Colombia

The malaria risk is:

• high in the areas below 1700 m:
  • along the Pacific coast, in particular departments of Chocó, Cauca and Nariño.
  • in parts of the departments Antioquia, Bolívar, Córdoba and Riseralda in the northwest. 
  • in departments bordering Venezuela, Brazil and Peru, including the Amazon rainforest and in the department Guaviare.
    We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning, in combination with the use of malaria tablets.
    
• moderate in the areas below 1700 m in the regions around the high risk areas on the Pacific Coast and in the east of the country. We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning. For people with an increased risk, we sometimes recommend preventive malaria tablets.
  
• low in malaria risk in the remaining areas below 1700 m. We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning.

There is no malaria risk in the areas above 1700 m and in Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin and the island San Andrés (in the Caribbean Sea). 

In case of fever during or after your journey, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.

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)​ 

Insects can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, leishmaniasis, oropouche and Chagas disease.

Protect yourself against insects. 

Ticks can transmit diseases.

Dogs and other mammals can be infected with rabies.

You may experience altitude sickness in areas above 2500 metres.

Read these tips before you leave.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travellers to a region at risk of yellow fever and is required to enter ALL national parks nationwide. In addition, vaccination is compulsory if you have recently visited certain countries. 

This vaccination must be administered at least ten days prior to arrival by an official yellow fever vaccination centre.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers.

• COVID-19
• Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis
• Polio
• Measles-mumps-rubella

Discuss with your doctor whether one of the following vaccinations is recommended for you:

• Rabies
• Dengue
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Pneumococci