When to visit Cartagena without the crowds
Cartagena (Colombia) is calmest in April, May, September and October: fewer people and better prices. It gets busiest in January, March and July. Below is every month with crowds, temperatures and festivals. Careful with October: the calm has a reason (see the seasonal heads-ups).
Best months
May & Sep–Oct
When everyone heads home
Mid-January, after the year-end holidays.
Tip
Oct–Nov is rainy season, with short downpours.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Avg. high | Festivals & holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5/5 · busy | 31 °C (88 °F) | Music Festival & Hay Festival (January), New Year's Day, Epiphany |
| February | 3/5 · moderate | 32 °C (89 °F) | |
| March | 4/5 · busy | 32 °C (89 °F) | Holy Week (Mar/Apr, varies), Saint Joseph's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday |
| April | 2/5 · calm | 31 °C (88 °F) | |
| May | 2/5 · calm | 31 °C (87 °F) | Labour Day, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi |
| June | 3/5 · moderate | 30 °C (87 °F) | Mid-year school holidays (Jun–Jul), Sacred Heart |
| July | 4/5 · busy | 31 °C (87 °F) | Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Our Lady of Chiquinquirá Day, Declaration of Independence |
| August | 3/5 · moderate | 30 °C (87 °F) | Battle of Boyacá, Assumption of Mary |
| September | 2/5 · calm | 30 °C (86 °F) | |
| October | 2/5 · calm ⚠ | 30 °C (86 °F) | Columbus Day |
| November | 3/5 · moderate ⚠ | 30 °C (85 °F) | Cartagena Independence festivities (Nov 11), All Saints’ Day |
| December | 3/5 · moderate | 31 °C (87 °F) | Christmas & year-end season, Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day |
⚠ = seasonal heads-up.
Before you go: seasonal heads-ups
- The rainiest months on the Colombian Caribbean (Oct–Nov).
Crowds are a relative index for each place: 1 is its calmest month and 5 its busiest. Temperatures: Copernicus ERA5, 2016–2025 average. Includes official tourism statistics (DANE, Cartagena, 2023-2025). How it works
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Cartagena without the crowds?
The calmest month is usually April, May, September and October (crowds 2/5). In October the average high is 30 °C (86 °F). All the calm months: April, May, September and October.
When is Cartagena most crowded?
The busiest season is January, March and July. Mid-January, after the year-end holidays.
What is the weather like in Cartagena?
Average highs range from 30 °C (85 °F) in November to 32 °C (89 °F) in February, from Copernicus ERA5 (2016–2025).
What should I know before going to Cartagena?
The rainiest months on the Colombian Caribbean (Oct–Nov).
What festivals are there in Cartagena?
The main ones: Music Festival & Hay Festival (January) (January); Holy Week (Mar/Apr, varies) (March); Mid-year school holidays (Jun–Jul) (June); Cartagena Independence festivities (Nov 11) (November); Christmas & year-end season (December).
More places in Colombia
- Medellín calm in February, March, April, May, June, September and October; busiest in August and December
- Bogotá calm in January and December; busiest in March and November
- Santa Marta calm in April, May, September and October; busiest in January, July and December
- San Andrés calm in April, May, September and October; busiest in January, July and December
- Cali calm in January, February, March, April, May, June and September; busiest in August
- Salento calm in February, March, April, May, September and October; busiest in January, November and December
- Villa de Leyva calm in February, March, April, May and September; busiest in January, July, August and December
- Barichara calm in February, March, April, May and September; busiest in December
- Leticia calm in February, March, April, May, June and September; busiest in July, August and December
- Guatapé calm in February, March, April, May, June, September and October; busiest in January, July and August
- Popayán calm in January, February, May, June and September; busiest in March, April, July, August, October, November and December