Colombia in 2026: Public Holidays, Long Weekends & How the Country Moves

Colombia Public Holidays 2026

Colombia doesn’t stop for its public holidays. It moves differently. Rather than single days of celebration, the country follows a rhythm built around long weekends. Many holidays are officially observed on Mondays, quietly stretching a normal break into a few extra days. For travelers, this rhythm shapes everything from flight availability to road traffic, especially around major cities.

If you’re planning to explore Colombia in 2026, knowing when these pauses happen makes the difference between a smooth journey and a crowded one.

Major Religious and Cultural Holidays

Religion and history quietly guide Colombia’s holiday calendar.

• Holy Week in April is one of the most influential periods of the year. While only Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are official days off, travel often increases across the entire week, especially to traditionally religious cities such as Popayán.
• Independence Day in July brings parades and official ceremonies rather than large street festivals, but it still drives significant domestic travel.
• August holidays often coincide with school breaks, creating a noticeable rise in movement between cities.
• December celebrations focus on family gatherings and religious observances, gradually building toward Christmas.

These moments don’t always feel loud, but they shape how the country flows.

Long Weekends and Travel Culture

Colombia’s holiday system favors extended breaks. When a holiday lands midweek, it is often shifted to the following Monday. Locals refer to these long weekends as puentes festivos (holiday bridges).

During these periods:

• Short trips replace longer annual vacations
• Coastal towns, coffee regions, and historic cities fill quickly
• Friday departures and Monday returns become the busiest travel windows

Travelers who arrive expecting business as usual often discover fuller buses, higher fares, and slower roads.

Traffic and Road Conditions During Holidays

Holiday weekends affect more than schedules. They also change how roads operate.

On major routes leaving cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Cartagena:

• License plate circulation rules are often adjusted for holiday periods
• Heavy trucks may be temporarily restricted from certain highways
• Return traffic on Mondays can move slowly for hours

These measures are designed to reduce congestion, but they can extend travel times, especially for road trips.

What Stays Open

Public holidays in Colombia don’t mean a full shutdown.

You can usually expect:

• Restaurants, cafés, and shopping malls to stay open
• Airports and long-distance buses to continue operating
• Ride-hailing services to remain available

Meanwhile:

• Banks and government offices close
• Smaller local businesses may reduce hours
• Freight and logistics services often slow down during long weekends

Seasonal Travel Considerations

Colombia’s climate varies by region, but holidays still influence when people travel.

• Early year brings steady movement tied to long weekends and drier conditions in many areas.
• Mid-year months are among the busiest, combining school holidays with national celebrations.
• Late year feels festive but crowded, particularly in major cities and resort areas.

Travel during these periods is entirely manageable, but it rewards planning.

Staying Connected While Traveling in Colombia

During long weekends and festival periods, transport delays and last-minute route changes are common, especially outside major cities. Reliable mobile data helps travelers adjust plans, check schedules, and stay in touch.

An eSIM is often chosen for its simplicity:

• No physical SIM swaps
• Instant activation
• Works across cities and regions

Eskimo eSIM advantages include:

• Longest validity: fixed data plans remain valid for up to 2 years.
• Data rollover: unused data extends when you top up.
• One universal eSIM: install once and use across destinations.
• Instant data transfer: share data with other Eskimo users.
• Flexible activation: plans start only when you connect.
• New users receive 500 MB of free global data, making it easy to test the service before committing to a full plan.

A Colombia eSIM is often the simplest option, as it activates digitally without the need for physical SIM cards or store visits. This flexibility is especially useful when traveling between regions or continuing onward to other Latin American destinations.

FAQs

How many public holidays are there in Colombia in 2026?

Colombia observes 18 national public holidays in 2026, many of which are moved to Mondays to create long weekends.

What are the main festivos in Colombia in 2026?

Key holidays include Holy Week, Independence Day (July 20), Battle of Boyacá (August 7), and Christmas Day.

Why do many Colombian holidays fall on Mondays?

Colombia applies a Monday-shift system to encourage long weekends, known as puentes festivos.

What are puentes festivos in Colombia?

Puentes festivos are long weekends created when public holidays are observed on Mondays, which significantly shape most domestic travel patterns.

Are there traffic restrictions during long weekends?

Yes. Measures such as pico y placa puente festivo and restrictions on freight vehicles are often applied during peak travel periods.

Do businesses close during festivos in Colombia?

Government offices and banks usually close, while retail, restaurants, and tourism services typically remain open with adjusted hours.