🇨🇴 Cartagena · When to go
The best time to visit Cartagena
Cartagena is hot, humid and tropical all year. The dry season (December–April) is the best time to visit — sunnier, slightly less sticky and ideal for the beaches and islands. The wetter months (May–November) bring humidity and afternoon downpours, but lower prices and fewer crowds.
Best overall
December–April — the dry season, with the most reliable sun for the old town, beaches and islands.
Best weather
The dry season (December–April).
Fewer crowds
The wetter months (May–June, September–November), outside holidays.
Lowest prices
The low/wet season (May–November) is cheapest, outside Christmas/New Year and Easter.
When to avoid
October–November for the heaviest rain; Christmas/New Year and Easter for peak crowds and prices.
Found your dates? Lock in your Cartagena trip
Cartagena season by season
Sunny, breezy and (a little) less humid — the best beach-and-island weather; busiest and priciest, peaking over Christmas and Easter.
Hotter and more humid with building afternoon showers; quieter and better value.
A relatively drier window within the wet season, busy with the August school break and the city’s festivals.
The most rain and humidity (and a small Caribbean storm risk), but greenest, quietest and cheapest.
Key events & holidays
The Cartagena Hay Festival (literature, January), the city’s Independence celebrations (November), and the busy Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays.
Plan your Cartagena trip — free
Tell Wavvia your dates and how you travel, and it builds a day-by-day Cartagena plan with real places, the best areas to stay and safety built in.
Plan my Cartagena trip — freeBest time to visit Cartagena — FAQs
When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
December to April — the dry season brings the most reliable sun for the walled city, beaches and the Rosario Islands.
What is the cheapest time to visit Cartagena?
The wetter low season (May–November, outside Christmas and Easter) is cheapest and least crowded.
Is Cartagena very hot?
Yes — it’s hot and humid year-round; explore in the cooler morning and evening and stay hydrated whatever the season.
When does it rain most in Cartagena?
October and November are usually the wettest, with humid afternoon downpours, though rain can fall any month in the tropics.
Weather, prices and event dates vary year to year — always check current forecasts and schedules before you book. Some links are affiliate links; Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.