Cartagena, Colombia at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- Mar · 32°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 29.7°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,620 h
- Rain a year
- 1,567 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Elevation
- 20 m
Climate in Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. March is the warmest month with average highs of 32 °C, while November is the coolest at 29 °C. With around 2,620 hours of sunshine a year, Cartagena, Colombia is sunny; January is the sunniest month with 9.9 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: December – March
What is the weather like in Cartagena, Colombia in October?
In October, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.5 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 29 days, totalling 267 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 55 min05:50 – 17:45
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 86 %on average
- Hot days
- 3 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−5America/Bogota
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %43 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Cartagena, Colombia
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.1 – 29.9 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Cartagena, Colombia ranges from 27.3 °C in March to 29.7 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From September to November the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 29.1 and 30.2 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 27.9° | 27.3° | 28.4° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.5° | 26.9° | 28.0° | warm |
| MarchMar | 27.3° | 26.7° | 27.8° | warm |
| AprilApr | 27.7° | 27.0° | 28.3° | warm |
| MayMay | 28.9° | 28.2° | 29.6° | warm |
| JuneJun | 29.6° | 29.0° | 30.1° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.6° | 29.2° | 30.0° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 29.6° | 29.2° | 29.9° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.7° | 29.1° | 30.2° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.5° | 29.1° | 29.9° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 29.2° | 28.7° | 29.6° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.7° | 28.1° | 29.2° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Cartagena, Colombia
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.6 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Cartagena, Colombia, 47 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Cartagena, Colombia: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Cartagena, Colombia has about 29 rainy days with 267 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 100 | 31° | 25° | 27.9° | 9.9 h | 2 | 9 |
| FebruaryFeb | 97 | 32° | 25° | 27.5° | 9.8 h | 2 | 7 |
| MarchMar | 96 | 32° | 25° | 27.3° | 9.2 h | 5 | 18 |
| AprilApr | 79 | 31° | 26° | 27.7° | 7.6 h | 15 | 73 |
| MayMay | 70 | 30° | 26° | 28.9° | 5.9 h | 26 | 175 |
| JuneJun | 69 | 30° | 26° | 29.6° | 5.8 h | 26 | 187 |
| JulyJul | 71 | 30° | 26° | 29.6° | 6.2 h | 26 | 161 |
| AugustAug | 69 | 30° | 26° | 29.6° | 5.8 h | 28 | 192 |
| SeptemberSep | 68 | 29° | 25° | 29.7° | 5.5 h | 28 | 206 |
| OctoberOct | 69 | 29° | 25° | 29.5° | 5.6 h | 29 | 267 |
| NovemberNov | 71 | 29° | 25° | 29.2° | 6.4 h | 25 | 212 |
| DecemberDec | 89 | 30° | 25° | 28.7° | 8.6 h | 11 | 59 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
10.40° N, 75.49° W · 20 m · America/Bogota
Best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia
The best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia is from December to March. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from December to March. Rain is most frequent from April to November; the wettest month is October with 267 mm.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Cartagena, Colombia for you.
Your best months: December – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Dec – Mar
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – Nov
12 or more rainy days
Cartagena, Colombia month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
100January31° · Sea 28° · 10 h
In January, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 9 mm in total. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in January97February32° · Sea 28° · 10 h
In February, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in February96March32° · Sea 27° · 9 h
In March, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 18 mm in total. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in March79April31° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In April, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 27.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 15 days, totalling 73 mm. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in April70May30° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In May, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 175 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in May69June30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In June, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 187 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in June71July30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In July, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 161 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in July69August30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In August, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 192 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in August68September29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In September, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 206 mm. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in September69October29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In October, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.5 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 29 days, totalling 267 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in October71November29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In November, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 212 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in November89December30° · Sea 29° · 9 h
In December, Cartagena, Colombia is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 59 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena, Colombia.
Cartagena, Colombia in DecemberPlanning a trip to Cartagena, Colombia
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 15 min
- Distance
- 8,070 km
- Time zone
- UTC−5
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Cartagena, Colombia
When is the best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia?
The best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia is from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Cartagena, Colombia?
The sea temperature in Cartagena, Colombia ranges from 27.3 °C in March to 29.7 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Cartagena, Colombia in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.5 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Cartagena, Colombia?
March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C and nights around 25 °C. November is the coolest month at 29 °C.
When does it rain most in Cartagena, Colombia?
Rain is most frequent from April to November; the wettest month is October with 267 mm. The driest month is February with 7 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Cartagena, Colombia get?
Cartagena, Colombia gets around 2,620 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 9.9 hours a day; in September there are 5.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Cartagena, Colombia in?
Cartagena, Colombia uses the time zone America/Bogota, at UTC−5 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Cartagena, Colombia?
A nonstop flight from London to Cartagena, Colombia takes about 10 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,070 km.
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