Alternative routes in Colombia

Updated: August 12, 2026

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, August 10, caused damage in various regions of the country and led to road closures, landslides, and traffic restrictions on several routes. The quake occurred at 7:34 a.m. and had its epicenter near San José del Palmar, Chocó.

For those planning to travel by bus, knowing the condition of the roads is especially important. Some roads remain closed, while others have been partially reopened or are once again passable following inspections by the authorities.

In this guide, you’ll find the main affected roads, routes with restricted access, roads that have already been reopened, and recommendations to keep in mind before starting your trip.

Important: Road conditions can change throughout the day. Before heading to the terminal, check for the latest updates and contact the transportation company directly.

 

Among the routes affected are:

• Manizales – Fresno: Complete closure in the Herveo area.
• Armenia – Montenegro: Partial closure at some points.
• Montenegro – Quimbaya: total and partial closures in various sections.
• Pereira – Chinchiná: total closure on the affected stretch.
• Cali – Loboguerrero: total closures at several points.
• Buenaventura – Buga: affected sections and controlled traffic at points where authorities have allowed passage.
• La Unión – La Victoria: Closure in the area of the Mariano Ospina Bridge.

Important: Road conditions may change throughout the day. Before traveling, check the latest road conditions and follow the authorities’ instructions. Updated August 12, 2026.

Not all affected roads remain completely closed. At some points, authorities have opened one lane to traffic while cleanup and assessment efforts continue.

Among the main corridors with restricted access are:

• Calarcá – Cajamarca: one-lane traffic on Provincial Roads (PR) 17, 27, and 31.
• Armenia – Montenegro – Alcalá: one lane open on PR 4.
• Puente La Libertad – Fresno: one-lane traffic on PR 47, 43, and 33.
• Other areas of the Coffee Region remain under observation due to landslides.

If your trip passes through any of these corridors, please be aware that your usual travel time may increase due to restrictions and controlled traffic.

Roads That Have Already Been Reopened

• Following the earthquake, some roads that had been closed as a precautionary measure were reopened after the necessary inspections.
• Among them is the Cauyá–La Felisa corridor, which has been fully reopened after a landslide was addressed.
• The reopening of the La Línea crossing has also been confirmed, although some sections still have restrictions and are limited to one lane.

Note: It is important not to treat a list of closures as definitive—conditions may change as response efforts progress.

When a road remains closed, transportation companies may consider route changes depending on road conditions and instructions from the authorities.

However, not all affected corridors currently have an official alternate route confirmed. For this reason, travelers are advised not to attempt to arrange a detour for a bus service on their own.

Quindío: Circasia as an Alternative

In some areas of Montenegro–Quimbaya and affected areas of the department of Quindío, Circasia has been reported as an alternative route in response to certain road closures or restricted access points.

This alternative appears in reports on the impacts caused by the earthquake, especially in areas where landslides and fallen trees have occurred.
If your route passes through this area, check with the transportation company before starting your trip to confirm whether the service will use this route or if another change has been made.

Cali – Loboguerrero

The Cali–Loboguerrero road remains completely closed at the affected section in Dagua. Due to this situation, travelers planning to travel to the western part of Valle del Cauca should check directly with their transportation company regarding possible route changes.

We do not recommend assuming that a specific secondary route will be available for buses, as its use depends on the condition of the road and safety conditions.

Buga – Buenaventura

The Buga–Buenaventura corridor is experiencing disruptions at various points, and efforts to assess the situation and clear debris are ongoing.

In this case as well, there is no single alternate route that we can generally recommend for all travelers. The transportation company will determine, based on road conditions, whether it is possible to continue, modify the route, or wait for the corridor to reopen.

Ibagué – Cajamarca

The Ibagué–Cajamarca corridor is also experiencing significant disruptions. Therefore, before traveling between these cities or using this route as part of a longer journey, it is essential to confirm the current status of the route.

Alternatives may change as new sections are reopened or additional restrictions are put in place.

If you’ve already purchased your ticket and your trip is coming up, that doesn’t necessarily mean the service has been canceled. Whether the service operates will depend on road conditions and the transportation company’s decisions.

1. Check the status of your route: Before leaving home, check to see if the route you’ll be traveling on has any closures or restrictions. Road conditions can change several times throughout the day.
2. Check with the transportation company: If there’s an issue on the route, the company can tell you whether the service is running on schedule, if there will be adjustments, or if there are changes to the route.
3. Leave early: If the highway is operating with traffic restricted to a single lane, congestion may occur and significantly increase your travel time.
4. Do not attempt to cross a closed area: If authorities have imposed a total closure, respect it. Landslides and rockfalls may continue even after the initial seismic event.
5. Stay informed: To check official road information, visit Invías’ channels, which provide tools to find out about closures, restrictions, emergencies, and alternate routes.
   
   

Stay Tuned for Updates

In a situation like this, information can change quickly. That’s why, if you have a trip scheduled, it’s also important to stay tuned to communications from the transportation company and redBus’s digital channels.

Through our social media channels, we can share information related to operations, recommendations for travelers, and updates that may affect certain routes.

Before heading to the terminal, check the latest updates and confirm any changes directly with the transportation company.]

Why might routes change?

After an earthquake, a highway may go from being closed to operating on a single lane or be fully reopened following inspections.

This happened with some routes that were closed as a precautionary measure and later reopened to traffic. For example, La Línea and Bogotá–Villavicencio were reopened after inspections, while other routes continue to have restrictions.

Therefore, if you come across information published in the first few hours after the earthquake, always verify that it is still current before making a decision about your trip.

Travel Informed and with Caution

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused significant damage to various roads in Colombia, particularly in the Coffee Region and the western part of the country.

Although some roads remain closed, others have partially resumed traffic, and emergency crews continue to work to reopen the affected sections.

If you have a trip planned, the most important thing is to check the status of your route, verify any possible changes with the transportation company, and leave with plenty of time to spare.

Not all alternate routs are suitable for buses, nor are they available throughout the day, so any changes must be made following the instructions of the authorities and the operator.

Remember: Before traveling, check road conditions and confirm the status of your service. At redBus, we’ll continue to monitor any developments that may affect travel to help you plan your trip with the most up-to-date information possible.

Amid this emergency, you can also help. redBus, in partnership with Velotax, will set up a collection center at the Salitre Terminal in Bogotá to receive aid for those affected by the earthquake.

If you have family, friends, or acquaintances in Bogotá who would like to help, please share this information with them so they can visit the collection center and find out how to contribute.

Location: Salitre Terminal, Bogotá

In partnership with: Velotax

Every contribution counts. Share this information so it reaches more people.

Are you looking for someone after the earthquake in Colombia?

redBus is reaching out to help and is making its social media platforms available to you so you can search for and/or get news about your family members, friends, and acquaintances who are in the areas affected by this natural disaster.

• Facebook: redBus (CO)
• Instagram: @redbus.co
• TikTok: @redbus.co