The town is on the eastern bank of the Atrato River, which locally forms the border between the Antioquia and Chocó Departments of Colombia.

[3] Vigía del Fuerte neighbours Bellavista, and played a significant role, suffering losses during, and receiving those fleeing the Bojayá massacre in 2002.

[citation needed] The town is served by the Vigía del Fuerte Airstrip, receiving a more or less daily charter flight in the form of a small propeller plane, connecting it to Medellin.

The guerrilleros ended up launching a cilindro bomba, a makeshift, heavy explosive, into the police station.

[7] On October 11, 2013, presumed FARC rebels attacked the municipality's airport, destroying an aircraft in the process.