Is Chivor safe to visit? What to know before you travel

What official travel advice says

The UK publishes some of the most detailed travel advice on Colombia. Its 30 October 2026 version advises against all but essential travel to Catatumbo, most of Arauca, the 5 km strip along the Venezuelan border, much of Chocó and the Pacific coast of Valle del Cauca, among other areas. Neither Boyacá nor Cundinamarca appears on those lists.

That is not the same as zero risk. The same advice notes that the most common problem for visitors is theft in large cities, including La Candelaria in Bogotá, and that mobile coverage is limited in the countryside. Check your own government's advice too: these documents change often.

Is Muzo or Chivor dangerous? Two different histories

Search for "Colombia emeralds violence" and almost everything you find is about western Boyacá. There, between 1965 and 1990, the so-called green wars set emerald groups against each other for control of the mines, with thousands killed according to figures cited by the Colombian press. They ended with a peace accord signed on 12 July 1990. After 2013 there were new episodes of tension in that area.

Chivor lies in the other belt, the eastern one, about ten hours by road from Borbur. Its surroundings are shaped by mining and by two of the country's largest hydropower plants.

The Chivor dam, the Guavio and the security forces

The reservoir you cross by ferry near Macanal is called La Esmeralda and feeds the Chivor plant: 1,000 MW and eight Pelton turbines, built between 1970 and 1977. To the south, at Mambita (Ubalá), the Guavio plant runs inside the mountain. At 1,260 MW it is the largest operating plant in Colombia, and a 2.2 km tunnel diverts the Chivor river into its reservoir.

Both are strategic infrastructure, and there is a permanent presence of Colombia's security forces in the region. We say this from our experience operating there, not as an official figure, and we do not publish locations or details of that presence. What we do: check local and mine conditions before every departure.

Roads, timing and rain

From Bogotá it takes about 5 to 6 hours. The last stretch is an unpaved mountain road, which is why the trip is planned in daylight, as the UK advice recommends for any rural road in the country.

The Colombian government has declared an El Niño event for 2026–2027 with a high probability of strong intensity, and unusual rainfall and landslides are expected. After heavy rain, ask about the road before setting out. The alternative route via Ubalá is only for motorbikes or 4x4s.

Cash and signal

Bring cash for local expenses: there are no ATMs or card machines at the mines. If you need to withdraw money, do it in Bogotá, during banking hours, inside a bank or a shopping center.

Mobile signal in the countryside is patchy. The hacienda has WiFi. Before heading up to the mine, leave your itinerary with someone you trust.

What not to photograph

Photographing military installations or strategic state sites is illegal in Colombia. In practice: no photos of soldiers, checkpoints or the dam installations. Inside the mine, ask before photographing the miners. It is their workplace.

Health and insurance

Chivor sits at about 2,000 m. That is not extreme altitude, but the humidity and the effort inside the mine are noticeable. Every tour includes medical assistance cover during the experience. Comprehensive travel insurance is not included, and if you are traveling from abroad we recommend it.

If you have a heart condition, a severe phobia or are recovering from an injury, message us before booking.

In an emergency

Colombia's emergency number is 123. During the mining day the guide stays with the group from start to finish, and before the trip you get the team's WhatsApp for anything that comes up on the road.

One rule never changes: nobody enters the mine without a guide.