AI-generatedSanta Marta at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Mar
- Warmest month
- Feb · 30°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 29.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,240 h
- Rain a year
- 2,176 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Santa Marta
Santa Marta has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. February is the warmest month with average highs of 30 °C, while November is the coolest at 28 °C. With around 2,240 hours of sunshine a year, Santa Marta is sunny; January is the sunniest month with 8.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: January – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 28°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
05:4617:39
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:32–06:14 · evening 17:11–17:52
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:24–05:32 · evening 17:52–18:00
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Santa Marta in October?
In October, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 394 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 54 min05:46 – 17:39
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 85 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 3 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−5America/Bogota
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %81 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %33 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Santa Marta
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 28.6 – 29.7 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Santa Marta ranges from 25.4 °C in February to 29.1 °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 28.5 and 29.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 25.7° | 25.0° | 26.5° | pleasant |
| FebruaryFeb | 25.4° | 24.3° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| MarchMar | 25.6° | 24.9° | 26.6° | pleasant |
| AprilApr | 26.4° | 25.8° | 27.2° | warm |
| MayMay | 27.6° | 26.8° | 28.3° | warm |
| JuneJun | 28.1° | 27.3° | 29.1° | warm |
| JulyJul | 27.7° | 27.0° | 28.4° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.3° | 27.7° | 29.0° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.1° | 28.5° | 29.7° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.1° | 28.6° | 29.7° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.5° | 27.8° | 29.4° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.1° | 26.4° | 27.7° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Santa Marta
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 5.0 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Santa Marta, 42 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Santa Marta
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Santa Marta: 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, Santa Marta has about 28 rainy days with 394 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Santa Marta
How breezy and how cloudy Santa Marta is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Santa Marta typically peaks at 14 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Jan – Mar.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 85 % of the sky over Santa Marta: mostly overcast, with about 5.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Santa Marta
How often the day gets hot in Santa Marta (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Santa Marta has about 3 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Santa Marta
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in October (24°), the warmest in March (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 365 days a year, mostly all year round.
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 | 81 | 30° | 25° | 25.7° | 8.0 h | 3 | 19 |
| FebruaryFeb | 77 | 30° | 25° | 25.4° | 8.0 h | 3 | 17 |
| MarchMar | 69 | 30° | 26° | 25.6° | 7.3 h | 7 | 38 |
| AprilApr | 46 | 30° | 25° | 26.4° | 6.2 h | 17 | 131 |
| MayMay | 44 | 29° | 25° | 27.6° | 5.4 h | 24 | 269 |
| JuneJun | 44 | 29° | 25° | 28.1° | 5.4 h | 22 | 242 |
| JulyJul | 43 | 30° | 25° | 27.7° | 5.6 h | 20 | 176 |
| AugustAug | 43 | 29° | 25° | 28.3° | 5.3 h | 22 | 220 |
| SeptemberSep | 45 | 29° | 25° | 29.1° | 5.1 h | 26 | 296 |
| OctoberOct | 47 | 29° | 24° | 29.1° | 5.0 h | 28 | 394 |
| NovemberNov | 50 | 28° | 24° | 28.5° | 5.5 h | 24 | 293 |
| DecemberDec | 64 | 29° | 25° | 27.1° | 7.0 h | 12 | 80 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
11.24° N, 74.19° W · 14 m · America/Bogota
Best time to visit Santa Marta
The best time to visit Santa Marta is from January 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 394 mm.
Santa Marta through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Santa Marta in the dry season
Dec – Mar
Good
- 29–30 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days in all
Santa Marta in the rainy season
Apr – Nov
Fair
- 28–30 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 183 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Santa Marta for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Santa Marta
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Santa Marta: score 81 against 47. In January, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in January. January has 25 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 47 | 81better |
| Day high | 29° | 30° |
| Night low | 24° | 25° |
| Sea | 29.1° | 25.7° |
| Sunshine | 5.0 h | 8.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 28 | 3better |
| Rainfall | 394 mm | 19 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 31 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
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
Santa Marta month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
81January30° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In January, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 25.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 19 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, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in January77February30° · Sea 25° · 8 h
In February, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 25.4 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 17 mm in total. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in February69March30° · Sea 26° · 7 h
In March, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 25.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 38 mm. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in March46April30° · Sea 26° · 6 h
In April, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 26.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 131 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in April44May29° · Sea 28° · 5 h
In May, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 24 days, totalling 269 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in May44June29° · Sea 28° · 5 h
In June, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 242 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in June43July30° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In July, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 176 mm. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in July43August29° · Sea 28° · 5 h
In August, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 220 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in August45September29° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In September, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 296 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 so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in September47October29° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In October, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 394 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in October50November28° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In November, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 24 days, totalling 293 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in November64December29° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In December, Santa Marta is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 80 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Santa Marta.
Santa Marta in DecemberSanta Marta compared
Put Santa Marta side by side with another destination.
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Santa Marta vs. Barranquilla
In October the holiday weather in Santa Marta and Barranquilla is about equally good (score 47 vs. 44). During the day it is about as warm in Barranquilla as in Santa Marta.
| in October | Santa Marta | Barranquilla |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 47 | 44 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 29° |
| Sea | 29° | – |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 28 | 29 |
| Best time | Jan – Mar | Dec – Mar |
Through the year
Colombia in October: the best places
In October, Santa Marta ranks 7 of 8 destinations in this country.
- Saint Andrew28°29°68
- 2Cartagena29°30°66
- 3Bogotá19°54
- 4Medellín24°52
- 5Pereira21°51
- 6Cali26°50
- 7Santa MartaThis page29°29°47
- 8Barranquilla29°44
Planning a trip to Santa Marta
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Santa Marta in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Santa Marta has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 73) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 43).
- 53
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 6.5 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 44
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 43
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 47
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 73
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h
- Distance
- 7,910 km
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Jet lag
- About 4 days (6 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Marta
When is the best time to visit Santa Marta?
The best time to visit Santa Marta is from January to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Santa Marta?
The sea temperature in Santa Marta ranges from 25.4 °C in February to 29.1 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Santa Marta in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Santa Marta?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C and nights around 25 °C. November is the coolest month at 28 °C.
When does it rain most in Santa Marta?
Rain is most frequent from April to November; the wettest month is October with 394 mm. The driest month is February with 17 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Santa Marta get?
Santa Marta gets around 2,240 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 8.0 hours a day; in October there are 5.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Santa Marta in?
Santa Marta uses the time zone America/Bogota, at UTC−5 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Santa Marta?
A nonstop flight from London to Santa Marta takes about 10 h, for a straight-line distance of about 7,910 km.
Which school holidays are best for Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 73) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 43). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 53, May half-term 44, Summer holidays 43, October half-term 47, Christmas holidays 73.
Near Santa Marta
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Santa Marta
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Santa Marta's – good alternatives.