A new travel advisory has been issued by the United States State Department for Colombia.
Disney Magic Cruise Ship
Travel advisories are typically issued when there are warnings about happenings in countries that travelers need to heed. This new travel advisory does impact a Disney vacation destination, but it could still be worth knowing about for any travel plans you might have in the future.
The State Department is urging Americans not to travel to certain parts of Colombia due to potentially unsafe conditions, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters. A Level 3 alert has been issued for the entire country, with some areas at a Level 4.
©State Dept
A “Do Not Travel” warning has been issued for Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism. Additionally, the State Department is recommending Americans not travel within 10km/5mi of the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention.
©State Dept
According to the advisory, “Violent crime is common in many areas of Colombia, including murder, assault, and robbery. Other crimes, such as drugging, extortion, kidnapping, and armed break-ins—including at hotels and other places tourists stay—also occur frequently in some regions.”
There is also a risk of terrorist violence, per the alert.
Colombia Port of Call ©Disney Cruise Line
Terrorists in Colombia may attack with little or no warning and target:
- U.S. government facilities
- Local government facilities
- Tourist areas and attractions
- Transportation centers
- Shopping malls and markets
- Military and police facilities
- Hotels
- Clubs
- Restaurants
- Airports
The advisory also warns of political demonstrations that can shut down roads and interrupt travel, along with becoming violent. In addition, Colombia is home to volcanoes that can become active, and the country commonly has earthquakes, along with landslides.
The Disney Magic currently sails to Cartagena, Colombia, as part of a Panama Canal cruise.
Disney Magic Cruise Ship
For reference, below are the different levels the State Department uses as part of these travel advisories:
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel
- Level 4: Do Not Travel
©State Department
The U.S. Department of State previously issued a worldwide travel warning for Americans, urging citizens to exercise increased caution, especially in the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region, also known as the Middle East.
Air travel
We’ll be on the lookout for additional travel advisories you might need to know about before planning your next vacation. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest travel news and more.
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I know this is a serious article about a serious matter, however, I did smile when I initially saw the map because colouring of the Americas reminded me of Donald Duck, as if it was Disney bounding as him.