Essentials
Health and altitude
Altitude, vaccines and where to get care, from health authorities and reputable guides.
Last checked 2 Oct 2026Tap water
The sources disagree. Each statement shows its publisher and date.
The Medellín CVB states Medellín's tap water is potable and can be drunk from the tap, and that the city and metropolitan area have one of the best qualities of drinking water in Colombia, with basic-sanitation coverage above 90%.
Medellín CVB Medellin's official tourism site says Medellin tap water is potable and can be drunk straight from the tap, with basic sanitation coverage above 90 percent.
Medellín CVB Rough Guides says UV is strong at altitude even when cloudy, and that tap water is generally safe in Bogotá, Medellín and other major cities, but to stick to bottled water elsewhere, especially along the coast and in rural zones. (Page metadata dateModified 2025-07-07; read 2026-10-02.)
Rough Guides FCDO health page: "Tap water is safe to drink only in Bogotá. You should drink only bottled water and avoid ice in drinks."
UK FCDO FCDO health page states: "Tap water is safe to drink only in Bogotá. You should drink only bottled water and avoid ice in drinks."
UK FCDO The UK FCDO states tap water in Colombia is safe to drink only in Bogota and advises drinking only bottled water and avoiding ice in drinks.
UK FCDO ProColombia's national health page advises: "Avoid drinking tap water. Use bottled water, even for brushing your teeth."
ProColombia
Health
Short lake boat trips offered on the Guatapé waterfront pass the former residence of Pablo Escobar among other sites.
Wikivoyage UK FCDO health advice states altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Colombia, including Bogota and areas in the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Narino and Antioquia.
UK FCDO Government of Canada describes scopolamine as a drug that temporarily incapacitates victims, leaving them disoriented and unable to make clear decisions for 24 hours or more, and says criminals put drugs into food and drinks, hand sanitizer and women's make-up.
Government of Canada US page on yellow fever: "Required for travelers coming from certain countries or visiting certain national parks." It refers readers to the Government of Colombia's Health Ministry webpage for details.
US Department of State FCDO: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required "if you are arriving from certain countries with a transmission risk"; you "may also be asked to show it if you are travelling to areas in Colombia which are considered high risk."
UK FCDO FCDO: "Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Colombia, including Bogotá and areas in the Departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Nariño and Antioquia."
UK FCDO Smartraveller: a vaccination certificate is required to enter Colombia if arriving from (or having transited through) Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda; "Some national parks require a vaccination certificate to enter."
Australian DFAT Smartraveller Smartraveller: altitude sickness is a risk to anyone above 2500m (including Bogotá); malaria is a risk in areas below 800m, not including Bogotá.
Australian DFAT Smartraveller CDC: yellow fever vaccine is recommended for all travelers 9 months or older, but "generally not recommended for travel limited to the cities of Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, or Medellín", and not recommended for travel limited to areas above 2,300 m (7,550 ft), San Andrés and Providencia, or Bogotá.
CDC CDC Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions travel health notice, updated September 18, 2026: "An increased number of cases of yellow fever have been reported in Colombia."
CDC CDC lists malaria transmission in all areas below 1,700 m elevation, with "No malaria transmission in the cities of Bogotá (the capital), Cartagena, or Medellín".
CDC MinSalud: under the International Health Regulations "Colombia asume recomendación no restrictiva de vacunación contra la fiebre amarilla para las personas que ingresan al País"; foreign travellers going to very-high and high-risk municipalities must vaccinate 10 days beforehand. Vaccination in Colombia is free regardless of nationality.
Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social EPM (Medellín's public utility) reported a 0.78% IRCA water-quality risk index in its 7 May 2026 public accountability report on 2025 results, which it says "confirma que el agua es apta para el consumo humano".
EPM FCDO health page states altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Colombia, including Bogotá and areas in the Departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Nariño and Antioquia, and refers readers to TravelHealthPro.
UK FCDO EPM, the public utility serving Medellín and nine other Valle de Aburrá municipalities, says it monitors daily at its own sampling points in the secondary distribution network to verify the water reaching users is fit for human consumption, in compliance with Decree 1575 of 9 May 2007.
EPM CDC: yellow fever vaccine is recommended for travellers aged 9 months and older to Colombia, but 'generally not recommended' for travel limited to the cities of Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena or Medellin; not recommended for travel limited to areas above 2,300 m, San Andres and Providencia, or Bogota.
CDC CDC lists a Level 2 'Practice Enhanced Precautions' travel health notice for Yellow Fever in Colombia, updated 18 September 2026, citing an increased number of reported cases.
CDC CDC: malaria risk covers all areas below 1,700 m elevation, but no malaria transmission is listed in the cities of Bogota, Cartagena or Medellin. CDC advises travellers to risk areas to prevent mosquito bites (dengue, Zika).
CDC UK FCDO: altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Colombia, including Bogota and areas in the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Narino and Antioquia.
UK FCDO FCDO says private clinics in large cities and state capitals provide good-quality routine and complex care, while public facilities and those in smaller cities are generally ill equipped and poorly funded; it advises adequate travel health insurance covering treatment costs and repatriation.
UK FCDO Canada advises travel insurance that includes medical evacuation and hospital stays, warns that without proof of insurance a visitor may be transferred to a public hospital, and notes doctors mostly speak Spanish.
Government of Canada Medellin.Travel notes 24/7 pharmacies such as La Rebaja and Pasteur at various points in the city; FCDO says pharmacies (drogerias) have a cross on their signage and are easy to find in main cities, and prescriptions must be written in Spanish, in the metric system and use generic names.
Medellín CVB Medellin's official tourism portal hosts a bilingual measles contingency notice (file uploaded under a March 2026 path): visitors with fever and a red skin rash should avoid tourist activities, stay at their accommodation, seek medical attention and may contact the Medellin Health Secretariat helplines (+57 300 677 7257, +57 321 760 7916).
Medellín CVB CDC advises all international travellers to be fully vaccinated against measles (MMR) before travel, as measles cases are rising worldwide (Level 1 Global Measles notice dated 28 May 2025).
CDC