The U.S. Embassy in Colombia has issued a security advisory warning against travel to the Cauca Department and urging travelers to reconsider visiting the city of Popayan. The embassy cites high levels of violent crime, including armed robbery and murder, as well as the presence of terrorist groups in certain areas.
Due to these risks, some U.S. government employees in Colombia are currently prohibited from traveling to this region. The embassy advises those seeking more information about safety in Colombia to visit the Country Information Page at travel.state.gov.
The advisory provides contact details for Americans needing assistance while in Colombia, including phone numbers and email addresses for both the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla. It also encourages U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for security updates and follow official social media channels for further information.
"Do not travel to Cauca Department and reconsider travel [to] the city of Popayan. Violent crime, like armed robbery and murder, is common. Terrorist groups are active in some areas," states the embassy's alert.
Further guidance is available through resources provided by the State Department’s Consular Affairs division.