From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL ADVISORY -- Colombia
Date: 30 Jul 1992 09:04:33 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Colombia
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COLOMBIA - WARNING
  July 29, 1992

Summary:  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to exercise 
extra caution when traveling to Colombia.  The recent escape from a 
Colombian prison of several drug traffickers has increased the 
threat to U.S. Government interests in Colombia.  The U.S. Embassy 
is limiting travel to Colombia by U.S. Government personnel only to 
essential travel.  While many U.S. citizens who visit Colombia do so 
without incident, some parts of the country (listed below) are 
dangerous and travelers should defer all travel to those areas due 
to guerrilla and criminal activities.  Guerrillas have recently 
bombed foreign-owned businesses.  Power cutbacks have resulted in 
extensive blackouts, with a resultant rise in violent crime.  The 
Galeras Volcano near Pasto, Narino Department is active.  End Summary

General Security:  Several terrorist/guerrilla groups are active 
throughout the country.  Guerrillas are believed responsible for 
recent bombings of U.S. and foreign-owned companies and banks.  
Colombian authorities expect the bombing campaign to continue.  
Kidnapping for ransom or political purposes is an ongoing threat in 
Colombia, and U.S. citizens have been held for ransom or for 
political purposes.  Although temporary visitors have rarely been 
the targets of violence, caution should be exercised to avoid 
becoming a victim of random crime.  Visitors should avoid remote 
areas, take precautions against street crime in major cities, and 
use only official taxis.  Due to a drought, the entire country is 
experiencing severe daily and nightly power outages.  Serious crimes 
(such as homicide, rape, assault and kidnapping) have greatly 
increased since these blackouts began.  U.S. citizens should contact 
the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date security information.

Recommended Precautions:

-- Rural land travel and land travel by night should be avoided.  
Due to frequent attempts at extortion and kidnappings on rural 
public transportation, U.S. citizens should in particular avoid 
travel by bus.

-- Visitors should be on guard against common criminals in major 
cities, especially in the vicinity of hotels and airports.

-- In airports, visitors should guard against theft of hand luggage 
and travel documents.  Illegal taxis, which are sometimes 
characterized by two drivers and irregular markings, are dangerous.  
Most airports and hotels have official taxi queues.

Dangerous Departments/Areas:  Travel to the following unsafe areas 
should be avoided or only undertaken after consultation with the 
Embassy or Consulate:

- Colombia east of the Andes (except the cities of Villavicencio in 
Meta Department and Leticia in the Amazonas Department and adjacent 
tourist areas in Amazonas).
- All of Antioquia Department, including the city of Medellin.
- Most of the north coast, except for the major tourist areas such 
as Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and San Andres.
- The northern half of Choco Department, particularly the Uraba 
region, except for the tourist area of Capurgana
- The Magdelena Medio region:  The Magdelena river valley south to 
Tolima, including western Boyaca, eastern Caldas, and northwestern 
Cundinamarca.
- Rural Valle de Cauca Department and most of the Cauca river 
valley, including the cities of Cali and Buenaventura, and the road 
between Cali and Buenaventura.
- Tolima Department south of Espinal.  Road travel should be 
restricted to daylight hours.
- Road travel in Huila and Cauca Departments.  The cities of Neiva 
and Popayan are safe but should be reached by air only.

Those cities/areas not listed above are considered generally safe 
to visit.  However, U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact the U.S. 
Embassy or Consulate for specific up-to-date information.

Galeras Volcano:  U.S. travelers should be aware that the Galeras 
Volcano, located near the city of Pasto, Narino Department, is 
active.  Colombian government agencies are closely monitoring the 
volcano's activity.

Additional Information:  U.S. citizens should seek the latest 
travel information and register with the American Citizen Services 
Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Calle 38 No. 8-61, at 285-1300 
[ext. 206, 215] or with the U.S. Consulate in Barranquilla, Calle 
77, Carrera 68, Centro Comercial Mayorista, at 457-088.  
Registration facilitates the provision of any emergency services 
that may be required.

  No. 92-151

This replaces the advisory dated July 10, 1992, to reflect the 
increased threat to U.S. Government interests as a result of the 
escape from prison of a major Colombian drug trafficker and to 
delete information on cholera, which no longer poses a threat to 
travelers.