Colombia Welcomed 21,034 International Medical Travelers in Eight Months: What the 2026 Numbers Tell Patients

Oct 22

6 min read

New Migración Colombia data shows steady growth and demand concentrated in five cities. Here is what the figures mean, and what they do not, if you are planning treatment in Colombia.

Medical tourism in Colombia kept growing in 2026. Between January and August, 21,034 non-resident foreigners entered the country to receive medical treatment, 17.6% more than in the same period of 2025, according to Migración Colombia data released by ANATO, the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, on September 28, 2026.

The numbers confirm a trend, not a guarantee. For patients in the United States and elsewhere, they are most useful as context: where demand is going, which specialties draw people, and which questions remain each traveler's to answer before booking.

Medical tourism in Colombia: the 2026 numbers at a glance

Indicator	Figure	Source
Non-resident foreigners arriving for medical treatment, January to August 2026	21,034	Migración Colombia, released by ANATO
Change vs. January to August 2025	+17.6%	Migración Colombia, released by ANATO
Non-resident foreigners arriving for medical treatment, full year 2025	26,786	Migración Colombia, released by ANATO
Change, 2025 vs. 2024	+18.4%	Migración Colombia, released by ANATO
Average spending per trip	More than US$3,200	DANE, International Visitor Survey (cited by ANATO)

The spending figure covers the whole trip (lodging, transport, food and other services), and companions may add to it. It is not the price of any treatment and should not be read as one.

Where international patients go: five cities, 92% of arrivals

City	Travelers (Jan to Aug 2026)	Share of national total
Bogotá	7,320	34.8%
Cali	5,889	28.0%
Medellín	4,737	22.5%
Barranquilla	867	4.1%
Cartagena	590	2.8%
Five cities combined	19,403	92.2%

Bogotá, Cali and Medellín alone account for 85.3% of arrivals. Bogotá's district tourism institute (Instituto Distrital de Turismo) highlighted the capital's share on October 8, 2026, naming cardiology, oncology, fertility, ophthalmology, dentistry, and plastic, reconstructive and bariatric surgery among the high-complexity services visitors seek.

Cities outside this group, including Pereira and the rest of the Eje Cafetero, are not broken out in the published figures. That does not mean they receive no international patients; it means the public data do not yet measure them separately. Sansavi reported on medical travel to Pereira after the August earthquake in an earlier update.

What international patients come to Colombia for

The 2026 release names specialties rather than procedure counts: oncology, cardiology, fertility treatment, bariatric surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and comprehensive medical check-ups.

Aesthetic surgery has its own data point. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), 30% of aesthetic surgery patients treated in Colombia in 2024 were foreigners, mainly from the United States, Spain and Canada, as reported by Forbes Colombia with EFE. Colombia recorded 490,944 aesthetic procedures that year; the most frequent surgeries were liposuction, breast augmentation and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

Among U.S. residents in general, dentistry leads. The CDC's Yellow Book 2026 describes dental care as "the most common form of medical tourism among U.S. residents," followed by cosmetic surgery, cancer treatment, fertility treatment and organ transplantation. Sansavi has published planning guides on dental implants and orthodontic treatment for international patients.

Why medical tourism figures do not always match

Readers may find different numbers for the same year. Medellín's health cluster (Medellín Health City, Cámara de Comercio de Medellín) reported 24,384 international patients treated in the city in 2025, while Migración Colombia counted 26,786 non-resident foreigners entering the whole country for medical reasons that year.

The two figures measure different things. Migración Colombia records travelers who declare health as the purpose of their trip when they enter the country. The Medellín report compiles patients attended by participating clinics and hospitals. A patient who enters as a regular tourist and later sees a doctor may appear in one count and not in the other. Neither number is wrong; they simply should not be compared directly.

Why Americans are looking abroad for care in 2026

Arrival data do not explain motivation, but U.S. surveys describe the environment. In its latest measurement (fieldwork October to December 2025, published June 2026), Gallup found that only 49% of U.S. adults can consistently afford healthcare, the first time in five years the share has fallen below half. Among Hispanic adults, it was 32%.

At the start of 2026, the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. KFF estimated that subsidized marketplace enrollees would see their premium payments rise by 114% on average, as reported by ABC News.

Earlier CDC research identified cost as the leading reason U.S. residents travel for care: in a 2016 population survey, 51% said treatment was too expensive at home. The same study, the most recent population-level estimate of its kind, found Colombia was the second most common destination after Mexico, at 6% of trips. These figures are background. They do not prove that any single factor is driving 2026 arrivals.

What the U.S. State Department says about travel to Colombia

Since March 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has kept Colombia at Level 3, "Reconsider travel." The advisory includes a specific note on medical tourism: it says U.S. citizens "have suffered serious complications and even died from cosmetic or other elective surgeries," acknowledges that Colombia has many facilities "like those found in the United States," and warns that patients have "limited legal options in case of malpractice in Colombia."

The advisory places Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), Valle del Cauca (except Cali) and Norte de Santander at Level 4, "Do not travel." Advisories change, so read the current version before you book.

The gap the industry itself is pointing to

ANATO's executive president, Paula Cortés Calle, said Colombia has "an important opportunity to consolidate itself as the regional hub for health tourism," and the association called for closer coordination among healthcare providers, hotels, transport and destinations, so international patients are supported before, during and after treatment.

Read from the patient's side, that is also an acknowledgment: the coordinated chain is still being built. Until it is, much of the planning remains the traveler's responsibility.

Six questions to answer before you book

Can I verify my specialist? Check the professional's registration in ReTHUS, Colombia's national health workforce registry, and their specialty society membership. Our guide Four Searches, Twenty Minutes walks you through it.
Is the facility authorized for this procedure? Ask for the facility's legal name and confirm it is enabled to perform the procedure you are planning.
How long must I stay, and when can I fly? The CDC lists flying too soon after surgery among the risks of medical travel. See The 72-Hour Rule.
How many trips will this take? Implants and orthodontics often require more than one visit. See our guides on dental implants and orthodontic trip planning.
Who follows up when I am home? Agree in advance on remote follow-up, and identify a doctor near home who can see you if something goes wrong.
What does the written quote include? Ask for an itemized quote that covers the procedure, anesthesia, facility, follow-up visits and what happens if a revision is needed.

Sansavi analysis: what the numbers mean

This section is editorial analysis, not reported data. The 2026 figures describe a growing market concentrated in a few large cities. For patients, growth is not in itself a quality signal: the decision still comes down to the individual specialist, the facility, the recovery plan and the follow-up. For Colombia's regions beyond the three largest cities, the opportunity lies in being measured and transparent, with data that patients and journalists can check.

9. Frequently asked questions

How many foreigners traveled to Colombia for medical treatment in 2026?

Between January and August 2026, 21,034 non-resident foreigners entered Colombia for medical treatment, according to Migración Colombia data released by ANATO. That is 17.6% more than in the same period of 2025.

Which Colombian cities receive the most medical tourists?

Bogotá (34.8%), Cali (28%) and Medellín (22.5%) received 85.3% of arrivals from January to August 2026. Together with Barranquilla and Cartagena, the five cities account for 92.2%.

What treatments do international patients seek in Colombia?

The 2026 data list oncology, cardiology, fertility, bariatric surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and medical check-ups. ISAPS reported that 30% of aesthetic surgery patients in Colombia in 2024 were foreigners.

How much do medical tourists spend in Colombia?

DANE's International Visitor Survey puts average spending above US$3,200 per trip, including lodging, transport and food. It is not the cost of a treatment.

Is it safe to travel to Colombia for surgery?

There is no single answer. The U.S. State Department rates Colombia at Level 3 and warns of serious complications from elective surgery and limited legal recourse. Safety depends largely on the specialist, the facility and the recovery plan, which patients should verify before booking.

Why do medical tourism statistics for Colombia vary?

Sources measure different things. Migración Colombia counts travelers who declare medical treatment as their purpose on entry; city health clusters count patients reported by clinics. The figures should not be compared directly.

How long should I stay in Colombia after a procedure?

It depends on the procedure and on your specialist's instructions. The CDC warns against flying too soon after surgery, so agree on a minimum stay and a follow-up plan before you book.

Colombia's 2026 figures show sustained interest from international patients, with growth of around 18% two years in a row and demand concentrated in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. The numbers are a reason to look closely, not a reason to book. Verify the specialist, confirm the facility, plan the recovery and agree on follow-up before you travel.

Medical disclaimer

This article is for information only and does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Sansavi is an independent publication: it is not a clinic, broker or travel agency, and it does not book treatments. Figures are cited from the sources listed below and may be revised by those sources.