As 2026 begins, Colombia once again finds itself at the center of an international debate about travel safety. Tourists, foreign governments, and global media continue to ask whether Colombia is a safe destination for visitors, especially at a time of heightened political tension across Latin America. This concern is not limited to Colombia alone. Several countries in the region, including Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and Brazil, are also facing growing scrutiny due to violence, organized crime, and political instability.
What makes Colombia’s case particularly sensitive is the strong influence of U.S. political discourse on global perceptions. President Donald Trump has once again urged U.S. citizens to reconsider traveling to Colombia, reinforcing long-standing warnings issued by the U.S. government. These statements, amplified by international media, shape how Colombia is viewed abroad and raise broader questions about how political narratives intersect with real security conditions on the ground.
The questions to be asked focus on how safe it is to travel to Colombia and other Latin American countries in 2026, why Colombia continues to be labeled as dangerous for foreigners, how President Trump’s discourse impacts international perception, and how Colombia compares with other countries in the region.
Travel advisories and Colombia’s ongoing safety classification
As highlighted by the Colombian news outlet Semana, Colombia is currently classified by the United States as a Level 3 country, meaning travelers are advised to reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
In practical terms, this does not represent a total travel ban, but it does signal that the U.S. government considers the risks significant enough to warrant caution. These rankings are part of a system that the U.S. updates periodically to inform its citizens about potential dangers abroad.
Adding to this concern, some regions within Colombia are classified at Level 4, the highest level of danger. Areas such as Arauca, Cauca, Norte de Santander, and the border zone around Cucuta are considered extremely risky due to the persistent presence of armed groups, drug trafficking corridors, and cross-border instability linked to Venezuela. In these regions, violence has become structural, with kidnappings, attacks on security forces, and terrorist acts occurring regularly.
While these warnings are based on real security assessments, they often create a generalized image of Colombia as uniformly unsafe, despite the fact that risk levels vary dramatically depending on location. Major cities such as Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena continue to receive millions of visitors each year, many of whom travel without incident. Nonetheless, the existence of high-risk zones within the country continues to weigh heavily on Colombia’s international reputation.
Why Colombia is perceived as dangerous for foreign travelers
Colombia’s reputation as a dangerous country for foreigners is rooted in a combination of historical memory and present-day challenges. Decades of armed conflict involving guerrilla groups, paramilitary organizations, and drug cartels left a deep mark on the country’s global image. Although the security situation has improved significantly since the early 2000s, violence has not disappeared; in some regions, it has reemerged rather than diminished.
Crime remains a central concern, particularly in urban areas where theft, armed robbery, and express kidnappings affect both locals and tourists. Foreigners are often perceived as wealthier and therefore become attractive targets for criminal groups. In rural and border areas, the presence of illegal armed players involved in narcotrafficking and extortion increases the risk of violence and limits state control.
Political polarization and social unrest also contribute to perceptions of instability. Protests, strikes, and road blockades have become more frequent in recent years, sometimes escalating into violent confrontations. For visitors unfamiliar with the country’s political dynamics, these events can create a sense of unpredictability and insecurity, reinforcing the idea that Colombia is unsafe.
The influence of President Trump’s discourse on Colombia’s image
The role of President Donald Trump in shaping Colombia’s international image cannot be overlooked. As a sitting U.S. president, Trump’s statements carry global weight, particularly when it comes to security and foreign travel. His repeated warnings urging Americans to reconsider travel to Colombia reinforce official travel advisories and amplify fears among potential visitors.
Trump’s discourse often frames Colombia through the lens of narcotrafficking, border security, and regional instability. This narrative resonates strongly with a segment of the U.S. public and media, reinforcing stereotypes of Colombia as a country defined primarily by violence and drugs.
At moments of diplomatic tension between the U.S. government and President Gustavo Petro’s administration, this rhetoric becomes even more pronounced, feeding the perception that Colombia is politically unreliable and unsafe.
While travel advisories are based on risk assessments, political rhetoric can intensify their impact. When warnings are repeated at the highest political level, they tend to overshadow more nuanced realities, such as regional differences within Colombia or the progress made in tourism infrastructure and urban security. As a result, Colombia’s image abroad is often shaped as much by political narratives as by objective data.
Beyond the U.S. government’s list of so-called dangerous countries, there is another relevant global assessment that looks at risk through the lens of political instability and conflict: the 2025 Conflict Index.
This index analyzes countries based on factors such as internal violence, organized crime, political tensions, and the presence of armed groups. According to the 2025 Conflict Index, four Latin American countries are currently classified as highly dangerous due to escalating security challenges and political unrest: Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and Brazil (Colombia is not included).
Haiti: extreme instability and a breakdown of security
Among the countries frequently cited as dangerous for travel, Haiti stands in a category of its own. The country faces a profound security crisis following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Haitians were left with gang violence, kidnappings, and near-total institutional collapse. Armed groups control large parts of the capital and key infrastructure, making even basic movement dangerous.
For travelers, Haiti represents an environment where the state’s ability to guarantee safety is severely limited. Kidnappings of foreigners and aid workers have become common, and access to emergency services is unreliable.
Compared to Colombia, Haiti’s risks are more immediate and widespread, with far fewer safe zones for tourism. This contrast highlights how Colombia’s challenges, while serious, are not as systemic or uncontrollable as those Haiti faces.
Mexico: cartel violence and regionalized risk
Mexico remains one of the most visited countries in the world, yet it continues to struggle with high levels of violence linked to drug cartels and organized crime.
Unlike Colombia, where conflict is often concentrated in rural or border regions, cartel violence in Mexico affects a broader range of states and cities, sometimes spilling into areas frequented by tourists.
Kidnappings, extortion, and violent clashes between criminal groups pose real risks, particularly outside major tourist hubs. At the same time, cities such as Mexico City, Cancun, and Merida continue to attract millions of visitors, demonstrating how risk in Mexico is highly regional. In comparison, Colombia’s security issues tend to be more predictable geographically, with clearly identified high-risk zones.
Ecuador: a rapid deterioration in urban security
Ecuador has experienced a sharp increase in violence in recent years, driven largely by the expansion of organized crime and prison gangs. Cities such as Guayaquil have become focal points of this crisis, with rising homicide rates and frequent reports of armed attacks.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Ecuador has become the Latin American country with the highest rate of about 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, and as reported by Reuters, intentional homicides have risen in Ecuador. By the end of 2025, the country recorded approximately 8,800 homicides, marking the highest number of violent deaths in its history.
For travelers, Ecuador’s growing insecurity is particularly concerning because it represents a relatively recent shift. While Colombia’s risks are well-documented and long-standing, Ecuador’s situation feels more volatile and less predictable. This rapid deterioration has placed Ecuador alongside Colombia in discussions about travel safety, even though the nature and history of violence differ between the two countries.
Brazil: crime in the shadow of tourism
Brazil, like Colombia, occupies a dual position as both a major tourist destination and a country with persistent security challenges. Violent crime, including robberies and assaults, is a concern in large urban centers such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Tourists are often warned about risks in specific neighborhoods rather than entire cities.
Compared to Colombia, Brazil’s violence is less connected to armed insurgency and more to urban crime and inequality. For travelers, this means that awareness, location, and timing play a crucial role in determining safety. As in Colombia, millions of visitors travel to Brazil each year without incident, despite the country’s reputation for danger.
Traveling to Latin America in 2026: risk, reality, and responsibility
Traveling to Colombia and other Latin American countries in 2026 requires informed decision-making rather than fear-based avoidance. Security risks are real and should not be minimized, but they are also unevenly distributed and often manageable with proper preparation. Understanding local contexts, avoiding high-risk regions, and staying informed about political developments are essential steps for any traveler.
At the same time, it is important to recognize the positive aspects that continue to draw visitors to the region. Colombia’s cultural diversity, natural beauty, and vibrant cities remain powerful attractions. The same is true for Mexico’s historical heritage, Brazil’s cultural dynamism, and Ecuador’s biodiversity. These strengths often go unnoticed in international narratives dominated by violence and political tension.
In the specific case of Colombia, the country’s image as a dangerous travel destination in 2026 is shaped by a combination of real security challenges and powerful political narratives, particularly those emerging from the United States under President Trump.
While caution is justified, blanket assumptions about safety fail to capture the complexity of the country and the region as a whole. For travelers willing to approach Latin America with awareness and respect for local realities, the region continues to offer meaningful and enriching experiences that go far beyond its negative headlines.