colombia

Colombia Travel Weather

Trek Zone

When Is the Best Time To Visit Colombia?

The answer to the question of what is the best month to visit Colombia depends on what you are interested in doing during your stay. Here you can see an overview of each month and its typical weather conditions.

Tourist Season in Colombia

The best time to visit Colombia includes the dry season months of December through February and June through August, when most areas of the country experience warm, sunny weather. Rainfall is possible, however, it is short-lived and of low intensity, thus not hindering your visit in any way. Even in the rainiest regions, such as the Amazon area and the Pacific Plain, rainfall levels are much lower during this period. Mountainous areas during these months also have the best weather conditions for trekking and high altitude climbing. Similarly, the coast, especially the northern coast with the cities of Cartagena or Santa Marta, boasts full sun.

The months of the rainy season (March to May and September to November) are outside the tourist season. It gets hot and humid in most areas. Increased precipitation greatly impedes travel. When organizing a trip during this period, you need to take into account that many areas especially those in the mountains will be inaccessible due to traffic difficulties, local flooding, landslides and closed trails.

Tourist season month by month. Legend

Tourist season - time period with sightseeing-friendly weather (or sunbathing in the case of small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical spread, the most visited places were taken into account and the data were averaged. For selected countries, seasonal holidays were also taken into account, as long as they significantly affect the tourist traffic in this period.

The best time to travel, you can count on very good weather.

A good time to travel, however, sometimes there can be some weather conditions that make the visit a bit difficult.

Travel possible, but it is not the best time. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable, with a tendency to be bad.

Travel is not recommended, the weather at this time can make sightseeing/resting very difficult or even impossible.

Popularity among visitors based on actual visits to popular tourist attractions (based on the average for 38 cities).

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average temperatures throughout a year for Bogota (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Hurricane season in the San Andrés and Providencia archipelago: from July to early December.
  • Best surfing season at Punta Sur in San Andres: November to February and June to September.
  • Watching crab migrations on Providencia Island: from April to July.
  • Watching whales on the Pacific coast: from July to October.

Due to the large area of Colombia, the weather in individual parts of the country can vary significantly.

Season and weather by month

March - May

Mar
Apr
May

Humid and rainy months in all areas of the country. The hot and muggy climate is compounded in lowland areas, which can make travel less comfortable. Due to heavy precipitation and poor visibility in many mountainous areas, numerous difficulties can be encountered, including inaccessible mountain trails and roads, and local flooding.

Until the end of April, you can vacation in the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia, where the beach and diving season is underway.

In the run-up to Easter, you can take part in the "Semana Santa" celebrations, during which religious ceremonies and processions are held throughout the country.

Those wishing to experience the culture and traditions of Colombia's indigenous peoples should attend the "Wayúu Culture Festival" held in the city of Uribia in May.

Holidays and observances in Colombia

  • 13 May 2024 - Ascension Day Holiday
  • 24 Mar 2025 - St Joseph's Day
  • 17 Apr 2025 - Maundy Thursday
  • 18 Apr 2025 - Good Friday
  • 01 May 2025 - Labour Day

June - August

Jun
Jul
Aug

Shorter dry season, but still the weather then is not ideal. More sunny days appear, but fleeting rains may occur more often. There are good conditions for mountain trekking and climbing in higher elevations. Without much concern about the aura, you can travel in the lowlands and coastal areas.

When visiting the Andes region, at the end of June you can see one of the most important folklore festivals, the "Ibague Folk Festival" in the city of Ibague.

In August, in Medellin, you can attend the "Medellin Flower Festival," full of joyful music, dancing and streets decorated with colorful flowers.

Holidays and observances in Colombia

  • 03 Jun 2024 - Corpus Christi Holiday
  • 10 Jun 2024 - Sacred Heart Day
  • 01 Jul 2024 - Feast of St Peter and St Paul
  • 20 Jul 2024 - Independence Day
  • 07 Aug 2024 - Battle of Boyacá Day
  • 19 Aug 2024 - Assumption Day Holiday

September - November

Sep
Oct
Nov

The return of the rainy season in most areas of the country. Frequent rainfall may complicate recreation on the coasts and lowland areas. Areas of the Andes during this time may be partially inaccessible to tourists.

November 11 is celebrated as "Independence Day of Cartagena," with colorful street parades and fireworks.

Holidays and observances in Colombia

  • 14 Oct 2024 - Columbus Day Holiday
  • 04 Nov 2024 - All Saints' Day Holiday
  • 11 Nov 2024 - Independence of Cartagena Holiday

December - February

Dec
Jan
Feb

Dry months, ideal for travel in all regions of Colombia. It's sunny and warm, with cloudless skies encouraging relaxation on the coasts and in the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia. The season for beachcombing, snorkeling and water bathing is underway.

It is also a very good time for trekking, climbing to higher elevations and sightseeing. The Amazon area, fraught with year-round intense but short-lived downpours, becomes more accessible to tourists during these months, and the rainfall is not as annoying.

The Christmas and New Year period attracts many tourists. One can take part in numerous cultural events during this time.

Between December 25 and 30 is the "Cali Fair," the most important event in Cali. Known primarily for the salsa dances presented and equestrian parades.

On the other hand, from January 2 to 7, the Carnival of Blacks and Whites is celebrated in the southern part of the country (Pasto). In 2009, UNESCO declared the event a "masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity." It is famous for the giant figures made by local artisans displayed during street parades.

In the same month, between January 25 and 28, the Barranquilla Carnival, also declared a "masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" by UNESCO, takes place. A fun time full of local dances and music.

Holidays and observances in Colombia

  • 08 Dec 2024 - Immaculate Conception
  • 25 Dec 2024 - Christmas Day
  • 01 Jan 2025 - New Year's Day
  • 06 Jan 2025 - Epiphany Holiday

Bogotá

Sunday 5 May
Update 2024-05-04 03:14 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
64°F
Humidity
89%
Cloud cover
84%
Wind speed
6 mph
Chance of rain
100%

Bogotá

Monday 6 May
Update 2024-05-04 03:14 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
55°F
Humidity
98%
Cloud cover
100%
Wind speed
3.4 mph
Chance of rain
100%

Bogotá

Tuesday 7 May
Update 2024-05-04 03:14 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
61°F
Humidity
93%
Cloud cover
95%
Wind speed
4 mph
Chance of rain
100%

Bogotá

Wednesday 8 May
Update 2024-05-04 03:14 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
65°F
Humidity
91%
Cloud cover
63%
Wind speed
5.6 mph
Chance of rain
100%

Bogotá

Thursday 9 May
Update 2024-05-04 03:14 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
55°F
Humidity
98%
Cloud cover
95%
Wind speed
3.4 mph
Chance of rain
100%

Climate and Average Weather in Colombia

General weather conditions each month by city.

  • Bogota
  • Leticia
  • Cali
  • Medellin
  • Cartagena
  • +
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average temperature (°F)
Average rainfall (in)
RAIN - Days with precipitation
DAY - Average length of day
SUN - Sunshine hours per day (cloudless weather)

Weather Map

Select month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Switch places
BogotaLeticiaCaliMedellinCartagena

The icons next to the month name indicate the convenience of the date for visiting the selected area/territory/ country. They are only a suggestion and should not be used as the final criterion for selecting your travel date. The season is defined as the time period with the weather favorable for sightseeing (or sunbathing - small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical range, the most touristic places were included.

Where to next? Discover country icon Panama, a country in the region worth visiting, or use the destination finder