Colombia
Travel Destination – Colombia
From turquoise Caribbean waters to misty Andean valleys, Colombia’s natural beauty is incredible. Its vibrant cities, rich heritage, and welcoming culture make it an alluring escape for travellers and explorers alike. Whether you’re chasing adventure, culture, or relaxation, some preparation can help ensure a safe and seamless journey.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
To prepare for a safe trip to Colombia and receive personalised health advice, it’s a good idea to book in with a travel doctor. They can provide you with a detailed health plan tailored to your itinerary, whether you’ll be exploring Colombia’s vibrant cities, trekking in the Andes, or venturing into the Amazon. Your doctor will review your vaccination history, recommend additional immunisations relevant to Colombia, and ensure you have prescriptions for any necessary medications.
Ideally, book your appointment six to eight weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines if required. But even a last-minute consultation is still worthwhile for accelerated vaccination schedules and essential travel health advice.
Insect avoidance
Mosquitoes carry diseases such as Dengue, Malaria, and Zika in many regions of Colombia, particularly in lowland and jungle areas. To protect yourself, avoid insect bites by sleeping in air-conditioned rooms or spaces with screened windows and doors (if unavailable, use a permethrin treated net). Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, and use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, lemon oil or eucalyptus oil. To provide extra protection, use permethrin treated gear. You can reduce standing water near accommodation to limit mosquito breeding.
Food and water hygiene
To enjoy the local cuisine without getting gastroenteritis or other gastrointestinal infections, always wash your hands or use antiseptic hand gel before eating. Avoid raw, undercooked or reheated food, and street food is safest when it has been cooked in front of you. Fruit and vegetables are safer when they can be peeled before consuming, such as bananas and mangos. Drink water that has been boiled, filtered, or bottled, and avoid untreated tap water and ice made from it.
Rabies prevention
Australia is one of the few parts of the world without rabies. In Colombia, rabies can be carried by dogs and bats. The key preventative strategy is to avoid animals. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether rabies vaccination would be suitable for you, especially if you are travelling to remote areas or working with animals. If you are bitten while in Colombia, you should seek immediate medical attention. Treatment at this stage will prevent rabies, which is almost one hundred percent fatal once symptoms have developed.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Colombia?
Yellow Fever
+
Yellow Fever, a virus carried by mosquitoes, can cause fever, headaches and muscle pain. In some cases, the skin turns yellow, and rarer complications may arise. The case-fatality rate for severe cases is 30–60%. Vaccination for Yellow Fever is medically recommended for most travellers to Colombia, and at the time of writing, a certificate of immunisation is required for entry into the country.
Hepatitis A
+
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver, often spread through contaminated food and water. This illness can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe, and in some cases can lead to serious complications. Hepatitis A is more prevalent in Colombia compared to Australia, and many Australians are not routinely immunised. For those who have not completed a two-dose course of Hepatitis A, vaccination prior to commencing travel is strongly advised, especially if planning a homestay.
Typhoid
+
Typhoid is an infection caused by bacteria called Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi. You can contract Typhoid by ingesting contaminated food or water. Typhoid causes high fevers, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal upset. Your doctor may recommend a typhoid vaccine, providing three years of protection. This vaccine is especially useful for longer stays or if you are at risk for other reasons.
Hepatitis B
+
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver, often spread through contact with blood or bodily fluids. This condition can be spread through unprotected sex, tattooing, or shared personal items like razors. While many younger Australians are protected through routine childhood vaccination, not all adults are immune. For travel to Colombia, hepatitis B vaccination is generally recommended for those who have not been vaccinated yet and will be staying for prolonged periods. Your travel doctor will check your vaccination status and give you recommendations accordingly.
Rabies
+
The Australia is one of the few parts of the world which is free of rabies. In Colombia, rabies can be carried by dogs and bats. The key preventative strategy is to avoid animals. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether rabies vaccination would be suitable for you, especially if you are travelling to remote areas or working with animals. If you are bitten while in Colombia, you should seek immediate medical attention. Treatment at this stage will prevent rabies, which is almost one hundred percent fatal once symptoms have developed.
Routine vaccinations
+
Due to Australia’s strong immunisation program, we fortunately have lower rates of common infections like measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. However, in countries like Colombia, these diseases circulate more widely and increase your risk of exposure. A travel health consultation can help identify any gaps in your routine vaccinations and whether you’re due for boosters such as measles-mumps-rubella, tetanus, influenza, and COVID-19.
Colombia
Other health risks in Colombia
Malaria
+
Malaria is a condition causing high fevers, fatigue and muscle aches, caused by parasites that infect the liver and red blood cells. It can also cause anaemia and infect the brain, which can be life threatening. Prevention includes avoiding mosquitos, particularly at night. Anti-malarial tablets are useful for certain locations of Colombia where malaria is more common. It is best to talk with your doctor about whether you need antimalarial tablets and which one to take.
Dengue
+
Dengue fever is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, and rash. People usually recover one to two weeks when they are infected for the first time, but can encounter severe forms of dengue particularly with repeated infection. These severe complications include bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure, which may be fatal without appropriate treatment. Mosquitoes transmitting the dengue fever virus are more common in urban areas and tend to bite during the day. For most travellers, prevention measures involve mosquito avoidance
Gastroenteritis
+
Gastroenteritis, otherwise known as travellers’ diarrhoea, is usually caused by bacteria ingested in contaminated food or water. Gastroenteritis caused by bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain within 24 to 72 hours. Bacteria commonly responsible include Campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella.
Maintaining adequate hydration is the most important aspect of treatment, which can be achieved with an oral rehydration solution that replaces fluid and salts. Antibiotics are usually reserved for cases of severe or pronged infection or when the patient is more at risk of complications.
The illness usually resolves on its own in one to three days. Medical attention is required when symptoms are not typical, including prolonged or severe illness, or if there are difficulties to replace fluids faster than they are being lost. To help prevent gastroenteritis, practice good hand hygiene before eating and avoid high-risk foods and drinks.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
+
Colombia has higher rates of violent crime than Australia, and the political situation can be volatile. Kidnappings of expats by armed militia groups have been reported.
Refer to the Smartraveller website for up to date information and travel advice from the Australian government before embarking for Colombia.
Altitude sickness
+
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can occur in around a quarter of non-acclimatised people entering altitudes of altitudes of over 2450 metres. It can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. Altitude sickness generally resolves within 12 to 48 hours if travellers do not ascend any further.
A more severe form of altitude sickness can affect the brain, which causes confusion and altered behaviour, referred to as high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE). Altitude sickness can also affect the lungs, involving shortness of breath, cough, and other respiratory symptoms, referred to as high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE). Both HACE and HAPE are more likely to occur over 4300 metres, and can be rapidly fatal without immediate descent with or other treatments.
Gradual ascent to high altitudes can help prevent these altitude sickness conditions. Preventive medications are also available on prescription by your travel doctor. Medication for the prevention or treatment of HACE and HAPE may be recommended by your doctor for those travelling above 4300 metres. For those hiking in alpine areas above 4300 and unfamiliar with AMS, HACE, and HAPE, it is best to travel with an experienced guide who is well versed with these conditions, their prevention and treatment.
The Centres for Disease Control in the US provides the following advice for travellers to reduce the risk of life-threatening illness:
1) Know the early symptoms of altitude sickness and acknowledge when they present.
2) Never ascend to sleep at a higher elevation when experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness, no matter how minor the symptoms seem.
3) Descend if the symptoms become worse while resting at the same elevation.
Deep vein thrombosis
+
Prolonged air, road and rail travel increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition is caused by slowing of blood flow, resulting in solidifying of blood inside a blood vessel. To prevent this, get up to move at regular intervals during your trip, and stay well hydrated. For those at risk of DVT, below-knee compression stockings can be worn. DVT is usually treated with blood-thinning medication.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
+
Travelling in Colombia offers plenty of adventure, but it’s important to be prepared. If you plan to ride a motorbike, ensure you’re confident in your skills, know the local road rules, and always wear a helmet. Choose safe road transport with working seatbelts. When hiking, wear broken-in boots, apply sunscreen and insect repellent, pack light, and stay within your limits. Whatever your plans, it is a good idea to have travel insurance that covers medical care and repatriation.