If you want to start an IVF cycle in Colombia in January or February, the planning starts now. Book a consultation in November or early December, finish testing and send your records before the holidays, and book flights early, because December is Colombia’s busiest travel season. This calendar works backward from a January or February cycle so you can see what needs to happen each week.
- Plan on about 8–12 weeks from first consult to stimulation. The timeline depends on your testing, your cycle and the clinic’s schedule.
- Colombia’s holiday season runs from early December through the Reyes (Epiphany) holiday Monday in January. Clinics may run reduced schedules, so ask each clinic directly.
- December and early January are peak travel weeks for flights and lodging in Medellín and Bogotá. Book as soon as your dates are firm, and choose flexible fares.
- Get testing done and records sent before mid-December, so nothing gets stuck in a holiday backlog.
Why January cycles take extra planning
A January start is popular for good reasons. You may have time off over the holidays, a fresh insurance or benefits year, or simply feel ready for a new beginning. But the run-up overlaps with the busiest weeks of the Colombian calendar.
December in Colombia is full of celebrations. The season traditionally begins around December 7–8 with Día de las Velitas, the night of the little candles, followed by the Immaculate Conception holiday. Novenas run in the days before Christmas, then come Christmas and New Year’s. The Epiphany holiday, Día de los Reyes Magos, is observed on a Monday under Colombia’s holiday law, which moves certain holidays to the following Monday. In 2027, January 6 falls on a Wednesday, so the observed holiday is Monday, January 11. Many Colombians take vacation during this period, and some medical teams rotate staff.
That doesn’t mean clinics close. Embryology labs often keep running because cycles in progress can’t simply pause. But consult availability, administrative response times and some procedures may be limited. Our guide to IVF cycles around Colombian holidays covers this in more depth.
Note: We don’t publish clinic closure dates, because they vary by clinic and year. Ask each clinic in writing which days it is closed, which days it runs a reduced team, and whether egg retrievals and transfers can be done on holidays.
The week-by-week planning calendar
This calendar assumes stimulation starts in mid-to-late January. If you’re aiming for February, shift every row about four weeks later, which gives you a less crowded December. Your clinic will adjust the plan to your protocol and cycle.
| When | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Early November | Shortlist clinics and request consultations. Gather any past fertility records. | Consult slots fill up before the holidays. |
| Mid-November | Order baseline testing at home: AMH, FSH/estradiol, antral follicle count, TSH, prolactin, infectious disease panel, semen analysis, cavity evaluation, carrier screening. | Some results take weeks. Cycle-day tests depend on your period. |
| Late November | Have your video consultation with the Colombian clinic. Share every result you have. | The clinic can flag missing tests while there’s still time. |
| Late November to early December | Finish any extra tests. Decide on one-trip or two-trip planning. Ask about holiday schedules. | Findings like polyps or thyroid issues may need treatment first. |
| By mid-December | Send all records. Confirm your protocol, start window and medication plan. Ask for a written quote. | Administrative teams are thinner in late December. |
| Mid-December | Book flights and lodging once dates are set. Arrange time off work. | Peak season prices and availability. |
| Late December | Get prescriptions sorted. Confirm who handles baseline monitoring at home if needed. | Some protocols start medication before you travel. |
| Early January | Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork, at home or in Colombia, depending on your plan. | This confirms you’re ready to start stimulation. |
| Mid-to-late January | Stimulation, monitoring, retrieval, and transfer or freezing. | The core treatment window. |
For the in-country portion, our IVF trip timeline and Colombia IVF travel itinerary show how the days typically break down.
One trip or two? How it changes your January plan
The structure of your treatment affects how long you need to be in Colombia, and how much December planning you need to do.
- One-trip plans usually mean arriving near the start of stimulation and staying through retrieval, and sometimes through a fresh transfer. That is the longest single stay, and it needs the most flexible return flight.
- Two-country monitoring means starting stimulation at home with local ultrasounds and bloodwork, then flying in for the final days and retrieval. It shortens your stay but needs a home clinic willing to monitor and share results quickly. See cycle monitoring across two countries.
- Two trips (retrieval, then a later frozen transfer) means the January trip is for stimulation and retrieval, and a second trip in a later month is for transfer. It spreads the time off and avoids rushing a transfer.
Our guide to two-trip vs one-trip IVF protocols compares them in detail. Your specialist will recommend a structure based on your history.
Watch out: IVF dates shift. Your response to stimulation sets the retrieval date, and a cycle can be delayed by a cyst, an unexpected result or a late period. Avoid nonrefundable flights where you can, and leave a buffer of a few days on the return.
Booking flights and lodging during peak season
December and early January are when many Colombians living abroad come home, and when international visitors arrive for the holidays. Expect flights to Medellín and Bogotá to cost more and fill faster than in quieter months, and expect short-term rentals and hotels near major clinics to book up.
- Book once your clinic confirms a start window, not before.
- Choose fares that allow date changes, even if they cost a little more.
- Pick lodging with flexible cancellation and easy access to the clinic.
- If you’re traveling with a partner who needs to give a sample, make sure their dates match the expected retrieval window.
- Check whether you’ll be in the country over a holiday Monday, and ask the clinic how that affects monitoring days.
City-specific notes are in our guides to IVF in Medellín and IVF in Bogotá. For how to request time off, see time off work for IVF abroad.
Medications and prescriptions
Your Colombian clinic will tell you which medications you’ll need and when. Some patients buy fertility medications in Colombia, and others start with medication from home. The right choice depends on your protocol, where stimulation starts and your clinic’s preferences.
- Get your medication list in writing once your protocol is set, with doses and start dates.
- Ask where to buy each item. Check whether it’s available locally in Colombia, and how you should store and transport it.
- If you’re starting at home, make sure a doctor there can prescribe and monitor. Order early, because pharmacies can be slow over the holidays.
- If you’re flying with medications, keep them in your carry-on with the prescription and the clinic’s letter. Ask the clinic about refrigerated items.
For what treatment and medication cost, see our IVF cost in Colombia guide.
When a January start may not be realistic
Some findings during testing mean the cycle should wait. A polyp, septum or hydrosalpinx may need surgery first. A thyroid or prolactin problem may need weeks of treatment to stabilize. Missing records may need to be tracked down. If that happens, a February or March cycle is not a setback. It means your first cycle starts on stronger footing. Your reproductive endocrinologist can tell you whether waiting is likely to help in your situation.
Tip: Ask your Colombian clinic and your home doctor to agree on who handles each step: ordering tests, monitoring, prescriptions and follow-up after you return. Our guide to coordinating your home and Colombian clinic includes a sample checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I plan a January IVF cycle in Colombia?
Ideally, start in early November. That gives you time for a consultation, testing, records transfer and travel booking before the December slowdown. A February cycle gives you more breathing room.
Are fertility clinics in Colombia open over Christmas and New Year’s?
Many keep their embryology labs running for cycles in progress, but schedules vary. Some close on public holidays or run reduced teams. Ask each clinic for its holiday schedule in writing.
When is the Reyes holiday in Colombia?
Día de los Reyes Magos falls on January 6, but Colombia observes it on the following Monday when the 6th isn’t a Monday. In 2027 that is Monday, January 11.
Should I book flights before my clinic confirms dates?
It’s safer to wait until the clinic confirms a start window, then book a flexible fare. IVF dates often shift by a few days depending on how you respond to stimulation.
Can I do my baseline testing in Colombia instead of at home?
Yes, but it may add days to your trip, and an unexpected result could delay the cycle while you’re already there. Testing at home first usually makes the trip shorter and more predictable.
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