Colombia Roadblocks Can Disrupt Airport Transfers

Published on Nov 12, 2025, 11:30 am CST

5 min read

Key points

Strikes and unauthorized roadblocks periodically block highways and city arteries in Colombia
Access to El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá has been affected during recent demonstrations
Advisories recommend checking routes, allowing extra transfer time, and avoiding protest areas
Roadblocks can also disrupt intercity buses and regional flights when access roads are cut
Monitor first party alerts from authorities and your airline on the day of travel

Impact

Airport Access: Add at least one extra hour to airport transfers in Bogotá and confirm the route before departure
Intercity Buses: Expect detours, delays, or cancellations when blockades occur on principal corridors
Route Checks: Use official mobility channels and mapping apps with live traffic to verify Calle 26 and alternate approaches
What To Do: Avoid protest areas, keep hotel and airline contacts handy, and ask carriers about no fee changes when access is blocked
Safety Notes: Follow local authority guidance at checkpoints and do not attempt to cross barricades

Colombia sees periodic strikes and unauthorized roadblocks that can halt traffic on major highways and within cities, which at times has included the approaches to El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Travelers should plan for possible detours, slower transfers, and occasional difficulty reaching bus terminals or airport drop offs when demonstrations are active. Several recent official alerts and local reports have documented protests that slowed movement across Bogotá and nearby departments, underscoring the need to build buffers and run route checks before setting out.

Bogotá and airport approaches

Bogotá concentrates national level demonstrations and labor actions, and its road grid funnels airport bound traffic along a few key approaches. The primary corridor to El Dorado International Airport is Avenida El Dorado, also known as Calle 26, with alternate paths via Avenida Boyacá and the Avenida Ciudad de Cali axis. When protests occur on these arteries, police establish rolling closures or diversions that can extend transfer times well beyond normal traffic. U.S. Embassy demonstration alerts in October 2025 flagged multiple protest sites across Bogotá on the same day, a pattern that can scatter disruptions and complicate re routing for private cars, taxis, and ride hails. City mobility updates on November 7, 2025 likewise recorded marches affecting Calle 26 and the Circunvalar corridor, which are critical feeders for cross town trips to the airport.

Travelers should plan conservative pickup times, ask drivers to check traffic cameras, and confirm which access road is clear in the hour before departure. If mobility bulletins show blockages along Calle 26, consider setting earlier departures from central and north Bogotá districts so there is time to detour via Boyacá or Ciudad de Cali if needed.

Intercity roadblocks and regional connections

The risk is not limited to the capital. Embassy alerts in August 2025 warned of blockades on primary roads in Cundinamarca and neighboring Boyacá, which can strand intercity buses and delay private vehicles bound for regional airports. National strike actions in May 2025 produced highway blockages across several corridors, with transport industry groups reporting significant economic impact from halted freight and passenger flows. These conditions can cascade into same day schedule changes, since airlines adjust operations when crews or passengers cannot reach terminals on time.

What official advisories say

Advisory language from multiple governments highlights this recurring hazard. The Government of Canada explicitly warns that strikes occur often in Colombia and that associated roadblocks on major transit routes may cause significant travel disruptions, including unauthorized roadblocks that pose safety risks. U.S. State Department material for Colombia directs travelers to exercise increased caution due to civil unrest alongside crime and terrorism concerns. Australia's Smartraveller also notes an elevated caution posture nationwide, with higher levels in specific areas. These advisories do not target a single date, rather they describe a pattern that can flare with limited notice and vary by region.

Recent examples to calibrate expectations

Recent local reporting and public posts provide concrete examples of how quickly access can change. On November 7, 2025, Colombian media documented a labor action that briefly blocked a roadway feeding El Dorado International Airport, with images of slowed traffic, police presence, and crowd control near the access route. The same day, the Bogotá city portal carried live mobility notes listing demonstrations along key avenues, which can force detours for airport transfers even when the terminal itself remains fully operational. Earlier in the year, national strike days saw road closures and slow rolling barricades in multiple departments, which disrupted long distance bus lines and logistics. These snapshots are consistent with advisory language that urges day of travel checks.

Analysis

For practical planning, the most important choice is when to leave for the airport and which route to take. Build at least one extra hour into transfers when demonstrations are anticipated. If you typically allow two hours before a domestic flight or three hours before an international flight, consider adding one additional hour when alerts mention Bogotá marches or regional highway blockades. Confirm conditions on Calle 26 and its alternates within sixty minutes of pickup, then re check en route since police can open or close lanes dynamically. If your airline offers no fee same day changes because of civil unrest and access issues, request that option before you are late to the check in cutoff.

Background, in Colombia, protests and labor actions are lawful with permits, but unauthorized blockades can emerge quickly and may be cleared by police without long warning. Embassy alerts are reliable early indicators inside major cities, while municipal mobility feeds and traffic apps provide the most current block by block status. When in doubt, ask your hotel or a trusted driver to verify which approach is flowing before you depart. Do not attempt to bypass barricades on foot or by vehicle, and avoid filming confrontations.

Final thoughts

Roadblock risk in Colombia is intermittent, not constant, yet it can meaningfully affect the day you travel. Treat route checks and time buffers as standard procedure for Bogotá airport transfers and for intercity road travel during announced strike periods. With a conservative schedule and live verification of approaches, most travelers can avoid missed flights and unplanned overnight stays.