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When to go · Colombia

Colombia in January

Great month. Dry in the Andes and on the coast; Colombian holidays fill Cartagena until mid-month.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
High
Colombia
Prices
High
Colombia

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Colombia

Dry in the Andes and on the coast; Colombian holidays fill Cartagena until mid-month.

Is another month better than January?

No other month rates higher than January for Colombia in this guide.

Weather in January

  • Andean cities · Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Zipaquirábest weather

    Cool all year (7–19 °C (45–66 °F) in Bogotá); two rainy seasons, April–May and October–November; bring layers.

  • Medellín and the Coffee Region · Medellín, Guatapé, Salento, Manizalesbest weather

    Spring-like 18–28 °C (64–82 °F); afternoon showers in the wet months; Cocora mornings are clearest.

  • Caribbean coast · Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona, Palominobest weather

    Hot (30–33 °C (86–91 °F)) all year; breezy and dry Dec–Apr; wettest Sep–Nov; Tayrona closes each year for short periods (check dates).

  • Amazon and Pacific · Leticia, Nuquí, Bahía Solanorainy

    Rain every month; the Pacific coast is one of the wettest places on Earth; whales Jul–Oct.

  • Amazonia: Amazon lowlands · Leticia, Puerto Nariño, the riverrainy

    Hot and humid all year, 30–33 °C (86–91 °F) days. Rain is heaviest Dec–May; the drier window is roughly July–September, though it still rains.

  • Andino: Bogotá and the high plateau · Cundinamarca and Boyacá, about 2,500–2,800 mfine

    Cool and often overcast year-round; rain can fall any month, with wetter spells around April–May and October–November. Mornings are usually clearer than afternoons.

  • Andino: Medellín and the coffee axis · Antioquia, Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, about 1,200–2,000 mbest weather

    Milder and greener; the driest months are usually December to March, with a second drier window around July–August.

  • Colombian Islands: San Andrés and Providencia · Western Caribbeanbest weather

    Warm year-round, roughly 26–31 °C (79–88 °F). Driest Dec–Apr; rain and storm risk Jun–Nov.

  • Colombian Islands: Islas del Rosario · Caribbean coast off Cartagenabest weather

    Same pattern as Cartagena; windy Dec–Mar can make boat crossings choppy.

  • Colombian Islands: Gorgona and Malpelo · Pacific Oceanfine

    Very wet; diving windows depend on currents and park permits — check before booking.

  • Costa Norte: Cartagena and Barranquilla · central Caribbean coastbest weather

    Hot and humid year-round (30–33 °C (86–91 °F)); the driest stretch is December–April. Rainy season peaks in October.

  • Costa Norte: Santa Marta and Tayrona · northeast coast and Sierra foothillsbest weather

    Coastal dry season December–April; the Sierra Nevada above Minca is cooler and wetter.

  • Costa Norte: La Guajira · northeast desertbest weather

    Arid and windy; the October–November rains can close dirt roads.

  • Orinoquía: Llanos plains · Villavicencio, Yopal, San Martín, Puerto Carreñodry

    Hot year-round, roughly 25–33 °C (77–91 °F). A wet season from April–May to November floods tracks; December to March is the dry, dusty window.

  • Orinoquía: La Macarena · Serranía de la Macarenafine

    Caño Cristales colour window is roughly June to November, between the wet and dry extremes; the park closes to visitors outside it.

  • Pacifica: Chocó and Nariño coast · Bahía Solano, Nuquí, Tumacorainy

    One of the wettest places on earth; rain most days. Whale season runs roughly July to October. Temperatures stay hot and humid all year, around 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).

  • Pacifica: Valle del Cauca and Cauca Pacific slope · Buenaventura, Cali siderainy

    Rain year-round; the driest stretch is usually January to March. Hot and humid at low elevation.

  • Bogotá19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Aracataca33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days
  • Armenia27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • Barichara28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days
  • Barranquilla31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days
  • Boyacá20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Bucaramanga28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days
  • Buenaventura30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Buga30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • Cabo de la Vela31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days
  • Calabazo32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Calarcá27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 12 rain days
  • Cali30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • Capurganá27 °C (81 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days
  • Cartagena31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days
  • Chía20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 5 rain days
  • Chinchiná24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days
  • Choachí22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ciénaga30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Coconuco22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 14 rain days
  • Cúcuta30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 64 rain days
  • Dibulla32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • Funza19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Girón28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Guachaca30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Guatapé28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ibagué29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 86 rain days
  • Ipiales20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 5 rain days
  • Islas del Rosario31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days
  • Jardín24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days
  • Jerico28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days
  • La Calera19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • La Macarena31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ladrilleros30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Leticia31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 22 rain days
  • Maicao32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • Manizales21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 14 rain days
  • Marinilla24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days
  • Medellín28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days
  • Melgar33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Minca28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mocoa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Monguí16 °C (61 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days
  • Montería30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Necoclí31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Neiva30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days
  • Palmira30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • Palomino33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • Pamplona22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Pasto20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Pereira27.2 °C (81 °F) / 17.7 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days
  • Popayán25.2 °C (77 °F) / 13.9 °C (57 °F), 14 rain days
  • Providencia28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Puerto Carreño33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Puerto Nariño31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days
  • Quibdó30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days
  • Quimbaya28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days
  • Ráquira20 °C (68 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 6 rain days
  • Rincón del Mar31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days
  • Riohacha30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 2 rain days
  • Salento27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Agustin24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days
  • San Andrés28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • San Cipriano30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Gil28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Martin de los Llanos33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • San Miguel31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • San Vicente del Caguán30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Santa Cruz de Mompox32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Santa Fe de Antioquia30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Santa Marta32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • Santa Rosa de Cabal24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days
  • Sapzurro30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Silvia27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • Sogamoso22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 5 rain days
  • Taganga32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Tibasosa20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Tolú31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Topaga20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tunja15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 5 rain days
  • Turbo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Valledupar30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 2 rain days
  • Villa de Leyva22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 4 rain days
  • Villagarzón30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days
  • Villavicencio30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days
  • Villavieja30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Yopal32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Zipaquirá14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 5 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • New Year and Epiphany

    1 Jan and 6 Jan (Monday, check)

    Holiday season until mid-January.

  • New Year wind-down

    Early to mid-January · Bogotá

    A quiet month as New Year holidays wind down by mid-month.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Colombia
High
Prices · Colombia
High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Colombia, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jan: Great

    Feb: Great

  • Crowds

    Jan: High

    Feb: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: High

    Feb: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 2

    Feb: 2

January: Dry in the Andes and on the coast; Colombian holidays fill Cartagena until mid-month.

February: Dry and clear; Barranquilla Carnival may fall here (check); Tayrona closure possible (check).

Colombia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

Rated best or good this month

  • Andean cities

    Best weather of the year (Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Zipaquirá)

  • Medellín and the Coffee Region

    Best weather of the year (Medellín, Guatapé, Salento, Manizales)

  • Caribbean coast

    Best weather of the year (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona, Palomino)

  • Bogotá

    Dry season; cool mornings, sunny days.

  • Aracataca

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

  • Armenia

    Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug

  • Barichara

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • Barranquilla

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry); Carnaval falls in Feb or early Mar

  • Boyacá

    Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug

  • Bucaramanga

    Best months: Dec–Mar, Jun–Aug

  • Buga

    Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug (dry season)

  • Cabo de la Vela

    Best months: Dec–Apr, Sep–Nov