Climate Insights for Cartagena

The climate in Cartagena is hot. The average annual temperature is 26°C and approximately 360mm of precipitation falls per year. December is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Cartagena is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: November, December, March. The coldest months are August, September, July, when temperatures can drop to 18°C.

Cartagena sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 18°C to 29°C. The warmest month is November, when average highs reach 29°C and the mean temperature sits around 28°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 18°C and an average of 21°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 2°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between July and August, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Cartagena is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 360mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 30mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 33mm of rainfall. February and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is May, with just 4mm. That's 29mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Cartagena is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 5km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is October, averaging 7km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 5km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans.

It is currently summer in Cartagena, which began on June 21, 2026. Cartagena is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in November at around 29°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 18°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 17 days from now.

The best time to visit Cartagena is during August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 23°C with modest rainfall averaging 33mm per month. By contrast, November can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 29°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Cartagena based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.