Earthquake in Colombia: the situation and impact on your trip

On Monday, August 10, 2026, at 7:34 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia. Its epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, in the Andean Chocó region, on the border of the departments of Risaralda and Valle del Cauca. It is the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia since the beginning of the century. The human toll remains significant and continues to evolve as rescue operations progress.

The most significant damage affects 28 municipalities across the departments of Quindío, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Caldas and Cauca, as well as Chocó, where the epicenter is located. The Coffee Region (Pereira, Armenia, Salento and Filandia) is particularly affected: several sites with traditional buildings, including in Salento, are undergoing enhanced assessments due to their structural vulnerability. Cali, the country’s third-largest city by population, has also been significantly affected.

Around ten airport terminals sustained damage following the earthquake. As of today, the airports in Pereira, Cartago and Popayán remain closed to commercial flights; connections via Cali, Manizales, Armenia, Medellín and Quibdó remain available for reaching Bogotá, whose El Dorado International Airport, the country’s main gateway, is operating normally. The situation is evolving day by day, with affected airports and roads gradually reopening.

French nationals concerned about loved ones, or looking for up-to-date official information, can contact the Embassy of France in Colombia at +57 311 25 98 414.

As of today, our entire team and all of our travelers currently in Colombia are safe. In an event of this magnitude, this is our absolute priority, above all else.

Within the first few minutes following the earthquake, our team in Medellín contacted each group and traveler in the affected areas, as well as all of our local partners — hotels, guides and drivers — to establish an accurate assessment of the situation and adjust ongoing itineraries in real time. Activities planned in the most affected areas were suspended or replaced, without compromising the overall coherence or quality of the trip. Stages in the Coffee Region were redirected to the Medellín region, which is nearby but unaffected, or to subsequent stages of each itinerary, in consultation with each traveler.

This responsiveness is based directly on the relationship of trust we have built over many years with our local partners. They enable us to obtain reliable information within minutes and act accordingly. Thanks to this close and highly responsive local network, we have been able to manage the situation in real time and minimize the impact on our travelers, who are all currently continuing their trips with the necessary adjustments, allowing them to enjoy their vacation safely.

For travelers whose departure is planned for the coming days and weeks, with stops originally scheduled in affected areas, we are reorganizing itineraries in consultation with our local partners to offer a balanced, high-quality program while avoiding affected areas. Each impacted itinerary is reviewed individually, in consultation with the traveler. Our goal is to preserve the travel experience without exposing anyone to a site that may be structurally weakened or is still being assessed.

An earthquake of this magnitude clearly demonstrates the value of having a local agency based in Colombia. Beyond customizing itineraries, it is the ability to respond within hours to a major unexpected event, thanks to a permanent presence on the ground and direct relationships with local partners. This is not an abstract sales argument: it is what enabled us, from Monday morning onward, to adjust our travelers’ itineraries in real time, as closely as possible to the actual situation on the ground.

In response to this situation, the Terra Colombia team remains fully mobilized, in constant contact with our local partners and the authorities, to best support our current and upcoming travelers. We will continue to adjust our itineraries as the situation on the ground evolves.

Our thoughts are with the communities affected, particularly those in the country’s most vulnerable areas.

Is it still possible to travel to Colombia following the August 10, 2026 earthquake?

Yes. The earthquake affected part of western Colombia (the Coffee Region, Cali and Chocó); the rest of the country is not affected. We will update this article in real time as the situation evolves.

My trip is planned for the coming weeks and includes a stop in the Coffee Region. Should I be concerned?

There is no need for you to worry. Our team is individually reviewing every affected itinerary with our local partners and adjusting any stops located in an area that remains vulnerable or is still being assessed, in consultation with you.

Are flights to Colombia affected?

Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport, the country’s main gateway, is operating normally. As of today, only certain regional airports (Pereira, Cartago and Popayán) remain closed to commercial flights, with reopening expected soon but still to be confirmed.

What should I do if I am concerned about someone currently in Colombia?

French nationals can contact the Embassy of France in Colombia at +57 311 25 98 414 or consult the updated travel advice on France Diplomatie.

How can I help communities affected by the earthquake?

The Colombian Red Cross has opened a donation page dedicated to this emergency (#TodosPorColombia campaign), with particular attention being given to Chocó, the poorest department in the country and close to the epicenter — see the section below.

Chocó, where the earthquake’s epicenter is located, is the poorest department in Colombia: more than two-thirds of its population lives below the poverty line, with very limited access to healthcare infrastructure and drinking water. This pre-existing vulnerability is worsening the earthquake’s impact on local communities.

If you would like to contribute to the relief effort, the Colombian Red Cross has opened a dedicated donation page for this earthquake as part of its #TodosPorColombia campaign: ayuda.cruzrojacolombiana.org/emergencia-colombia-terremoto