Destination
When should you visit Cartagena?
Weather, crowds, prices and events for all twelve months — and one clear recommendation.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
My recommendation
February
February is the best overall month because it is in the dry season, has some of Cartagena's best weather of the year, and comes after the crowded and expensive Christmas/New Year period. The Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI) takes place in February.
Best weather
February
Dry season and among the best weather of the year.
Fewer crowds
April–May
Lower tourist levels and good value, close to the dry season.
Lowest prices
June–November
Lowest prices and crowds, but rainy-season weather.
Avoid
December–January
Christmas and New Year make this the busiest and most expensive period.
February scores
Plan around
What to know before you book
- Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI)
- A major cultural event that draws visitors to the city each February — great atmosphere if you want it, worth knowing about if you don't.
- Semana Santa
- Holy Week brings a major domestic travel spike. Crowds and prices rise when Easter falls in your dates — check the calendar before booking.
- Independence Day
- Parades and dancing fill the city around November 11 and can temporarily increase crowds in an otherwise quiet month.
- Christmas & New Year
- A major peak travel period with the highest crowds and prices of the year, despite the excellent dry-season weather.
February
March or April, depending on the year
November 11
December–January
Where I stay in Cartagena
Hotel Quadrifolio
A sixteen-room hotel in a converted colonial house. Massive wooden doors, interior courtyards, and silence after 10 PM.
Affiliate link
Month by month
All twelve months, at a glance
Tap any month for full scores, temperatures and planning notes.
- Temperature
- 24–31°C
- Dry season
- Crowds
- Very high
- Christmas/New Year travel period keeps the walled city packed
- Prices
- $$$$
- Peak holiday rates citywide
If you come in early January, book months ahead — holiday demand lingers well past New Year.
- Beach days
- Festive atmosphere
- Temperature
- 24–31°C
- Dry season; among the best weather of the year
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Crowds and prices settle after the Christmas/New Year peak
- Prices
- $$
- Moderate rates once the holiday period ends
Time it with the Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI) if film and atmosphere matter to you.
- Sightseeing
- Rooftop evenings
- FICCI
- Temperature
- 25–31°C
- Dry season
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate overall, but can spike around Semana Santa
- Prices
- $$
- Moderate, with potential increases around Semana Santa
Semana Santa falls in March some years — when it does, treat it like a second peak season.
- Sightseeing
- Beach days
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Tail end of the dry season
- Crowds
- Lower
- Tourist numbers drop after the high season ends
- Prices
- $
- Lower rates and good value outside Semana Santa
Aim for the weeks after Semana Santa if Easter falls in April — the city empties out quickly.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Sightseeing
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Transition toward the rainy season
- Crowds
- Low
- One of the quieter months in the walled city
- Prices
- $
- Low-season pricing begins
Mornings are your friend — plan outdoor time early as showers become more likely later in the day.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low
- Tourist numbers fall to their lowest levels
- Prices
- $
- Among the lowest rates of the year
Showers tend to arrive in the afternoon — keep mornings for the old town and indoor plans for later.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low
- Quiet streets and easy restaurant bookings
- Prices
- $
- Low-season rates hold
A good month for a slower, hotel-and-food-focused trip rather than wall-to-wall sightseeing.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low
- One of the calmest months for visitor numbers
- Prices
- $
- Low-season pricing continues
Book a hotel with a good courtyard or pool — rainy afternoons are part of the deal.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low
- Visitor numbers at their lowest
- Prices
- $
- One of the cheapest months of the year
If price and privacy matter more than perfect skies, this is your window.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low
- Minimal tourist traffic
- Prices
- $
- Among the lowest prices of the year
Treat rain as a given and plan around it — the trade-off is having the walled city almost to yourself.
- Value
- Fewer crowds
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Rainy season; afternoon showers
- Crowds
- Low overall
- Low overall, with a spike around November 11
- Prices
- $
- Low overall, firming slightly around Independence Day
Independence Day on November 11 brings parades and dancing — come for it deliberately or plan around it.
- Value
- Local culture
- Temperature
- 25–31°C
- Dry season
- Crowds
- Very high
- Christmas/New Year travel period fills the city
- Prices
- $$$$
- Peak holiday rates
Early December is calmer than the holiday fortnight — go in the first half of the month if you can.
- Festive atmosphere
- Beach days
Climate
Cartagena weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C / 88°F | 24°C / 75°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| February | 31°C / 88°F | 24°C / 75°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| March | 31°C / 88°F | 25°C / 77°F | 3 mm | 0 |
| April | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 19 mm | 2 |
| May | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 117 mm | 7 |
| June | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 92 mm | 9 |
| July | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 121 mm | 9 |
| August | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 128 mm | 10 |
| September | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 133 mm | 10 |
| October | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 236 mm | 12 |
| November | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 178 mm | 9 |
| December | 31°C / 88°F | 25°C / 77°F | 45 mm | 3 |
Climate data: Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies. Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
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