Good Friday
Nationwide public holiday in Colombia · Viernes Santo
Dates
| Year | Date | Weekday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 April | Friday | Nationwide |
| 2027 | 26 March | Friday | Nationwide |
Where it applies
Everywhere in Colombia.
Is it a day off?
Yes. It is an official public holiday, so most employees have the day off. Government offices, schools and many businesses are usually closed; shops, restaurants and public transport may keep reduced hours. Check local announcements for opening times.
Make it longer
Thu 25 Mar – Sun 28 Mar is a 4-day weekend with no leave needed.
Plan more breaks with the leave planner.
Typical weather in Bogota around 26 March: high 24°C (75°F), low 16°C (60°F), rain on 81% of days.
Averages for 2015–2024, 3 days either side of the date, for the area around Bogota. Past averages, not a forecast.
Forecast for Friday 26 March in Bogota: (MET Norway)
Where to go for Good Friday
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are both public holidays in Colombia, so Holy Week gives a four-day weekend. It is a traditional time for colonial towns with Holy Week processions, the Caribbean coast or the coffee region.
Budget-friendly
Popayán · Cauca
Popayán's Holy Week processions, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, move through a whitewashed colonial centre at night. The city is also known for its cooking, including empanadas de pipián and the fruit drink salpicón payanés.
Typically around 26 March: high 24°C (75°F), low 16°C (60°F), rain on 64% of days.
Forecast for 26 March:
culturehistoryfoodattractions
Tunja · Boyacá
The capital of Boyacá has colonial churches with richly decorated interiors and is a short drive from Villa de Leyva, a whitewashed town around a broad cobbled square. Highland food such as cuchuco soup and arepas boyacenses rounds out the trip.
Typically around 26 March: high 19°C (66°F), low 11°C (51°F), rain on 67% of days.
Forecast for 26 March:
historyculturefood
Mid-range
Santa Marta · Magdalena
Between the Caribbean and the Sierra Nevada, Santa Marta gives access to beaches, coffee farms and rivers around Minca in the foothills, and Tayrona National Park, which closes for periods during the year, so check before going.
Typically around 26 March: high 32°C (90°F), low 25°C (77°F), rain on 9% of days.
Forecast for 26 March:
beachnatureoutdoorsmountains
Armenia · Quindío
Armenia is a base for the coffee-growing region of Quindío, with farms offering tours, the tall wax palms of the Cocora Valley near Salento and the Parque del Café theme park. The climate is temperate all year.
Typically around 26 March: high 20°C (68°F), low 13°C (55°F), rain on 80% of days.
Forecast for 26 March:
naturefoodfamilyattractionsoutdoors
Splurge
Cartagena · Bolívar
The walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has colonial squares, flower-hung balconies and the San Felipe fortress. Holy Week usually falls in the Caribbean coast's dry season, which suits boat trips to the Rosario Islands.
Typically around 26 March: high 31°C (87°F), low 26°C (80°F), rain on 10% of days.
Forecast for 26 March:
historybeachcityculturefood
Trip ideas chosen by Public Holidays World, not sponsored. “Typically” lines are past averages, not forecasts; when the date is within about 9 days, a forecast is shown too.
About Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most solemn days of the Christian year. Its date depends on Easter, so it moves each year, and because Western and Orthodox churches calculate Easter differently, they often observe Good Friday on different dates.
Traditions
The day is marked by sombre church services, readings of the Passion and, in many places, processions or Stations of the Cross. Many Christians fast or avoid meat. Public entertainment is restricted in some countries, and the overall atmosphere tends to be quiet.
Editorial summary by Public Holidays World. Dates on this page come from the data source; customs vary by region and family.
Coming up next in Colombia
Saturday, 1 May 2027
Good Friday in other countries
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Falkland Islands
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Suriname
Venezuela
More for Colombia
Holiday dates are for general information and can change. Official government announcements take precedence.