The season is divided into four phases. The first phase is the Torneo Apertura with all teams playing each other once either at home or away. The second phase is the Torneo Clausura with all teams entering this phase with their points won in the Torneo Apertura and all teams play each other once either at home or away. The third phase is the Liguilla phase with all teams entering this phase with the points they earned at the end of the Torneo Clausura. In this phase, the teams are divided into two groups and play each team in their group twice at home and away. The two teams with the fewest points in the overall table at the end of the Liguila phase are relegated. The final phase is the Playoffs where the four teams with the most points enter the semifinals. The semifinals are played over two legs. The semifinal winners advance to the two-legged finals and the losers advance to a single leg third place playoff. The champions, runners-up, and third place playoff winners advance to the
2017 Copa Libertadores. The Torneo Apertura winners, Torneo Clausura winners, and third place playoff losers qualify to the
2017 Copa Sudamericana. The remaining Copa Sudamericana berth is awarded to the team with the best record on the aggregate table that has not qualified for any 2017 international tournament. ==Teams==