palomino and Riohacha. The FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to multiple areas, including border zones with Venezuela, Pana…
Impact and considerations
Santa Marta is a key Caribbean coast destination, and the deterioration in security plus risks along Route 90 directly affect business travellers, MICE activity and travel programmes in the area. The FCDO explicitly warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if travelling against its advice, so companies should…
Key points
- The FCDO updated its Colombia travel advice on 23 September 2026, adding information on heightened security measures in Santa Marta.
- Following a major operation against armed groups, public order in Santa Marta has deteriorated: vehicles and local businesses damaged, transport disrupted, schools and many businesses closed, with further police and military deployment expected.
- Route 90 (Troncal del Caribe), linking Santa Marta with Tayrona National Park, Palomino and Riohacha, also carries risks.
- The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas including all of Norte de Santander (including Cúcuta), all of Arauca, and within 5km of the rest of the Venezuela border.
- The FCDO advises against using any of the Colombia-Venezuela land crossings.
- Multiple Pacific coast and Colombia-Panama border areas (including most of Chocó Department and Buenaventura) are under all-but-essential-travel advice.
- The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 5km of the Ecuador border and to several municipalities in Putumayo Department.
- The FCDO warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if travelling against its advice.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 12 Aug 2026, 04:42
- Page published
- 12 Aug 2026, 13:29
- Last updated
- 3 Sept 2026, 22:30
- Original links
- FCDO Travel Advice：Colombia travel advice (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 21 Mar 2013, 08:00