Colombia has no four seasons
Sitting on the equator, Colombia swaps summer and winter for dry and wet seasons, called *verano* (dry) and *invierno* (rainy). Altitude matters far more than the calendar: Cartagena bakes year-round near 30C, Bogota stays cool at 14C, and Medellin earns its "City of Eternal Spring" nickname with a steady 22C.
Dry season is peak season
The main dry season runs December to March, with a shorter dry spell in July and August. These months bring the clearest skies for the Caribbean coast, the Coffee Triangle and Tayrona National Park.
- Best for beaches and hiking thanks to reliable sun
- Highest prices and busy hostels, especially late December to mid-January
- Book early for Cartagena, Santa Marta and Salento
Shoulder and wet seasons
Rain peaks April to May and again October to November. Showers are usually short afternoon bursts, not all-day washouts, so travel remains easy and far cheaper.
- Best value on flights and hotels
- Lush green landscapes in the coffee region
- Whale watching off the Pacific coast near Nuqui runs July to October
Festivals worth planning around
- January Feria de Manizales, bullfights and coffee culture
- February/March Carnaval de Barranquilla, the country's biggest party and a UNESCO heritage event
- April Semana Santa, with solemn processions in Popayan and Mompox
- June/July Rock al Parque in Bogota, a huge free music festival
- August Feria de las Flores in Medellin, with the famous *silleteros* flower parade
- August Festival de Verano in Bogota during the mid-year dry spell
- December Alumbrados light displays, spectacular in Medellin
Quick picks by traveler
- Sun and beaches December to March on the Caribbean coast
- Whales and the Pacific July to October
- Fewer crowds, lower prices April to May or October to November
- Festival lovers February for Barranquilla, August for Medellin
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