Following the global Coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic, Colombia is beginning to open its borders.  Official websites in Colombia however are notoriously poorly maintained.  Additionally there is a lot of false or hearsay information being reported by different media outlets.  We have compiled this update based on multiple sources of reliable information.  The aim is to give a comprehensive guide on the requirements for entering Colombia post Covid 19.

Please note: While we do our best to keep this information up to date the situation is constantly changing.  As a result we recommend that you consult various sources of information when planning your trip.  This latest version was updated on 6th April 2021

On 23^rd March 2020 Colombia closed its borders to international travel.  Following a domestic pilot scheme to test airport Coronavirus protocols, international air borders reopened on 19^th September.  At that time, routes opened to the USA, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.  Peru was added to this list on 5^th October.  This is part of a phased reopening to gradually reactivate the aviation industry.

The initial phase of reopening was designed more to help people who had a necessity to travel.  This includes people returning to their families abroad or people travelling for business.  Tourists may enter Colombia, but the restrictions in destinations were partly designed to avoid a large influx of tourism as the country ramps up its vaccine rollout.

Land, sea and river borders will remain closed until further notice due to the threats of variants particularly from Brazil.

The Ministry of Health announced that from 7th April all arrivals to Colombia MUST present a negative PCR test result taken maximum 96 hours before your arrival.  This requirement has changed repeatedly over the previous months and so we recommend that you consult your airline before flying.

Travellers entering the country will still NOT be required to quarantine.

Arrivals must fill in an online questionnaire on the Migracion Colombia website.  This asks your personal information, flight number and if you have had the virus in the past.  You must complete this less than 24 hours and up to 1 hour before your scheduled flight time. The document takes around 10 minutes to fill in and is free of charge.

Arrivals must download a track and trace app called “CoronApp” which advises you if you have come into contact with anyone testing positive for Coronavirus while in Colombia.  You can download it here.

Local state authorities define the exact measures which are in place depending on the area that you are travelling.  The following requirements apply nationwide.

Use of masks is obligatory in all public spaces.  There are no restrictions on the type of mask used.

Guests at Purple Monkey Hostel Following the Reopening of International Borders

Businesses must comply with strict sanitation procedures in order to reopen.  The Department of Sanitation performed widescale inspections in August and September.  This was to ensure that businesses were compliant with the protocols.  Hand sanitizer is available in all establishments and staff are required to take your temperature when entering a building.  Areas where there are high concentrations of people have implemented social distancing.  This includes such as restaurants, buses, bars and hostels.

Bars and beaches are open and officially have to follow social distancing guidelines.  In reality however this has not been strictly enforced.

Areas of mass gatherings such as concerts and football matches will remain closed until further notice.

Colombia has 4 international airports which reopened on 19^th September.  These are:

• El Dorado – BOG, Bogotá
• José María Cordova – MDE, Medellín
• Rafael Nuñez – CTG, Cartagena
• Alfonso Bonilla Aragón – CLO, Cali

Airline Viva Air has been the most proactive in reopening its international routes.  This budget airline operates throughout in South America.  In an attempt to grow its business and take advantage of its struggling competition it has offered some rock bottom prices in the short term.

Avianca, Colombia’s national airline was bailed out by the government during the pandemic and has resumed domestic flights.  They are currently being cautious about the opening of international routes.

Regular domestic flights are also running at almost pre-pandemic volumes.  According to the Ministry of Transport as at 2^nd October 2020 there were 88 commercial air routes open running between 42 domestic airports.

At the start of the pandemic poor testing and in fighting between authorities led to a sustained growth in cases until mid August.  After a period of decline and then stability in terms of case numbers, Colombia experienced a 2nd wave in mid-January 2021.  Cases began to drop through February and into March.  Hospital capacity, access to PPE and ventilators has been constantly improving since the start of the pandemic.

Unlike in Europe, most Colombians live with their parents and grandparents.  This meant that the most vulnerable could easily catch the illness from their son or daughter who had to go out to work.  The fact that it wasn’t possible to isolate older people resulted in one of the world’s strictest lockdowns.  This inter-generational living also led to a quick spread throughout the country in spite of these measures.

As the situation could change in a heartbeat this is a question that is impossible to answer.  Since August however there has been an increasing feeling that the situation is returning to normal.  Government restrictions have been slowly lifted and people are obeying the official guidelines.  In general, most Colombians are behaving very responsibly, and it is unusual to see anyone without a mask.

In a previous blog we made the case that in spite of everything, 2021 could actually be the best time ever to travel. 

Tourism in Colombia is still relatively new.  As a result it is still not considered a key factor in its economy.  This is evidenced by the fact that tourist businesses were not eligible for government loans during the pandemic.  It would be unlikely the government would risk the health of its citizens for just a handful of tourists.  The fact that the government is allowing international travel again suggests that they are confident in the measures that have been implemented.  The government however remain resolute that all travellers must comply with the above requirements for entering Colombia post Covid 19.