Colombia has quickly emerged as a popular surrogacy destination for intended parents worldwide, offering a balance of affordability, experienced agencies, and accessible healthcare options. With its growing reputation for quality programs, both gay and heterosexual couples are finding Colombia to be a viable alternative to other surrogacy hubs. However, navigating the logistics, travel, and cultural landscape can present unique challenges. This guide offers a detailed overview of what to expect when engaging in surrogacy in Colombia, covering costs, travel tips, accommodations, and the process of exiting the country with your newborn.
Who Is Engaging in Colombia?
In the last five years, Colombia has become a very popular destination for gay singles and couples, particularly from the UK, Canada, US, Australia, France, Spain and China. Since the Ukraine war, Colombian agencies are also increasingly working with heterosexual couples, given both parents are (eventually) able to appear on the birth certificate.
Surrogacy Costs in Colombia
One of the biggest draws for intended parents considering surrogacy here is the price—it’s much more affordable than destinations like the US or Canada.
Colombia offers shipped embryo programs (from US$46,000), Egg Donor surrogacy (from $56,000) and guarantee programs using pre-approved donors (from $68,000). Some providers charge far more than this, so its important to understand what their points of difference may be. Private health insurance is an important consideration, so it’s vital you discuss options with your agency.
Some Colombian lawyers recruit surrogates directly for intended parents, however these tend to be limited to Spanish-speaking clients.
Explore Surrogacy in Colombia
Travel and Logistics for Surrogacy in Colombia
Getting There and Back
You don’t want to be transiting through multiple airports, particularly with a newborn in tow, so ensure you choose a route with minimal stop-overs and be aware of long layovers.
From Sydney, routing to Bogota is not so easy. Qantas & American Airlines can take you via Dallas/Fort Worth, but it means a 7 hour layover enroute. From Melbourne, the Latam flight via Santiago is by far the quickest, at 24 hours including a 4 ½ hour stopover. The return route is best done via Santiago to Sydney (Latam/Qantas) though it’s still a nasty 6 ¾ hour layover.
For Americans, United flies to Bogota direct from Houston or New York; American Airlines flies direct from Dallas to Bogota; Avianca flies direct from New York or Toronto. Emirates, Latam and Delta fly Miami-Bogota direct. Spirit goes direct from Fort Lauderdale to not only Bogota but also Medellin. (JetBlue also offers Fort Lauderdale-Medellin). American Airlines flies direct from Miami to Cartagena.
For Europeans, Avianca flies direct from London (10 hours) and Qatar offers a direct flight Madrid-Bogota.
Hotels, Culture and Nightlife
Ok if you are expecting drug lords and shoot outs in the style of Narcos or Griselda, you’ll be disappointed. Bogota in particular has moved on.
For a short trip at the start of the process, there are plenty of good, affordable accommodation options. Hotel Virrey Park is probably my top pick, given its location near some of the great restaurants as well as IVF clinics. Other good options include BH Parque 93, Sofitel Victoria Regia and Radisson Metrotel.
The Zona T area is home to some of the hippest restaurants and shopping in the city, with a number of malls and traffic-free precincts. For culture, head to the old centre of Bogota El Candelaria and don’t miss the Botero Museum and Plaza de Bolivar, as well as the Mercado La Concordia. In Parque de Los Periodistas you can join the daily Graffiti walking tour. The Paloquemao Fruit Market just off Avenida Ciudad de Lima is also very worthwhile.
Make sure you do the two mile climb or take the cable car up to the sanctuary of Monserrat. Though be warned, at 3,172 metres above sea level, you need to take it easy once there. Faith is the driving force behind why this place receives many visitors. It’s a quality that comes in handy on surrogacy journeys also.
Nightlife: If you’re gay and under 40, you probably shouldn’t leave Bogota before checking out Theatron – the largest gay-themed night club in Latin America and one of the biggest in the world. With 19 themed spaces within the club, there are even drinking tours on offer to make the most of this legendary locale. Best experienced before you are changing nappies.
Getting Around Bogota
In Colombia, streets are identified by numbers rather than names, which may seem a bit complex at first but is quite simple once you get the hang of it. In Colombian Spanish, there are two terms for “street”: Calle (abbreviated as Cll.) and Carrera (abbreviated as Cra.). Generally, Calles run east to west, while Carreras run north to south, creating a grid pattern where street numbers increase as you move further west on Carreras and further north on Calles.
For getting around the city, Uber is a convenient and affordable option, especially for those who may not be fluent in Spanish. Just keep in mind that traffic can be heavy during peak hours, so it’s best to plan your travels accordingly to avoid delays.
If you’re on a tight budget and speak Spanish, you can try the city’s bus system. Click here for an overview.
Exiting Colombia with a Newborn
Infants born in Colombia automatically acquire Colombian citizenship and a Colombian passport can be processed within three weeks of birth. Some countries such as the UK and Spain, allow newborns via Colombian surrogacy to be brought to their parents’ home country without the need for a visa. This means such intended parents may rapidly exit Colombia with a local passport. Many other countries (eg Australia, US) require a visa in a Colombian passport to allow entry. These are not granted for surrogacy births, so instead, intended parents need to remain in Colombia until an infant travel document/passport for their own country is granted. For US & Irish citizens, this can be four weeks. For Australians, you need to allow 12 weeks in country for this process.
As you embark on your surrogacy journey in Colombia, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared for the unique experiences that lie ahead. Whether you need assistance with navigating the local landscape, understanding the surrogacy process, or finding the right resources, we’re here to help.
At Growing Families, we specialize in providing guidance and support to intended parents throughout their journey. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. Together, we can help you turn your dream of parenthood into a reality.
