When Is the Best Time to Visit Colombia?
Make the best decision according to your needs and preferences. Plan the perfect trip knowing exactly when is the best time to visit Colombia.
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Are you planning a trip to Colombia? Learn with us when is the best time to visit this amazing country!
Colombia is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind country located on the equatorial line. This aspect has an influence over Colombia’s weather as it means that the temperature does not depend mainly on seasons. What does affect the temperature of the country is the altitude, which is different depending on each place. For this reason, Colombia has several microclimates that differ through the months. So, if the plan consists of visiting Colombia, you should check these factors.
Here’s our take on the best time to visit Colombia depending on the months and some regions. Let’s dive in on a practical guide that will be useful for getting to know when you should book your trip!
Colombia in a Year: What Destinations Are Best for Each Month
Let’s start with Colombia’s peak season, which is December to January. This is a great time to visit Colombia since it’s a period of warm, dry days and clear, sunny skies, especially on the Caribbean Coast. This makes it perfect for people who want to relax at the beach and meet places like Cartagena and Santa Marta. Visiting the beautiful beaches of San Andrés is also a promising idea.
However, you should also consider that this is the busiest time of the year. Most Colombian families go on vacation during these months and a lot of foreigners come too. Because of this, the prices are also at their highest. So, if you want to avoid crowds and crave a quieter experience, there are some alternatives.
If you dislike crowds and want some quiet, Bogotá is the perfect place to visit during these months. The country’s capital is deserted as locals travel to other places to have their own vacation. Hiking around the lofty peaks and mountains that surround the city is a fantastic plan for those in search of adventure.
But, if you are more of a party person and you don’t mind crowds, this is the perfect time of the year for you. And you want to know why? Because of carnivals. December and January are months of celebrations, not only because of Christmas and New Year festivities. Many of the main carnivals of Colombia’s bigger cities take place during these months. La Feria de Cali is the festival of Salsa that occurs in December last week. El Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in Pasto keeps the fun during the first week of January. This carnival exposes Colombia’s cultural diversity through music and dance. Finally, La Feria de Manizales follows. During the second week of January, this carnival celebrates Manizales’ folklore and its coffee culture.
February to May: A Perfect Time to Visit the Coffee Region
During these months, tourist traffic decreases and so do the prices. But here is one thing to consider: the weather is a mix of sunny days and rainfalls for most of the regions. It is pretty common that those regions crossed by the Andes, including Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Manizales experience a wet season. This doesn’t stop tourists from going around these places, since the rain is not permanent.
Rain typically lasts some minutes, a few hours at most, and it is usual in the afternoons. This makes the perfect chilling temperature for visiting the Coffee region and small towns like Salento and El Valle del Cocora.
As for the Caribbean Coast, sunny days remain until late April, but there can be some occasional rain. This is actually a good way of refreshing from the heat of the higher temperatures in these places.
The wettest time comes in May. There can be some hard rains along most of the country’s regions. Avoid the Amazon as it is a high rainy season. Instead, go to the capital cities and enjoy their urban and cultural activities.
Shoulder Season: June to August
There is a mini dry season during these months for almost all of the country. This is a fantastic time for visiting Colombia’s diversity in different regions and it’s not as busy compared to the first month of the year.
Our recommendations? For those in search of nature appreciation, the Pacific Coast is their call. The months of June and July are the perfect time to go whale watching. Humpback whales come to give birth. The turtles also return to the beaches to lay their eggs. Both are beautiful once-in-a-lifetime spectacles to experience.
Finally, August is a windy season in the Andes zones. The colonial city Villa del Leyva offers a Kite Festival! Perfect for those who travel with their families and wish to keep a lovely windy memory.
September to November Ensure a Wildlife Experience
During these months, the Caribbean Coast and the Andes experience another wet season. But here is some great news: it is the most splendid time to visit the Amazon. At this time, the water levels in this region remain low, so it is perfect for wildlife spotting chances and great hiking opportunities.
And there is another marvelous experience that calls the attention of many tourists and locals. From September to October, the conditions are ideal for appreciating Caño Cristales, also known as The Rainbow River. Due to the water flows of this season, colorful algae appear in this river, making it look like a liquid rainbow.
As you can see, any month of the calendar can be a wonderful time to visit Colombia. It just depends on each one’s preference, because the magic of this beautiful land is in every corner!