AGP Executive Report

Tourism Honors: Colombia was named South America’s Leading Youth Travel Destination at the 2026 World Travel Awards. Boyacá won top regional destination for a second year, Cartagena was named leading honeymoon destination, and Bogotá hotels and venues also earned awards. Air Access: JetBlue has launched daily Fort Lauderdale–Cali flights, adding Cali as its fourth Colombian destination and widening links with South Florida. Visitor Growth: Medellín welcomed 1.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, led by travelers from the U.S. Responsible Travel: Colombian Pacific tourism groups are urging whale-watching visitors to give the animals space. Cruise News: AmaWaterways plans a 2027 Peru extension to its Colombia river-cruise offerings, including a journey to Machu Picchu.

Birding Travel: Global bookings for birdwatching experiences jumped 65% year over year, putting Colombia’s remarkable birdlife in the spotlight as interest in nature-focused trips grows. Pacific Whale Watching: In La Barra, Buenaventura, residents are working to balance tourism income with giving humpback whales space in their coastal waters. Air Links: JetBlue is expanding Fort Lauderdale–Cali service, with fares advertised from $139; Clic has also launched daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú. Visitor Growth: Medellín welcomed 1.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, led by travelers from the United States. Nature Discovery: Researchers identified a new giant water lily, Victoria colombiana, in the Inírida region—an exceptional find that highlights the Orinoquía’s natural riches. Cruise Itineraries: AmaWaterways plans to add a Peru extension to its Colombia river cruises in 2027.

Responsible Wildlife Tourism: In La Barra, Buenaventura, whale-watching families are developing practical rules to limit boat pressure on humpbacks while protecting a vital source of income. New Air Links: JetBlue has launched daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cali, with introductory fares from $139, adding competition on the route. Clic has also started daily Bogotá–Pereira service and plans holiday flights to Cartagena and Tolú. Visitor Growth: Medellín welcomed 1.2 million international visitors in 2025, led by travelers from the United States. River Cruises: AmaWaterways will add a five-night Peru extension to its Colombia river cruise from 2027, including a train journey to Machu Picchu. Nature Discovery: Researchers have identified a rare giant water lily in Colombia’s Guainía region, combining scientific research with Indigenous knowledge.

Responsible Whale Watching: In La Barra, Buenaventura, growing boat traffic is testing the community’s relationship with humpback whales. Residents are asking visitors to give the animals space as whale watching supports local livelihoods. New Cali Flights: JetBlue has launched daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Cali, adding competition on the route; introductory one-way fares start at $139. Medellín Tourism: The city welcomed 1.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, with travelers from the United States leading arrivals. River Cruise Expansion: AmaWaterways plans to pair its Colombia Magdalena River cruise with a five-night Peru extension, including Machu Picchu, from 2027.

Whale Watching: In La Barra, Buenaventura, residents are setting rules to keep boats from crowding humpback whales, balancing tourism income with longstanding community respect for the animals. New Cali Flights: JetBlue has launched daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale, adding a second carrier on the route; introductory fares start at $139 one way. Rare Find: Researchers confirmed a new giant water lily species near Inírida, in Guainía. The discovery highlights the region’s natural appeal—and the need to protect a plant with fewer than 50 known wild specimens. Medellín Tourism: The city recorded 1.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, led by U.S. travelers, and is promoting neighborhoods beyond the popular Comuna 13. River Cruise Extension: AmaWaterways plans to add a five-night Peru trip, including Machu Picchu, to select Colombia river cruises from 2027.

Air Access: JetBlue began daily Fort Lauderdale–Cali flights on Oct. 15, adding competition to Avianca on the route. Introductory one-way fares start at $139, giving South Florida travelers a new nonstop option to Colombia’s salsa capital. Medellín Tourism: The city welcomed 1.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, led by travelers from the U.S., and tourism generated an estimated 5 trillion pesos. Officials are promoting creative districts and nature and wellness trips beyond the usual Comuna 13 stop. Nature Discovery: Researchers confirmed a new giant water-lily species in Guainía after photos surfaced online. The rare plant may have fewer than 50 left in the wild, underscoring the need to protect its habitat. River Cruises: AmaWaterways plans a five-night Peru extension, including Machu Picchu, for select Colombia river cruises from 2027; it expects to offer the add-on on every Magdalena River sailing in 2028. Coastal Access: Erosion and flooding are damaging homes, beaches and infrastructure in communities on Colombia’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts, disrupting routes to services and threatening local livelihoods.

Air Links: JetBlue launched daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cali on Oct. 15, adding the city as its fourth Colombian destination alongside Cartagena, Medellín and Barranquilla. Introductory fares start at $139 one way. Medellín Tourism: The city welcomed 1.2 million international visitors in 2025, led by travelers from the U.S., and tourism generated an estimated 5 trillion pesos. Officials are promoting creative districts and nature and wellness experiences beyond the popular Comuna 13 tour. Year-End Trips: Colombia’s November–December draws include Medellín’s Christmas lights, Cali’s Feria de Cali, Caribbean beaches, coffee-country landscapes and Bogotá’s holiday traditions.

New Air Link: JetBlue launched daily nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Cali on Oct. 15, adding the salsa capital as its fourth Colombian destination alongside Cartagena, Medellín and Barranquilla. Year-End Trips: A new guide highlights Medellín’s Christmas lights and Cali’s Feria de Cali, along with Caribbean beaches, coffee-region scenery and Bogotá’s December traditions. More Connections: Clic has started daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú; Turkish Airlines will also sell LATAM connections to eight Colombian cities.

Air Access: JetBlue launched daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cali on Oct. 15, adding the salsa capital as its fourth Colombian destination alongside Cartagena, Medellín and Barranquilla. Clic is also adding daily Bogotá–Pereira service and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú. Seasonal Travel: Medellín’s Christmas lights and Cali’s Feria de Cali lead a guide to Colombia’s November–December highlights, alongside Caribbean beaches, coffee-country scenery and Bogotá’s holiday traditions. Cruise Travel: AmaWaterways plans to add a Machu Picchu extension to its Colombia river cruises in 2027, offering travelers a new way to combine a river journey with Peru’s iconic archaeological site.

Cruise Extensions: AmaWaterways will add a six-day Machu Picchu trip to selected Colombia river cruises from April 2027, starting in Cartagena and including flights, hotels and guided visits. Tourism Recovery: Pereira’s Ukumari Biopark is urging visitors to return after earthquake-related attendance losses; ticket sales help fund animal care. New Connections: Clic has launched daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú. Turkish Airlines will also sell LATAM connections to eight Colombian cities, while a new Medellín–Guatapé seaplane route cuts the trip to 20 minutes. Medellín Update: Demolition has begun on an abandoned former Pablo Escobar property in El Poblado, a popular tourist district, after authorities cited security concerns.

Travel Safety: The UK has expanded its “do not travel” advice for Venezuela to include Amazonas state and areas within 25 miles of the Colombia border, citing armed groups and criminal activity. Medellín: Authorities have begun demolishing an abandoned former Pablo Escobar property in El Poblado, a busy tourist district, after it became a security concern. An Australian visitor was also reportedly kidnapped and stabbed after attending the city’s EDC music festival; police are investigating. Tourism Recovery: Pereira’s Ukumari Biopark is urging visitors to return as attendance remains below pre-earthquake levels, with ticket sales helping fund animal care. New Journeys: AmaWaterways will offer a Machu Picchu extension for selected Colombia river cruises from 2027, with the option available on all eligible departures from 2028. Getting Around: Clic has launched daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú.

Festival Safety: Medellín’s Oct. 10–11 Electric Daisy Carnival has been overshadowed by two foreign attendees’ deaths and the alleged kidnapping and stabbing of Australian visitor Frank Ramirez, who remains hospitalized. Authorities are investigating; one death’s cause has not been confirmed. Air Links: Clic has started daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans holiday routes to Cartagena and Tolú. Turkish Airlines will sell LATAM connections to eight Colombian cities through a codeshare. Cruise Travel: AmaWaterways will add a six-day Machu Picchu extension to select 2027 Magdalena River cruises, departing from Cartagena; it plans to offer the trip on every sailing from 2028. Travel Disruptions: After Panama’s earthquake diverted Copa flights to Barranquilla and Cartagena, Bahamian passengers reported long waits and inadequate assistance. The Bahamas said it was coordinating onward travel with the airline and Colombian officials.

Cruise Travel: AmaWaterways will add a five-night Peru extension to select 2027 Magdalena River cruises, taking guests from Cartagena to Lima before visits to Cusco and Machu Picchu. From 2028, it plans to offer the extension on every “Magic of Colombia” sailing. Flight Disruptions: Passengers on a Copa flight diverted to Barranquilla after Panama’s earthquake say they spent nearly 12 hours aboard without adequate food, water or assistance. Visitor Safety: Two foreign attendees died after Medellín’s first Electric Daisy Carnival, and an Australian visitor was stabbed over the same weekend. More Connections: Clic has launched daily Bogotá–Pereira flights and plans seasonal routes to Cartagena and Tolú. A LATAM–Turkish Airlines codeshare also opens connections via Bogotá to eight Colombian cities. Road Safety: A car bomb at a toll booth in Cauca injured civilians on the Pan-American Highway, disrupting a key regional route.

Flight Connections: Clic has added a daily Bogotá–Pereira service and plans seasonal flights from Pereira to Cartagena and Tolú. A new LATAM–Turkish Airlines codeshare also opens one-ticket connections from Bogotá to eight Colombian cities, including Leticia, Pasto and Riohacha. Amazon Tourism: A Leticia hackathon produced a winning app in five Indigenous languages to promote local products and help Indigenous ecotourism and ethnotourism ventures reach travelers. Travel Safety: A car bomb at a toll booth in Cauca injured at least three people as rebel violence escalated along the Pan-American Highway. Travelers heading to the region should follow current local security updates. Food and Culture: Cali features in a new culinary travel series spotlighting how local dishes and ingredients connect visitors with the city’s traditions. Cartagena Cruise Stop: Holland America’s 2027 Pan Am centenary cruise will include a Cartagena excursion exploring the historic city in classic cars.

Cauca Security: A car bomb at a toll booth near El Bordo injured at least three people as fighting between armed groups and the military intensified. The attack targeted the Pan-American Highway, a key route for travelers and freight. Avianca Safety: Eight passengers were hospitalized after severe turbulence forced a Medellín–New York flight to divert to Miami. Frequent-Flyer Tips: A new Avianca LifeMiles guide highlights Star Alliance award options and warns travelers to check redemption prices before transferring points, as booking glitches and pricing changes can occur. New Excursion: A Medellín–Guatapé seaplane route is reported to cut travel time to 20 minutes. Cartagena Cruises: Holland America has detailed shore excursions for its 2027 Pan Am anniversary voyage, including a classic-car tour of Cartagena.

Bogotá Festival: Rock al Parque marks its 30th anniversary over the October 10–12 holiday weekend, bringing free live music to Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park. New Air Link: Wingo will launch twice-weekly Bogotá–Puerto Plata flights on November 6, adding a direct option for Colombian travelers heading to the Dominican Republic. Antioquia Excursion: A new Medellín–Guatapé seaplane route promises to cut the journey to 20 minutes. Regional Travel Disruption: Panama’s powerful earthquake forced Tocumen Airport to suspend operations and prompted flight diversions, including for travelers connecting through the region.