We look at the holiday COVID restrictions in Colombia in the five largest cities that were put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

All five of the largest cities in Colombia have put in place preventative measures over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But the COVID restrictions vary somewhat between the cities.

Several Medellin Guru readers have asked about holiday COVID restrictions in other cities, thinking they could escape the restrictions in Medellín. But there are holiday restrictions in all the major cities in Colombia.

In this article, we look at the holiday COVID-19 preventative measures in Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena and Medellín.

View of Barranquilla, photo by JDVillaLobos

Barranquilla Holiday COVID Restrictions

Barranquilla will have a curfew and dry law over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The curfew in Barranquilla is on:

• December 24 – 11 pm to 4 am (the next day)
• December 25 – 11 pm to 4 am (the next day)
• January 1 – 1 am to 4 am and 11 pm to 4 am (the next day)

Also, Barranquilla will have a dry law (no alcohol sales) from December 24 at 11 pm to December 26 at 4 am and from January 1 at 1 am to January 2 at 6 am.

View of Bogotá from Monserrate

Bogotá Holiday COVID Restrictions

On Monday, the mayor of Bogotá issued a stay at home order and recommended that end-of-year festivities should be celebrated virtually. In the case of parties in Bogotá, they should be held only with the family nucleus and without exceeding 10 people.

In addition, Bogotá has resumed its Pico y Cedula, which restricts shopping days based on the last digit of your ID. The Pico y Cedula restriction applies for going to grocery shops, malls, small tiendas, pharmacies and also includes banking and notary services.

Pico y Cedula returns to Bogotá from December 21 until January 15. Starting on December 21 in Bogotá, if your ID ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) you can go out shopping on even days of the week. And if your ID ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) you can go out shopping on odd days of the week.

Also, Bogotá will have a dry law from 11:59 pm on December 23 until 11:59 pm on December 27. And Bogotá will have another dry law from 11:59 pm on December 30 until 11:59 pm on January 1.

View of Cali from the Three Crosses hill in Cali , photo by C Arrango

Cali Holiday COVID Restrictions

According to El Tiempo, Cali has a nightly curfew from 11 pm to 5 am daily. Also, Cali has a dry law that prohibits the sale of liquor in public or commercial establishments from 10 pm to 5 am daily.

In addition, Cali has resumed its Pico y Cedula starting on December 21, which restricts shopping days based on the last digit of your ID.

Similar to Bogotá, if your ID ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) you can go out shopping in Cali on even days of the week. And if your ID ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) you can go out shopping on odd days of the week.

Cali will continue with its curfew, dry law and Pico y Cedula until January.

View of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Cartagena Holiday COVID Restrictions

Cartagena has a nightly curfew and dry law in place in 11 barrios in the city that started on December 1 until January 16.  The curfew in the 11 barrios in Cartagena starts at 9 pm to 5 am daily. Note the popular tourist areas of Cartagena are not included in this curfew.

In addition, Cartagena has resumed its Pico y Cedula starting on December 22, which restricts shopping days based on the last digit of your ID.

Similar to Bogotá and Cali, if your ID ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) you can go out shopping in Cartagena on even days of the week. And if your ID ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) you can go out shopping on odd days of the week.

Also, people who hold meetings in their homes in Cartagena over the holidays are limited to a maximum capacity of 10 people.

View of Medellín from Pueblito Paisa, photo by Jenny Bojinova

Medellín Holiday COVID Restrictions

Medellín and Antioquia will have a strict nightly curfew starting on December 22 and over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays on the following days:

• December 22 – midnight to 6 am
• December 23 – midnight to 6 am
• December 24 – 8 pm to 6 am on December 26
• December 25 – ALL DAY (24 hours) [to 6 am on December 26]
• December 26 – midnight to 6 am
• December 27 – midnight to 6 am
• December 28 – midnight to 6 am
• December 29 – midnight to 6 am
• December 30 – midnight to 6 am
• December 31 –  8 pm to 6 am on January 3
• January 1 – ALL DAY (24 hours)
• January 2 – ALL DAY (24 hours) [to 6 am on January 3]
• January 3 – midnight to 6 am

Also, Medellín resumed Pico y Cedula starting on December 22, which restricts shopping days based on the last digit of your ID. The Pico y Cedula restriction applies for going to grocery shops, malls, small tiendas, pharmacies and also includes banking and notary services.

Starting on December 22, if your ID ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) you can go out shopping on even days of the week. And if your ID ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) you can go out shopping on odd days of the week. The new Pico y Cedula in Medellín is until January 4  but could be extended.

Computer generated image of COVID-19, photo by Felipe Esquivel Reed

Medellin Guru’s Coronavirus Series

Medellin Guru has a series of articles about the coronavirus pandemic and the impacts in Colombia: Also, these articles are being kept up-to-date, as this is a fast-moving topic:

• Colombia is Buying 10 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer
• Does Colombia Require a COVID-19 Test for International Travelers?
• 8 Reasons Why Colombia is Unlikely to Return to a Quarantine
• Coronavirus Cases Increase in Medellín: What Happens Next?
• New Normal in Medellín: Medellín is Returning to Normal
• Will the Quarantine Return to Colombia? What if Cases Increase?
• New Normal in Medellín: Medellín is Returning to Normal
• Colombia’s Quarantine Ends on September 1: New Phase Starts
• Tourism Impact of Coronavirus: Colombia Starts to Reactivate Tourism
• Economy Impacts in Colombia Due to Extended Quarantine
• Epicenter of Coronavirus in Colombia: Bogotá is the Epicenter
• Medellín Plans the Total Reopening of Economic Activities in the City
• When Will the Quarantine End in Colombia? On September 1?
• Humanitarian Flights from Colombia to the U.S. and Other Countries
• Beware of Fake News in Colombia About Coronavirus and Quarantines
• Reopening Gymnasiums, Churches and Movie Theaters in Colombia
• Reopening Amusement Parks, Zoos and Nature Reserves in Colombia
• Medellín Starts Free COVID-19 Tests on the Medellín Metro
• New COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Medellín to Contain the Pandemic
• Penalties for Violating the Quarantine in Medellín are Stiff
• COVID-19 Orange Alert in Bogotá: New Lockdowns in Bogotá
• Medellín Starts to Lift the Quarantine: Enters Smart Isolation Phase
• Colombia Started to Lift the Quarantine – What Does this Mean?
• Coronavirus: When Will the Quarantine Be Lifted in Colombia?
• Colombia Starts to Lift the Quarantine in COVID-19 Free Areas
• Colombia Quarantine: Nationwide Quarantine Extended to September 1
• Coronavirus in Colombia: Myth vs Reality – Current Status
• Coronavirus Hospitalization in Colombia: Myth vs Reality
• Are Medellín and Antioquia Winning the Coronavirus Battle?
• 23 Cities with a Major Increase in Coronavirus Cases in Colombia
• Colombia Coronavirus Death Rate: What are the Chances of Dying?
• Coronavirus: When Will Things Return to Normal in Colombia?
• COVID-19 Testing in Colombia: Realty About Coronavirus Testing
• Life as an Expat: During Medellín’s Coronavirus Quarantine
• Colombian Visa Process Changes: Due to Quarantine and Coronavirus
• Medellín Coronavirus Closures – What is Closed in Medellín?
• Pico y Cedula: A Restriction for Grocery Shopping in the Aburrá Valley During the Quarantine
• Pico y Cedula in Colombia: Which is Strictest Out of 5 Largest Cities?
• Medellín Quarantine Starts on March 20 for Four Days

The Bottom Line: Holiday COVID Restrictions in Colombia in 5 Largest Cities

The bottom line is the five largest cities have put in place preventative measures over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

All five cities in Colombia have been experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases, which we track in our article updated daily about the coronavirus status in Colombia.

However, it is not just the five largest cities in Colombia that have put in place preventative measures over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Other cities are also doing this including Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Santa Marta and many other cities.

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Editors note: updated on December 31, 2020 with updated information for Medellín.