IVF cycles run on tight timelines. A missed monitoring visit, a delayed retrieval, or a cancelled embryology day can seriously disrupt outcomes. Colombian clinics generally run reliably, but the country has more official holidays than the US and several longer closure windows that materially affect scheduling.
This guide covers the calendar to plan around and the practical rules for medical tourists.
The Windows That Matter
Semana Santa (Easter Week)
The week before Easter. Dates shift annually — always confirm the current year's calendar. Most fertility clinics operate on skeleton staff during this week. Non-emergent procedures (retrievals, transfers) are rarely scheduled. Consultations may or may not run.
Impact on cycles: cycles are typically not started in the 3–4 weeks before Semana Santa if the trigger or retrieval date would fall during the closure. Cycles in progress may complete earlier or shift to accommodate.
Christmas and New Year (Dec 20 – Jan 5)
Similar dynamic. Colombian clinics generally close for a 2-week window around Christmas. Some operate limited hours through the 20s, close entirely for the last week of December, and reopen the first week of January.
Impact on cycles: cycles are usually not started in November if timing would push retrieval into late December. Transfers scheduled for early December are common; late December transfers are avoided.
Colombian Independence Day (July 20) and Battle of Boyacá (August 7)
Individual national holidays. Most clinics close for the day and are open normally the day before and after. Monitoring appointments may need to shift.
Weekend restrictions
Many Colombian fertility clinics operate limited weekend hours or are closed on Sundays. Monitoring appointments during retrieval cycles usually accommodate weekends, but consultations do not. Confirm your clinic's specific weekend policies.
Long Weekend "Puentes"
Colombia has multiple "puente" (bridge) long weekends where holidays that fall midweek are shifted to Monday, creating three-day weekends. Roughly monthly through much of the year. Impact on fertility clinics is typically limited — clinics operate normally the working days around the puente — but expect closures on the Monday itself.
Practical Cycle-Timing Rules
Plan retrieval and transfer during clinic-open windows
Backwards-plan from your desired retrieval date. Stimulation is 8–12 days; add 2–3 weeks for prep and workup. If retrieval needs to happen in early April, you need to be starting the cycle by mid-March, which means confirming Semana Santa dates well in advance.
Build buffer for monitoring flexibility
Your cycle may need a monitoring adjustment mid-stimulation. Trying to schedule during holiday-adjacent windows means less flexibility. Build in buffer days.
Confirm follow-up availability
Even after transfer, you'll want beta-HCG testing at 10–14 days. Confirm the clinic will be operational for your beta window.
The Best and Worst Months
| Time period | Cycle timing rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-January to Mid-March | Excellent | Post-holiday lull, full staffing |
| Mid-March to Semana Santa | Good | Confirm Semana Santa date |
| Semana Santa (avoid) | Bad | Skeleton crew, closures |
| Post-Easter to end of June | Excellent | Peak availability |
| July and August | Good | US summer travel pushes demand |
| September to mid-December | Excellent | Second peak window |
| Mid-December to early January | Bad | Christmas closures |
What to Ask Your Clinic
- "What's your Semana Santa closure schedule for this year?"
- "Do you operate weekends for monitoring appointments?"
- "What holidays fall during my proposed cycle?"
- "If a holiday affects my monitoring, how is that handled?"
- "When does the December closure begin and end?"
Colombia's Advantage
Despite the closure windows, Colombian clinic scheduling is generally more flexible than US private clinics. Weekend availability is more common, evening consultations are more available, and monitoring flexibility for out-of-town patients is often better. The staff at established international patient programs are experienced at working around traveler timelines.
The advice: work with the clinic on scheduling from the beginning rather than presenting a fixed date. Coordinators are usually skilled at finding a workable window.
For US-based patients traveling for treatment, aim to arrive with 1–2 days of buffer before you technically need to be at the clinic. Weather delays and connection missteps happen. Missing a stimulation-monitoring day is much worse than arriving early.
Combined Trips With Other Care
Many international patients combine IVF trips with other care: dental work, cosmetic consultations, executive health checkups. If your IVF cycle is affected by holiday timing, consider using the buffer time productively rather than losing the whole trip.
Semana Santa and Christmas can be beautiful times to visit Colombia for tourism, but they're not the times to schedule your critical cycle work.
Planning your IVF trip to Colombia?
Send us your rough timeline and any hard dates. We'll help you find a window that fits both clinic availability and your calendar.
Get Cycle Planning Help