Cartagena, Colombia Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Cartagena
Temperature barely moves in Cartagena - 1°C between the average April and the average November. Rainfall does the work instead: 7.4 inches (187 mm) in October against 6 mm (0.2 in) in February.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: April - highs near 89°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: November - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (37°C) high · 69°F (21°C) low
- Wettest month: October (26 rainy days) · Sunniest: March (11.4 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 1°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 9
- Average humidity: 81%
Temperatures through the year
April is the warm end of the year, averaging 89°F (32°C) by day and 78°F (25°C) overnight. November is the coolest month, with highs of 85°F (29°C) and lows near 77°F (25°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 98°F (37°C) and bottoms at 69°F (21°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. The wettest month is October (7.4 inches (187 mm) across 26 days) and the driest February.
Rain, sun and snow
Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 9 months of the year, December through August being the unbroken run. Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than all but 6% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Between the average April and the average November lie 1°C, a narrower spread than almost anywhere else we cover.
How Cartagena compares
- Cartagena averages 82°F (28°C) across the year - warmer than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 197 days a year - more wet days than 90% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Relative humidity averages 81% - more humid than 88% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 88° | 76° | 4 | 0.5 in | 11.1 h/day | 11.6 h | 11% | 75% |
| February | 89° | 76° | 2 | 0.2 in | 11.3 h/day | 11.8 h | 6% | 72% |
| March | 90° | 76° | 5 | 0.6 in | 11.4 h/day | 12.0 h | 15% | 74% |
| April | 89° | 78° | 14 | 2.5 in | 11.0 h/day | 12.3 h | 45% | 79% |
| May | 87° | 78° | 23 | 5.7 in | 9.7 h/day | 12.6 h | 73% | 84% |
| June | 86° | 78° | 24 | 6.0 in | 9.5 h/day | 12.7 h | 80% | 84% |
| July | 87° | 78° | 21 | 5.2 in | 9.8 h/day | 12.7 h | 69% | 83% |
| August | 87° | 78° | 23 | 5.6 in | 9.4 h/day | 12.5 h | 75% | 84% |
| September | 86° | 78° | 24 | 5.5 in | 9.3 h/day | 12.2 h | 80% | 85% |
| October | 85° | 77° | 26 | 7.4 in | 9.1 h/day | 11.9 h | 85% | 85% |
| November | 85° | 77° | 22 | 7.4 in | 9.3 h/day | 11.6 h | 74% | 85% |
| December | 87° | 76° | 9 | 1.2 in | 10.9 h/day | 11.5 h | 29% | 80% |
Cartagena month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Cartagena's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
February
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
March
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
April
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
May
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
June
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
July
- Rain
- 21 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
August
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
September
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 26 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
November
- Rain
- 22 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Cartagena
March through May
March through May in Cartagena sits firmly in the heat, with daytime highs averaging 89°F (31°C) and nights around 77°F (25°C); rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
June through August
June through August sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 87°F (30°C), nights near 78°F (26°C), and rain falls on around 69 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November in Cartagena sits firmly in the heat, with daytime highs averaging 85°F (30°C) and nights around 77°F (25°C); rain falls on around 73 of the 90 days.
December through February
Through December through February, Cartagena sits firmly in the heat: 88°F (31°C) by day, 76°F (24°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 14 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.1 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
What should I pack for Cartagena?
How long does summer last in Cartagena?
How often does it rain in Cartagena?
Is Cartagena warmer or cooler than most cities?
When is the dry season in Cartagena?
Best time to visit Cartagena
Aim for December to March if you get the choice: humidity and rainfall are at their lowest, which is what actually varies here, and highs average 89°F (32°C) against roughly 5 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in December.
Pack for Cartagena with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in April, lows of 78°F (25°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Cartagena temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.