Colombia wildfire forces evacuations near Villa de Leyva

A wildfire near Villa de Leyva, one of Colombia’s best-known tourist destinations, has prompted preventive evacuations and a public calamity declaration, creating potential disruption for travellers in the region.

The fire began on Saturday in mountains overlooking the colonial town, about 160km north-east of Bogotá. By Sunday evening, around 290 hectares had burned, and the blaze was about 50% under control.

Strong winds have hampered firefighting and pushed flames towards populated areas. Hotels near the fire were among properties affected by preventive evacuations, while in-person classes were suspended.

More than 400 firefighters, emergency workers, residents, and volunteers have been involved in the response, supported by four helicopters making water drops.

The incident comes amid a wider increase in wildfire activity across Colombia. The national disaster management agency was monitoring 27 forest fires, including 19 that remained active. The weather agency has issued wildfire warnings for 279 municipalities, with 36 at the highest red-alert level.

For travellers, the situation could mean local evacuations, accommodation disruption, road access issues, and changes to planned itineraries. Travellers with upcoming trips to affected areas should monitor local authority, airline, and accommodation updates and check their travel insurance policy for applicable cover.