A vaccination against yellow fever, typhoid and cholera is highly recommended. The risk of malaria is prevalent throughout the year, especially in the rural and forest areas. Travellers visiting such areas should avoid mosquito bites by using repellents and sleeping under mosquito nets. Chagas disease, hepatitis A, B and C, dengue fever and tuberculosis are also found. The water may be contaminated; only bottled water or boiled water must be consumed.

Medical facilities in the main cities are fairly good, but services can be limited in the rural areas.

Although security has improved considerably over the past few years, Columbia is still known to be a dangerous and violent country. Travellers are strongly advised not to travel to the provinces of Caqueta, Putumayo, Meta and Choco or to the rural areas of Antioquia, Cauca, Narino, Norte de Santander, Arauca, Sucre and Bolivar. Venturing out alone in the night is not advisable.