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Best time to visit Cartagena

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	24-30°C, sunny and humid with occasional breezes	peak	peak	• Ideal beach weather • Post-New Year lull before peak season
February	24-31°C, sunny and dry with low humidity	peak	peak	• Carnival season • Excellent weather for exploring the walled city
March	25-31°C, sunny with increasing humidity	high	high	• Still excellent weather • Pre-Easter crowds
April	25-31°C, hot and humid with more frequent rain showers	moderate	moderate	• Semana Santa (Holy Week) can be busy and prices spike • End of dry season ⚠ Semana Santa dates vary; check calendar.
May	25-31°C, hot and very humid with frequent afternoon downpours	low	low	• Lowest prices and crowds • Lush green scenery ⚠ Start of the rainy season.
June	25-30°C, hot and humid with daily heavy rain showers	low	low	• Fewer tourists • Good for indoor activities and enjoying the heat ⚠ Rainfall is heavy but often short-lived.
July	25-30°C, hot and humid with daily heavy rain showers	moderate	moderate	• School holidays increase local tourism • Warm seas ⚠ Can still be very wet.
August	25-30°C, hot and humid with daily heavy rain showers	low	low	• Lowest prices of the year • Fewer international tourists ⚠ Still in the wet season.
September	24-30°C, hot and humid with frequent rain	low	low	• Very low tourist numbers • Deepest discounts ⚠ Peak of the rainy season; potential for tropical storms.
October	24-30°C, hot and humid with persistent rain	low	low	• End of the heavy rainy season • Fewer crowds ⚠ Rainfall gradually decreases towards the end of the month.
November	24-30°C, sunny with occasional showers, less humid	moderate	moderate	• Transition to drier weather • Pleasant temperatures ⚠ Rainfall significantly decreases.
December	24-30°C, sunny and warm with gentle sea breezes	peak	peak	• Christmas and New Year celebrations • Start of the dry season and ideal temperatures ⚠ Book accommodations and flights well in advance.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

February

Carnival

Vibrant parades, music, and street parties celebrating pre-Lenten festivities.

March

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Religious processions and cultural events leading up to Easter.

March

Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI)

One of Latin America's oldest film festivals, showcasing international and Colombian cinema.

November

Independencia de Cartagena

Celebration of Cartagena's independence from Spain with parades and fireworks.

August

Festival de Música del Pacífico 'Petronio Álvarez'

While primarily held in Cali, related cultural events and music can be found, celebrating Pacific Colombian music.

Insider timing tips

•The 'dry season' from December to March offers the most pleasant weather, but also the highest prices and crowds.
•The shoulder months of November and April provide a good balance of decent weather and fewer tourists, with moderate prices.
•The rainy season (May-November) sees frequent, heavy downpours, often in the afternoon, but also the lowest prices and fewest tourists.
•Local holidays, especially around Semana Santa and Independence Day, can cause domestic travel surges and price increases, even if international tourism is moderate.
•Humidity is a constant factor; while the dry season is less humid, it's still tropical.