You may be unaware of the risks when travelling to Columbia on a trip or break but it’s good practice no matter where you’re travelling in South America to become aware of any health risks caused by different sanitation standards.
Malaria is a prominent danger when travelling and the possibility of infection can vary depending on the surrounding medical facilities.
Risk occurs in most rural areas below 1600 metres
Cartagena City is low to no risk. Please remember to also follow the bite avoidance measures below.
Please check to see a malaria map of Colombia on fitfortravel (a NHS website).
If you don't already have a prescription from your Doctor for malaria medication, you can save precious time by using our online consultation service to order the suitable malaria medicines for this region by clicking on the following links.
Any of the medicine listed can be recommended for malaria prevention in this region. If you already have a prescription for malaria medicine from your Family Doctor, then you can order the quantity on your prescription(s) on the following links.
› Atovaquone and Proguanil 250mg/100mg- Generic Alternative to Malarone
› Malarone Tablets
› Malarone Children's Tablets (for Children under 40kg weight)
› Doxycycline Capsules
› Lariam Tablets (Mefloquine 250mg)
Your online consultation will be reviewed by a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber registered in the UK with the General Pharmaceutical Council. We only dispense genuine UK licensed medicines.
Travelpharm will supply your prescription, once we receive it from you. When you place your order on one of the links below, please follow the instructions on where to send the prescription.
Be wary of infection from the local insects, most prominently mosquitos.
There is an assortment of products to improve your chances of not being bitten when outside but also when resting.
For more information and advice on how to prevent malaria, see our How To Avoid Insect & Mosquito Bites page.
This is a virus passed on by being bitten by infected mosquitos.
The incubation period is typically 3–7 days and symptoms include acute onset of fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, conjunctivitis, nausea/vomiting, or rash.
The symptoms usually go within 10 days but in some may last months especially the elderly and people with underlying health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
As this is a virus, there is no medication to prevent or treat the disease and anti-malarial tablets such as Chloroquine will not have an effect on it.
Bite avoidance measures should be taken and followed firmly to reduce the likelihood of being bitten.
The affected mosquitoes tend to bite during the day so wear long sleeved clothing and trousers wherever possible and ensure that a strong insect repellent is used and reapplied regularly, especially after swimming.
You should also sleep under a mosquito net and if you are staying for a long time or are unsure of the hotel/hostel, it would be advisable to take a battery operated or plug in mosquito killer for your room to kill any lingering mosquitos.
Below is a table designed to show you what vaccines are mandatory, recommended or ones to consider when visiting Colombia:
| Cholera | Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B | Japanese Encephalitis | Meningitis | Rabies |
| Rec | Con | Con |
| Tetanus | Tick Borne Encephalitis | Tuberculosis | Typhoid | Yellow Fever Certificate | Yellow Fever Vaccine |
| Rec | Con | Rec |
Man = Mandatory
Con = Consider
Rec = Recommended
Req = Required if visiting from area with risk of transmission