Colombia’s June Holiday Mondays: An Expat Planner
Colombia · Expat Living
Key Facts
- The rhythm. Colombia takes three holiday Mondays this June — the 8th, 15th and 29th — turning each weekend into a three-day puente.
- Today. June 8 is Corpus Christi, the first long weekend; banks and government offices are closed.
- Why Monday. The Ley Emiliani shifts most religious holidays to the nearest Monday to build long weekends and lift domestic tourism.
- The catch. Flights and fincas book out early, and migration or consular errands stall on every festivo.
- The payoff. Medellín’s Tango Festival and a run of events fill these weekends; plan around them and you win the month.
If your June in Colombia feels stop-start, there is a reason: the country takes three holiday Mondays this month. Here is your guide to Colombia's June holidays — when everything closes, why it happens, and how an expat can turn each long weekend into a win rather than a wasted errand.
Three Mondays, one rhythm
June is Colombia’s busiest month for public holidays, and all three land on a Monday. Corpus Christi falls today, June 8; the Sacred Heart (Sagrado Corazón) follows on June 15; and Saints Peter and Paul (San Pedro y San Pablo) closes the month on June 29.
Each one creates a puente — a three-day long weekend that reshapes how the country works and travels.
Why Colombia moves its holidays
The reason is a 1983 law, the Ley Emiliani, which shifts many religious feast days to the nearest Monday. The aim is simple: build long weekends that encourage domestic travel without scattering days off across the working week.
So even though Corpus Christi is traditionally a Thursday, Colombians take the Monday — and the country plans its Junes around the puentes.
What closes, and what to do before
On a festivo, banks and government offices shut, and many businesses run holiday hours or close entirely. That matters most if you are mid-process on residency or a visa, because Migración Colombia offices do not open on holidays.
The fix is to treat the three Mondays as dead days for officialdom: book appointments and run bank or notary errands on regular weekdays, and never count on a festivo for anything time-sensitive.
How to use the long weekends
The flip side is that these are some of the best travel windows of the year. Cartagena, the coffee region and the fincas around Medellín fill up fast, so book flights and stays a couple of weeks ahead.
Prices climb on the puentes too: a Bogotá–Cartagena hop that costs around 120,000 pesos (about US$30) midweek can jump past 400,000 pesos (about US$110) on a holiday weekend. This first long weekend also opens Medellín’s International Tango Festival, which runs June 8 to 14.
The newcomer’s June calendar
Keep it simple and you will glide through the month. Mark June 8, 15 and 29 as closed days, push paperwork to the weekdays between them, and pick one puente for a trip you book early.
And clear your June 17 afternoon: Colombia made its World Cup debut against Uzbekistan and won 3-1, and offices empty and bars fill across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is June 8 a holiday in Colombia?
Yes. June 8 is the Corpus Christi public holiday, so banks and government offices are closed.
It is the first of three holiday Mondays in Colombia this June.
What are the other June holidays in Colombia?
June 15 marks the Sacred Heart (Sagrado Corazón) and June 29 marks Saints Peter and Paul (San Pedro y San Pablo). Both are observed on the Monday.
Why are Colombian holidays always on Mondays?
A 1983 law, the Ley Emiliani, moves many religious holidays to the nearest Monday. The goal is to create long weekends and encourage domestic tourism.
Will the holidays affect my visa paperwork?
Yes. Migración Colombia and other government offices close on festivos, so schedule appointments and errands for regular weekdays and avoid the three June Mondays.
Are these good weekends to travel?
They are popular ones — Cartagena, the coffee region and the fincas near Medellín fill quickly, and fares rise. Book flights and stays a couple of weeks ahead to lock in better prices.
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