Cartagena sunset. Credit: Wikimedia

Located on the hot Caribbean coast of Colombia, Cartagena’s climate is typically Caribbean.

Indeed, its average annual temperature of approximately 28 degrees Celsius or 88 degrees Fahrenheit generally remains the same. The city also enjoys a typical tropical climate, generally seeing warm and sunny days all year round. Of course, there are intermittent days of heavy rains and cooler temperatures.

Discover the best time to visit this South American cruise port, considering general weather conditions as well as other happenings.

Peak Season: Like any other tourist area, accommodation prices as well as other costs to tourists generally increase drastically. The peak season lasts from December to mid-January and also includes Holy Week (March or April) and mid-June to July.

Rainfall during December and January is almost nil, while the average is about four inches in June and July, according to the World Weather Organization.

Low Season: During the low season, prices are generally low, as far as attractions and accommodations are concerned.

The off seasons are generally May to mid-June as well as August to November and are extremely wet and steamy.

During these times, it’s common for temperatures to soar during the day, with plenty of hot sunshine, before clouds arrive in the late afternoon. Additionally, tropical storms are common in the city.

Rainfall averages about five inches in May during a brief rainy season, drops to about four inches in July and July and climbs until it reaches an average of nine inches in October during the high point of the Caribbean hurricane season.
Carnival: Carnival is held over the first four days before Lent, usually in February. The revelry here is similar to that of Caribbean carnivals—lively and exciting.

Of course, accommodation prices rise during this period. Unless travelling for Carnival itself, budget travelers would be wise to plan their break outside this period.

Best Time To Go: Mid-January to April is generally considered the dry season. Additionally, the crowds are generally less and accommodation prices are reasonable. 

This is a great time to travel, especially for tourists who plan on hiking in the interior. Possibly the best feature of this period is that they can explore a destination at their own pace.

Generally, Columbia is an all year round destination. As a result, Cartagena enjoys the same distinction.

While the dry season is exceptional for traveling here, other seasons see considerably better weather than many other destinations.