FBOs at Rafael Núñez International Airport SKCG CTG

Airport security

Cartagena sits outside the restricted zones identified by both U.S. and UK government advisories, though both countries maintain elevated national-level warnings for Colombia — the U.S. State Department currently rates Colombia at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), citing risks including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

Within the city, the dominant street-level risks are opportunistic petty theft and tourist-targeting scams, particularly in high-footfall areas, though street crime can escalate to violence.

Terrorism risk, while not Cartagena-specific, extends nationally to airports, hotels, and transportation hubs, with illegal armed groups operating in rural areas within the broader regional vicinity of the city.

Rafael Núñez International Airport is a full-service international commercial airport operating on a 24-hour basis under a formal concession operator, with published Safety Management System commitments and a multilayered screening process involving airline staff, airport police, and anti-narcotics and customs enforcement agencies.

Explosive trace detection equipment and biometric immigration processing for international departures are documented as part of the facility's operational security posture.

No formal ICAO Annex 17 security classification or equivalent last-point-of-departure rating has been disclosed in any publicly available authoritative source; the screening standard is consistent with what Colombian civil aviation regulations require of international airports of entry at this operational scale.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: H24 — customs available 24 hours as a designated Airport of Entry SKCG is a full Airport of Entry with customs, immigration, and agriculture inspection services available around the clock.

Ground corridor

• Cartagena's ground transport risk profile is dominated by opportunistic property crime and taxi-related fraud rather than violent crime
• the primary threats to visitors are overcharging by unmetered taxis, unlicensed vehicles operating near terminal exits, and scopolamine-facilitated robbery — both the FCDO and U.S. State Department specifically flag unlicensed taxis and drug-facilitated crime in this city. The Crespo neighbourhood immediately surrounding the airport is a transitional zone between the terminal and the tourist corridor and warrants standard urban vigilance
• the established tourist corridors (Walled City, Bocagrande, Getsemaní) offer heavier police presence and are recommended travel routes. Pre-arranged vehicles with confirmed plate details and a professional driver are strongly advised over any street-hailed or unsolicited transport at the terminal, consistent with U.S. Embassy guidance prohibiting street-hailed taxis for government personnel in Colombia. No active movement restrictions, armed-conflict-zone designations, or comprehensive U.S. embargo conditions apply to Cartagena or the Bolívar Department
• elevated diligence is required across Colombia generally given the U.S. State Department Level 3 advisory, but no blanket avoid advisory applies to this city or airport.

City threat summary

Cartagena sits outside the restricted zones identified by both U.S. and UK government advisories, though both countries maintain elevated national-level warnings for Colombia — the U.S. State Department currently rates Colombia at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), citing risks including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

Within the city, the dominant street-level risks are opportunistic petty theft and tourist-targeting scams, particularly in high-footfall areas, though street crime can escalate to violence.

Terrorism risk, while not Cartagena-specific, extends nationally to airports, hotels, and transportation hubs, with illegal armed groups operating in rural areas within the broader regional vicinity of the city.

Country overview

Colombia's security environment has deteriorated markedly under the weight of expanding non-state armed group activity, with the government's 'Total Peace' policy having failed to deliver meaningful results and violence reaching its highest sustained levels since the 2016 Peace Agreement.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August 2026, has shut down predecessor peace negotiations with armed groups and named a new military high command, signaling a harder security posture.

Multiple departments remain subject to 'Do Not Travel' advisories from the U.S. State Department and FCDO 'advise against all but essential travel' designations, reflecting ongoing armed conflict, kidnapping, terrorism, and criminality across large swaths of the country.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Cali SKCL CRITICAL
• Guapi SKGP CRITICAL
• Barranquilla SKBQ HIGH
• Bogotá SKBO HIGH
• Bucaramanga SKBG HIGH
• Cartagena SKCG HIGH
• Pereira SKPE HIGH
• Riohacha SKRH HIGH
• Rionegro SKRG HIGH
• Santa Marta SKSM HIGH