Cartagena.info

An independent guide to Cartagena, Colombia

When to go

Best time to visit Cartagena: the dry months and the calm months are not the same

The best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia depends on what you came for. To walk the old town, go from January to March: rain falls on fewer than 1 day a month, and in February the streets stay cool enough to walk until about 9:45 and again from about 16:45, the longest cool hours of the year. For calm island boats, go from May to November and accept rain on 7 to 12 days a month. For the least full hotels and the fewest ship days, go in May or June; July and August are outside the port’s 2026-27 cruise schedule.

Edited by Rainer LangUpdated

My own 12 days in Cartagena were in October 2023. In the national rain normals, October is the month with the most rain. Rainer Lang, editor

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1The year

The year in five bands

Five measures for every month: hours cool enough to walk, days with rain, the sea for the island boats, cruise ship days and how full the hotels are. Pick a month to get its trade-off in three lines.

WalkDaylight hours when the streets feel like 35 °C (95 °F) or less in still shade, from hourly airport readings. Inside the walls the breeze does not reach the street, so it does not count. The line is the guide’s own, not a health authority’s.

Streets cool enough to walkdaylight hours, still airDays with rain1 mm or more, normal 1991 to 2020Sea for island boatstypicallyCruise ship days2026-27 port scheduleHotel rooms filledSep 2025 to Aug 2026
4 h <1 rougher 22 73.9%
4.5 h <1 rougher 17 69.9%
4.5 h <1 rougher 14 66.4%
2.5 h 2 moderate 17 59.7%
1.5 h 7 calmer 2 55.4%
1.5 h 9 calmer 3 55.2%
1.5 h 9 moderate not in schedule 62.6%
1.5 h 10 calmer not in schedule 65.6%
1 h 10 calmer 6 64.5%
2 h 12 calmer 11 63.6%
1.5 h 9 calmer 15 67.9%
3 h 3 rougher 18 67.0%

One tick per hour from 6:00 to 20:00: open when the streets are cool enough to walk (35 °C felt or less in still air, the guide’s own line), colored by how hot it feels when they are not. The figure counts daylight hours only. Sea is a typical value from a wave model.

  1. January Dry and breezy, and the busiest month at the port

    Weather Rain on fewer than 1 day (under 1 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 4 of 12 daylight hours, until about 9:45 and again from about 16:45; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically rougher: big waves, 1.5 m or more, in about 3 daylight hours in 10. Take the first boat.

    Crowds 22 ship days; hotels 73.9% full (Jan 2026). Music festival 9 to 17 January 2027; Hay Festival 28 to 31 January 2027.

    Next Walled city · Rosario Islands · Ship days

  2. February The breeziest month, with the roughest sea

    Weather Rain on fewer than 1 day (under 1 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 4.5 of 12 daylight hours, until about 9:45 and again from about 16:45; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically rougher: big waves, 1.5 m or more, in about 5 daylight hours in 10. Take the first boat.

    Crowds 17 ship days; hotels 69.9% full (Feb 2026).

    Next Castillo San Felipe · Rosario Islands · Ship days

  3. March Still dry, still breezy, and still busy with ships

    Weather Rain on fewer than 1 day (3 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 4.5 of 12 daylight hours, until about 9:15 and again from about 16:45; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically rougher: big waves, 1.5 m or more, in about 2 daylight hours in 10. Take the first boat.

    Crowds 14 ship days; hotels 66.4% full (Mar 2026). Holy Week falls in March or April.

    Next Walled city · Beaches · Ship days

  4. April The turn of the season: first showers, a moderate sea

    Weather Rain on about 2 days (19 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 2.5 of 12 daylight hours, until about 8:15 and again from about 17:45; 13:00 feels like 38 °C (100 °F).

    Water Typically moderate. The ride back is the bumpier leg.

    Crowds 17 ship days; hotels 59.7% full (Apr 2026). Film festival 6 to 11 April 2027.

    Next Things to do · Which island · Castillo San Felipe

  5. May Rain returns, the sea calms, hotels empty out

    Weather Rain on about 7 days (117 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1.5 of 13 daylight hours, until about 7:15 and again from about 21:15; 13:00 feels like 39 °C (102 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds 2 ship days; hotels 55.4% full (May 2026).

    Next Rosario Islands · San Bernardo · Where to stay

  6. June Calm water, few ships, the emptiest hotels

    Weather Rain on about 9 days (93 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1.5 of 13 daylight hours, until about 7:15 and again from about 21:15; 13:00 feels like 38 °C (100 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds 3 ship days; hotels 55.2% full (Jun 2026). Island high season from 15 June.

    Next Which island · Beach clubs · Where to stay

  7. July Outside the cruise schedule, and little wind

    Weather Rain on about 9 days (121 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1.5 of 13 daylight hours, until about 7:45 and again from about 19:30; 13:00 feels like 39 °C (102 °F).

    Water Typically moderate. The ride back is the bumpier leg.

    Crowds Outside the port’s 2026-27 cruise schedule; hotels 62.6% full (Jul 2026). Island high season.

    Next Things to do · Sunset · Which island

  8. August Outside the cruise schedule, calm water, heavy heat

    Weather Rain on about 10 days (128 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1.5 of 12 daylight hours, until about 7:30 and again from about 21:15; 13:00 feels like 39 °C (102 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds Outside the port’s 2026-27 cruise schedule; hotels 65.6% full (Aug 2026). Island high season until 15 August.

    Next Which island · Sunset · Things to do

  9. September A calm sea, frequent rain, quiet streets

    Weather Rain on about 10 days (133 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1 of 12 daylight hours, until about 7:15 and again from about 21:15; 13:00 feels like 38 °C (100 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds 6 ship days; hotels 64.5% full (Sep 2025).

    Next Rosario Islands · Hourly weather · Where to stay

  10. October The wettest month, with a calm sea

    Weather Rain on about 12 days (237 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 2 of 12 daylight hours, until about 8:00 and again from about 19:00; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds 11 ship days; hotels 63.6% full (Oct 2025). Independence program from early October.

    Next Hourly weather · Things to do · Events

  11. November Less rain than October, and the Independence festivities

    Weather Rain on about 9 days (178 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 1.5 of 12 daylight hours, until about 8:00 and again from about 17:45; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically calmer. The easiest crossings of the year.

    Crowds 15 ship days; hotels 67.9% full (Nov 2025). Independence festivities from early October to mid-November 2026.

    Next Events · Rosario Islands · Getsemaní

  12. December The breeze returns with the holidays

    Weather Rain on about 3 days (45 mm). The streets are cool enough to walk for 3 of 12 daylight hours, until about 9:00 and again from about 17:15; 13:00 feels like 37 °C (99 °F).

    Water Typically rougher: big waves, 1.5 m or more, in about 1 daylight hours in 10. Take the first boat.

    Crowds 18 ship days; hotels 67.0% full (Dec 2025). Holidays Tuesday 8 December and Friday 25 December 2026.

    Next Walled city · Ship days · Where to stay

2Verdicts

Four kinds of trip, four verdicts

Baluarte de Santo Domingo with the sea behind
The stone Baluarte de Santo Domingo, with flags and a tiled pavilion on top, stands between the old town and the sea.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You came to walk the old town

Go from January to March

These are the months with the longest cool hours in the streets. In February they stay under the line until about 9:45 and again from about 16:45: 4.5 of 12 daylight hours. From May to November it is 1 to 2 hours, all before about 8:00. Midday is too hot for a street walk in every month. Rain hardly matters: fewer than 1 day a month.

The price: this is cruise season and the busiest hotel stretch. January has 22 ship days and hotels were 73.9% full in January 2026. On a ship day, walk the walled city at 7:00 and come back after the ships sail; climb Castillo San Felipe at opening.

Second choice: December, then April, with 3 and 2.5 walkable daylight hours. To learn the streets on day one, a shared walking tour of the Historic Center and Getsemaní meets at Plaza Cervantes; pick the earliest start it offers.

Brown pelican on a wooden dock over turquoise water
A brown pelican rests on the railing of a wooden dock above turquoise water.Photo: SebastianGalvis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You came for islands and beaches

Go in May, early June or September

The sea is typically calmer from May to November, with a moderate July, and big waves in almost no daylight hours from June to October. May, the first half of June and September also fall outside the island park’s high seasons (1 Nov to 31 Jan, 15 Jun to 15 Aug, Holy Week). Rain is the trade: about 7 days in May and 10 in September.

Avoid for small boats: February. Big waves, 1.5 m or more, are typical in about 5 daylight hours in 10, and the wind builds through the day. If you go then, take the first boat; the Rosario Islands catamaran is the other way out. See the Rosario boat day and which island suits you.

Tower of the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría framed by a colonial street
The cathedral's orange and yellow bell tower rises at the end of a narrow street of balconied houses.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You want it quiet

Go in May or the first half of June

Hotels in Cartagena were 55.4% full in May 2026 and 55.2% in June, the lowest of the year, against 73.9% in January. Only 2 ship days fall in May and 3 in June. The where-to-stay guide compares the areas.

The price: heat. In May the streets are cool enough to walk only until about 7:15, and 13:00 feels like 39 °C (102 °F). Walk at sunrise and after dark; spend midday in a pool, on a boat or indoors.

Two cruise ships in the Bay of Cartagena, one docked at the port and one arriving
A January ship day: one cruise ship at the pier while a second sails in across the bay, seen from La Popa hill.Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You want to avoid ship days

Go in May or June

The 2026-27 port schedule runs from September to June and lists only 2 ship days in May and 3 in June. July and August are outside it. Over the season it has ships in port on 125 days, 39 of them with two ships and 7 with three or more.

In season, plan around the days. Most ships dock between 7:00 and 8:00 (91 of 167 calls), and the typical ship leaves at 18:00. Expect the old town busiest while the ships are in. The port’s published schedule lists every call; the cruise port page plans a day either side of it.

The price: the rain is back, on about 7 days in May and about 9 days in June.

3The trade-off

Why the dry months have the roughest sea

The wind that keeps the rain away is the wind that builds the waves. From January to March the afternoon wind at the airport weather station is about twice as strong as in September and October, rain almost never falls, and the sea is typically at its roughest (wave model values). From May to November the wind drops, the sea calms and the rain comes back.

Days with rainweather service normal

12 days

Wind at 15:00airport station, median

26 km/h

Big-wave hoursshare of daylight, typically

about 5 in 10
Three measures, one per row, each on its own scale. Rain: days with 1 mm or more, IDEAM normal 1991 to 2020. Wind: median at 15:00, airport readings 2016 to 2024. Waves: share of daylight hours with waves of 1.5 m or more, typical values from a wave model.

What it means on land. The breeze helps on the walls and the waterfront, not in the narrow streets. At 13:00 in February it feels like 37 °C (99 °F) in still shade and 32 °C (90 °F) on the walls in the wind. In October the same hour feels like 37 °C (99 °F), and the weak breeze takes off much less.

What it means at sea. In the windy months the wind builds through the day: at the airport in February it is typically 5 km/h at 8:00 and 26 km/h at 15:00, so the ride back is the rougher leg. On rough days the port captain can bring the return time forward.

4By month

Cartagena weather by month

The thermometer barely moves. The average daily high at the airport is 31.1 °C (88 °F) in January and 32.3 °C (90 °F) in June. What changes through the year is rain, humidity and wind, and those decide how hot it feels.

Cartagena gets about 1,074 mm of rain a year, falling on about 70 days. October is the wettest month, with 237 mm on about 12 days; January to March together get about 4 mm. Even in the wet months most days stay dry: September has rain on about 10 days and stays dry on the rest. The sun shows for 8.7 hours a day in January and 5.5 hours in October.

Hour by hour: Cartagena weather. Sunset times and spots: the sunset page.

Rain and sunshineClimate normals 1991 to 2020 for the Rafael Núñez airport station, published by IDEAM, Colombia’s weather service. A rain day has 1 mm or more. The same normals are in the WMO normals file.

Feels likeMedians from hourly readings at the same airport, 2016 to 2024, in the shade.

Cartagena weather by monthAverage high, rain and sunshine: IDEAM normals 1991 to 2020. Feels like: shade, still air, °C (°F). Sea: typical values from a wave model.
MonthAverage highRainRain daysSun, hours a dayFeels like 9:00Feels like 13:00Sea
January31.1 °C0.5 mm0.18.734 (93)37 (99)rougher
February31.1 °C0.3 mm0.18.734 (93)37 (99)rougher
March31.2 °C3.2 mm0.47.734 (93)37 (99)rougher
April31.7 °C18.6 mm2.07.036 (97)38 (100)moderate
May32.0 °C117.4 mm7.05.937 (99)39 (102)calmer
June32.3 °C92.5 mm8.56.337 (99)38 (100)calmer
July32.2 °C121.1 mm8.56.837 (99)39 (102)moderate
August32.2 °C127.5 mm9.56.537 (99)39 (102)calmer
September32.1 °C133.1 mm10.35.637 (99)38 (100)calmer
October31.7 °C236.5 mm12.15.536 (97)37 (99)calmer
November31.5 °C178.3 mm8.96.036 (97)37 (99)calmer
December31.4 °C44.7 mm2.67.735 (95)37 (99)rougher

5Crowds

Festivals, holidays and full hotels

Three things fill the city: Colombian holidays, festivals and ships. Hotels run between 55.2% full (June 2026) and 73.9% (January 2026), so there is no truly empty month.

  1. January

    Cartagena Festival de Música, classical music, 9 to 17 January 2027. Program.

  2. January

    Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias, books and ideas, 28 to 31 January 2027. Program.

  3. March or April

    Holy Week (Semana Santa): Holy Thursday and Good Friday are public holidays; they fell on 2 and 3 April 2026, and in 2027 they fall on 25 and 26 March 2027 (Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027). The island park counts the week as high season.

  4. April

    FICCI, the Cartagena international film festival, 6 to 11 April 2027. Festival site.

  5. Mid-June to mid-August

    The island park’s mid-year high season. Its full list of busy periods: 1 Nov to 31 Jan, 15 Jun to 15 Aug, Holy Week.

  6. October and November

    Independence festivities: the city’s program runs from early October to mid-November 2026, with the public holiday on Monday 16 November 2026. The 2026 program. More on the events page.

  7. December

    Public holidays on Tuesday 8 December and Friday 25 December 2026, and the start of the busiest stretch, which runs into January.

Holiday calendarColombia’s 2026 public holidays are listed by the Ministry of Finance. Holy Week moves with Easter.

HotelsOccupancy from the monthly hotel survey (EMA) of DANE, Colombia’s statistics office, Cartagena section.

6December

Cartagena in December

December is when the dry season comes back. Rain falls on about 3 days (45 mm), the breeze returns, and the streets are cool enough to walk for 3 of 12 daylight hours: until about 9:00 and again from about 17:15. The sun sets at 17:43, among the earliest of the year.

It is also when the city fills. The 2026-27 schedule has 18 ship days in December, the island park is in high season, and hotels were 67.0% full in December 2025 (DANE). The sea is typically rougher again from December, though big waves are less common than in February.

Verdict: good for walking and evenings, less good for a calm boat day. Book rooms and island tours early, take the boats in the morning, and keep the late afternoon for the walls and a two-hour sunset cruise on the bay, which leaves at 17:00 from Muelle de la Bodeguita.

Arcade of Las Bóvedas below the walls at sunset, with kites in the sky
The arches of Las Bóvedas, built into the city walls, glow at sunset while kites fly overhead.Photo: Jami430, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

7Questions

Best time questions, answered

What is the best month to visit Cartagena?

February for walking the old town: almost no rain, the strongest breeze and the longest cool hours in the streets, until about 9:45 and again from about 16:45. It is also the roughest month at sea. For calm island boats, pick May, early June or September and accept more rain.

When should you not visit Cartagena?

Skip October if rain worries you: it is the wettest month, with 237 mm on about 12 days. Skip late December and January if you dislike crowds: holidays, the most ship days and the fullest hotels. Skip February if you want a calm crossing to the islands.

Is April a good time to visit Cartagena?

Yes, for most trips. Rain falls on about 2 days, the sea is typically moderate, the streets are cool enough to walk for 2.5 of 12 daylight hours, and hotels were 59.7% full in April 2026. The film festival runs 6 to 11 April 2027. Cruise ships still call on 17 days.

What is the rainiest month in Cartagena?

October, with 237 mm of rain on about 12 days, then November and September. January to March are the driest, with rain on fewer than one day a month. Even in October most days stay dry.

Is Cartagena crowded in December?

Yes, from mid-December into January. Public holidays fall on Tuesday 8 December and Friday 25 December 2026, the island park is in high season, and the 2026-27 schedule has 18 ship days in December. Hotels were 67.0% full in December 2025, and fuller still in January.

Sources
  1. FICCI 66, Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena, Colombia: dates: 6 to 11 April 2027. FICCI (organiser): home page.
  2. Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias 2027, Cartagena, Colombia: dates: 28 to 31 January 2027. Hay Festival (organiser): Cartagena page.
  3. Colombia public holiday 2026, Independencia de Cartagena: Monday 16 November 2026. Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público: Calendario de días festivos 2026.
  4. Colombia public holidays December 2026: Inmaculada Concepción and Christmas: Tuesday 8 December and Friday 25 December 2026. Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público: Calendario de días festivos 2026.
  5. Colombia public holidays 2026, Holy Week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday: 2 and 3 April 2026. Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público: Calendario de días festivos 2026.
  6. Fiestas de Independencia 2026, Cartagena, Colombia: official programme runs: from early October to mid-November 2026. IPCC (Instituto de Patrimonio y Cultura de Cartagena), Alcaldía de Cartagena: official programme, 17 Sep 2026, 2026-09-17.
  7. XXI Cartagena Festival de Música (classical music), Cartagena, Colombia: dates: 9 to 17 January 2027. Cartagena Festival de Música (organiser): home page.
  8. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Jan: 0.5 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  9. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Feb: 0.3 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  10. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Mar: 3.2 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  11. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Apr: 18.6 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  12. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in May: 117.4 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  13. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Jun: 92.5 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  14. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Jul: 121.1 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  15. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Aug: 127.5 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  16. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Sep: 133.1 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  17. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Oct: 236.5 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  18. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Nov: 178.3 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  19. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean precipitation in Dec: 44.7 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  20. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean annual precipitation: 1073.8 mm. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  21. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Jan: 0.1. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  22. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Feb: 0.1. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  23. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Mar: 0.4. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  24. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Apr: 2.0. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  25. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in May: 7.0. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  26. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Jun: 8.5. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  27. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Jul: 8.5. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  28. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Aug: 9.5. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  29. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Sep: 10.3. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  30. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Oct: 12.1. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  31. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Nov: 8.9. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  32. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days with rain of 1 mm or more in Dec: 2.6. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  33. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean number of days a year with rain of 1 mm or more: 70.1. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  34. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Jan: 8.7 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  35. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Feb: 8.7 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  36. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Mar: 7.7 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  37. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Apr: 7.0 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  38. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in May: 5.9 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  39. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Jun: 6.3 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  40. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Jul: 6.8 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  41. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Aug: 6.5 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  42. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Sep: 5.6 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  43. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Oct: 5.5 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  44. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Nov: 6.0 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  45. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily sunshine in Dec: 7.7 h. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  46. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Jan: 31.1 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  47. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Feb: 31.1 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  48. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Mar: 31.2 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  49. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Apr: 31.7 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  50. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in May: 32.0 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  51. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Jun: 32.3 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  52. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Jul: 32.2 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  53. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Aug: 32.2 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  54. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Sep: 32.1 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  55. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Oct: 31.7 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  56. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Nov: 31.5 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  57. Cartagena, Colombia (Rafael Núñez airport), climate normal 1991-2020: mean daily maximum air temperature in Dec: 31.4 °C. IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020 (open data, datos.gov.co dataset nsz2-kzcq), station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena de Indias, 2025-07-01.
  58. PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: high season (does not change the 2026 fee): 1 Nov to 31 Jan, 15 Jun to 15 Aug, Holy Week. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025, 2025-12-19.
  59. Muelle La Bodeguita, Cartagena, Colombia: park fee bundle (13,500 park + 18,000 dock) for the Islas del Rosario: 31,500 COP. Corpoturismo Cartagena de Indias: ticket store (catalogue in page source).
  60. Colombian peso exchange rate (TRM) valid 2026-11-11: 3297.07 COP per USD. Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia: TRM, open dataset on datos.gov.co, 2026-11-11.
  61. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Jan 2026: 73.9%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), annex to the August 2026 release, sheet 4.2 (monthly occupancy by region), Cartagena column, 2026-10-16.
  62. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Feb 2026: 69.9%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico, section 1.4.x Cartagena, 2026-10-16.
  63. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Mar 2026 (DANE series as revised in the annex of the August 2026 release): 66.4%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), annex to the August 2026 release, sheet 4.2 (monthly occupancy by region), Cartagena column, 2026-10-16.
  64. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Apr 2026 (DANE series as revised in the annex of the August 2026 release): 59.7%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), annex to the August 2026 release, sheet 4.2 (monthly occupancy by region), Cartagena column, 2026-10-16.
  65. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, May 2026 (DANE series as revised in the annex of the August 2026 release): 55.4%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), annex to the August 2026 release, sheet 4.2 (monthly occupancy by region), Cartagena column, 2026-10-16.
  66. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Jun 2026: 55.2%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico, section 1.4.x Cartagena, 2026-10-16.
  67. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Jul 2026 (DANE series as revised in the annex of the August 2026 release): 62.6%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), annex to the August 2026 release, sheet 4.2 (monthly occupancy by region), Cartagena column, 2026-10-16.
  68. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Aug 2026: 65.6%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico, section 1.4.x Cartagena, 2026-10-16.
  69. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Sep 2025: 64.5%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico Sep 2025, section Cartagena (p. 8), 2025-11-14.
  70. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Oct 2025: 63.6%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico Oct 2025, section Cartagena (p. 8), 2025-12-15.
  71. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Nov 2025: 67.9%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico Nov 2025, section Cartagena (p. 8), 2026-01-23.
  72. Hotel occupancy in Cartagena, Colombia, Dec 2025: 67.0%. DANE: Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento (EMA), boletín técnico Dec 2025, section Cartagena (p. 7), 2026-02-13.
  73. Felt temperature by month and hour. NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database, station 800220 (Rafael Nunez airport, Cartagena), hourly observations, 2016 to 2024; medians per month and hour (Steadman apparent temperature, shade).
  74. Sunrise, sunset, sea and rain by month. Sunrise and sunset for the 15th of each month, UTC-5. Rain: IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020, station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, mean days with 1 mm or more and mean millimetres per month. Sea: typical values from the Open-Meteo Marine model, 2016 to 2025 (CC BY 4.0).
  75. Ship days. Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena, Programación de Cruceros 2026-27 (PDF updated 2026-11-03).

Photographs

  1. Baluarte de Santo Domingo with the sea behind. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Brown pelican on a wooden dock over turquoise water. Photo: SebastianGalvis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Tower of the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría framed by a colonial street. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Two cruise ships in the Bay of Cartagena, one docked at the port and one arriving. Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Arcade of Las Bóvedas below the walls at sunset, with kites in the sky. Photo: Jami430, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons