Climate Insights for Cartagena

The climate in Cartagena is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 19°C and approximately 306mm of precipitation falls per year. December is the wettest month, receiving around 123mm of rainfall. Cartagena is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are March, January, December, when temperatures can drop to 10°C.

Cartagena sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 10°C to 29°C. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 29°C and the mean temperature sits around 26°C. March is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 10°C and an average of 15°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 7°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Cartagena is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 306mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 26mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 123mm of rainfall. October and November also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is June, with just 1mm. That's 122mm less than December, 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 3km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 4km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in October, with average winds dropping to 3km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 1km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

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 August at around 29°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in March near 10°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 52 days from now.

The best time to visit Cartagena is during April, May, June, September, October and November, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 22mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 29°C, while March is the coldest period with lows dropping to 10°C. With minimal rainfall expected, you can pack light and plan outdoor activities with confidence.

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.