How to Rent Your Vacation Property for Weekends in Colombia While Complying with Regulations

Owning a recreational property in areas such as the Antioquian East, the Bogotá Savannah, Anapoima, Carmen de Apicalá, or the Coffee Axis represents a valuable asset that generates fixed costs for maintenance, stewardship, and utilities. Taking advantage of weekends and holiday long weekends to rent it out by the day to families and trusted groups is an excellent income strategy. However, to do so safely and profitably in 2026, it is essential to know Colombian tourism regulations and avoid paying high intermediary commissions.

Many owners are unaware that offering a country home for tourist accommodation by the day is regulated by Law 2068 of 2020 and Decree 1836 of 2021. Complying with these guidelines not only avoids penalties from local authorities but also generates peace of mind regarding property damage, noise disturbances, or issues with guests. If you want to see real options right now, you can view farms and lots available on Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

Quick Answer: What do you need to legally rent your property by the day?

• National Tourism Registry (RNT): It is mandatory for the tourist housing category, 100% free, and processed virtually.
• Civil Liability Policy: Required by law to cover unforeseen events, accidents, or bodily injury to guests.
• Guest Registry (TRA and SIRE): You must complete the Accommodation Registration Card (TRA) and report foreigners on the Migración Colombia SIRE portal.
• Clear rules and security deposit: Define coexistence rules, maximum capacity, and a refundable security deposit.

1. Mandatory legal framework for tourist properties in Colombia

Vacation rentals by the day or weekend are not governed by traditional urban housing lease law (Law 820 of 2003), but by the framework of lodging and tourism services. If you want to learn more about long-term contracts, you can consult our guide to leasing recreational properties in Colombia, but for short weekend stays, the rules are specific.

Registration and renewal of the National Tourism Registry (RNT)

To rent your property to tourists, the first legal step is to obtain the RNT in the "Tourist Housing" or "Tourist Property" category. The process is carried out directly on the Confecámaras virtual portal (rnt.confecamaras.co). It is a completely free procedure that does not require intermediaries or the payment of registration taxes.

Take into account these key points about the RNT:

• Annual renewal: It must be done mandatorily between January 1 and March 31 of each year virtually.
• Suspension and reactivation: If you do not renew on time, your registration will be automatically suspended starting April 1. To reactivate a suspended RNT, the regulation requires paying a fine of 1 current monthly legal minimum wage (SMMLV) to FONTUR (which for 2026 corresponds to $1,750,905 COP).
• ESCNNA code of conduct: When registering, you must adhere to the declaration for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adolescents.

Extracontractual civil liability policy

The General Tourism Law (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 32) establishes that all tourist accommodation service providers must have an extracontractual civil liability insurance policy. This policy protects visitors against potential accidents, slips in the pool area, or medical emergencies within the property during their stay.

2. Operational obligations during guest check-in

Once you have the active RNT and the policy in place, the operation of each weekend requires complying with the proper registration of the people entering the property.

According to active listings on Colombia Move (August 2026), there are 13 active listings in the farm category. To maintain operational order, you must comply with two official platforms:

• Accommodation Registration Card (TRA): System of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism where you must record the identification details, arrival date, and departure date of all adult guests.
• Report to the Migración Colombia SIRE: If you host foreign citizens, it is mandatory to register them on the SIRE platform within the first 24 hours after their arrival to comply with migration regulations.
• Tourism parafiscal contribution: As a tourist service provider, you must settle the parafiscal contribution managed by FONTUR quarterly, equivalent to 2.5 per thousand (0.25%) of your rental operational income.

3. Property protection: security deposits and internal rules

One of an owner's biggest fears is that the property will be used for uncontrolled parties that cause damage to the facilities, the pool, or the neighborhood's tranquility. Protecting your assets depends on a good initial filter and establishing strict contractual conditions.

Temporary lease contract and security deposit

Never hand over the keys to your property without a signed document. A temporary weekend rental contract should specify the names of the responsible parties, arrival and departure dates, the rent amount, and the limit of allowed people. Likewise, it is advisable to agree on a refundable amount to cover potential broken glass, stains on linens, or damage to pool pumps. If you wish to learn more about the legal frameworks of these guarantees, you can check our analysis on guarantee deposits and rental deposits in Colombia.

Indisputable coexistence rules

Establish visible rules at the property and send them in writing before the booking payment. Include points such as:

• Music schedules: Volume limits and strict outdoor speaker shutdown time to respect rural tranquility.
• Maximum capacity: Explicit prohibition of bringing in additional visitors not registered in the contract.
• Pool and wet area usage: Hygiene rules, prohibition of glass containers near the water, and constant supervision of minors.

4. How to rent directly without paying abusive commissions

Intermediation fees can increase the final price for Colombian families or reduce your profit margin.

Many owners prefer to manage direct temporary rentals with the owner. To achieve this successfully, create a PDF catalog or a web link with high-quality real photos, a detailed description of the road access condition, kitchen inventory, number of beds, and included amenities (Internet, jacuzzi, grill, sports court, etc.).

To maximize your visibility in sectors such as housing and country properties, you can advertise your property on local direct channels without intermediaries.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Is it mandatory to obtain the RNT to rent out a vacation finca for weekends?

As of August 2026, yes, every finca offered for daily tourist accommodation in Colombia must have an active National Tourism Registry (RNT). The applicable category is tourist housing.

❓ How much does it cost to obtain or renew the National Tourism Registry for my finca?

As of August 2026, RNT registration and renewal are free and done online. Confecámaras does not require intermediaries or state registration taxes.

❓ What happens if I don't renew the RNT before March 31st?

As of August 2026, the RNT is automatically suspended on April 1st if you do not renew it between January 1st and March 31st. According to Confecámaras and FONTUR, consulted in August 2026, reactivating it requires paying 1 SMMLV.

❓ How do I collect a security deposit from guests to protect the finca?

As of August 2026, you can agree on a refundable deposit in the temporary rental contract. Define in writing when it is provided and return it after checking the inventory and the condition of the property at check-out.

❓ Should I require an insurance policy from guests renting the finca?

As of August 2026, the law requires the host to have a valid non-contractual civil liability insurance policy. It must cover bodily injury, accidents, or health contingencies of guests during their stay.

❓ Where can I list my finca for weekend rental without paying a commission?

As of August 2026, you can list your finca directly on classifieds portals in Colombia such as Colombia Move, connecting directly with tenants via WhatsApp or phone without paying percentages on each booking made.