The best time to travel to Colombia is between December and March, and here, we will discuss why!
Nicknamed the ‘gateway to South America’ and officially known as the Republic of Colombia, Colombia is undoubtedly one of the best countries for travel.
This beautiful country with ample travel spots lies beside the equator, lies in the continent’s northwest part. This is the connecting part of South America with Central and North America.
Colombia is essentially a land with extremes. From dense forests to rugged mountains and tropical beaches spread all over the country, Colombia certainly has a lot to serve to anyone who plans to visit it.
But, before we travel to any place for a vacation, a common question comes to all of our heads: What is the best time to travel to Colombia?
In the article below we have talked about the Colombia weather and the best time to visit some other well-known countries of South America. Read on to know in detail when is the best time to travel to Colombia.
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What is the best time to travel to Colombia
The country of South America, Colombia, lies just beside the equator, has an equatorial climate, and does not witness any drastic climate changes.
There are two main seasons the country experiences: winter and dry. The weather of the different parts of the country varies mostly from region to region, owing to the topological differences.
The weather in Colombia mainly varies from lowlands to highlands. The lowlands specifically enjoy a tropical climate with occasional rain showers.
The temperature changes here are not extremely drastic. On the contrary, a highland enjoys a chilly cold temperature, especially as the night falls.
However, you would still want to look at the Colombian weather before planning a vacation to avoid the rain.
Along with that, there are certain times of the year in which the country remains crowded with tourists, and getting a reservation becomes difficult.
So when is the best time to travel to Colombia? Let us have a look at this and some other answers.
Which is the best time to travel to Colombia
Even though Colombia gives good weather to its tourists all year round, there are still better months than the others.
The months of December to March are one of those. One can say that the country faces a dry season during these months.
The weather during this period is warm and fresh, with the place receiving very little or no rainfall. In addition to amazing weather, be prepared to witness a lot of crowds when you travel to the country during this time.
People from all over the world visit this place and hence the accommodation, travel and food prices hikes up. Apart from just the weather, there are a few more reasons that keep this place busy during this time, and that is this period is the holiday period. Hence, there are some amazing festivals that people celebrate here.
Some of the huge festivals that get celebrated here from December to March are:
- Cali Fair (Starts from Christmas Eve and continues till the 30th of December)
- Christmas
- Carnaval de Blancos y Negros (Post Christmas celebration that takes place in January)
- Carnaval de Barranquilla (a huge carnival that is celebrated around 40 days before easter)
The second best time to travel to Colombia is from June to September. One can say that this is the second dry season in Colombia. The weather is mostly warm, and the place experiences comparatively less rainfall. Along with this, cultural festivals are celebrated here during this period.
Some of these festivals are:
- Rock al Parque (A music festival that commences in August)
- Festival Mundial de Salsa (Organised by Salsa dancers)
- Festival Petronio Álvarez (Festival celebrating Pacific Coasts’ music)
Which is the least popular time to visit Colombia
Now that we know the best time to travel to Colombia let us look at the least favorable months to travel to Colombia.
April, May, and June are the first set of months that you would want to avoid if you do not like rainfall. If you visit Colombia during these months, you are sure to come across sudden downpours, which also would bring about a change in the temperature. However, the aftermath o rain is a beautiful fresh day in Colombia that you would enjoy.
Apart from that, September to October are some of the wettest months that Colombia faces. If you are planning to travel to Colombia during this period, be ready to witness sudden downpours as well. Hence, do not forget to carry your umbrella along with you.
However, the food, travel, and accommodation prices are comparatively lower than the other months, so that is a plus.
What is the best time for a beach visit in Colombia
If you plan to visit Colombia to enjoy a lovely time under the shores under the sun, then the best time to plan a trip there would be from December to March.
The country experiences warm and sunny days during the holiday season, making it one of the favorite spots for many tourists.
Another set of months that is also nice to enjoy a warm day at the beach is June to September. However, this period experiences a little rainfall now and then.
What is the best time in Colombia for a wildlife visit
The best time to travel to Colombia if you want to spot wildlife is from June to September. The country faces a dry season with occasional rainfall hitting it during this period. Hence, it becomes easier to spot the wildlife while navigating the trails.
As mentioned before in the article, the weather of Colombia varies from one region to another due to its topological differences. Let us thus have a look at the best to visit some main travel spots of Colombia.
Tourist spots in Colombia
Best time to visit Medellin
Referred to as the ‘city of eternal Spring,’ Medellin, the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province, attracts many tourists throughout the year for reasons more than one. This beautiful city is located 1500 meters above sea level on a plateau.
This city enjoys a subtropical climate. The city welcomes all its tourists with a warm temperature all year round. The temperature of this city mainly stays between 26 degrees centigrade and drops down to around 15 degrees Celsius at night.
Along with this, the city also faces a good amount of rainfall. The warm climate with amicable neighbors who stay around 300 meters away makes it one of the most visited cities in Colombia.
Even though the city enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, the best time to visit this place would be from December to February. It is dry season during this time.
Best time to visit Bogota
The capital of Colombia is one of the largest and the visited cities of Colombia. This city offers visitors a classic fusion of the present and the past.
This city has a lot to offer to its visitors, whether it is different kinds of cuisine options, history, business, culture, entertainment, or elegant modern or colonial buildings.
But what is the best time to visit Bogota? Bogota witnesses relatively stable weather year-round without facing any drastic changes.
You might face drizzles or downpours during some months of the year. Along with that, the temperatures might also drop during some cold winter months.
However, to pinpoint the best months to visit this city, December to March would be apt. Bogota faces a dry season during this period, with the city facing a cool, relaxing breeze throughout it. If you do not like the rain and want to avoid it, avoid planning a trip to the city from April to July.
Best time to visit Cartagena
Cartagena is one of the gorgeous cities in Colombia. From flaunting its historic old towns, colonial architecture, lip-smacking pastries, and beautiful beaches, this place is the best getaway if you are searching for some serenity.
The best time to visit this place would be from December to April. The city faces the summer season during these months, and thus the average temperature remains around 24 degrees. This period attracts many tourists during these months; hence prebooking remains a must.
Best time to travel to San Andres
One could easily say that San Andreas is Colombia’s pride and paradise that flaunts some breathtaking beaches that the country has to offer. This place was thus awarded the title of South America’s leading beach destination in 2015. San Andreas is located around 800 meters from mainland Colombia.
San Andreas has a Mediterranean climate. The fact that t is located close to the equator allows it to enjoy good weather throughout the year. Hence, you cannot pick up a bad time to visit this place except to avoid the rains. Therefore, to avoid the showers, the best time to see San Andreas would be when the city faces the summer season, i.e., during April, May, November, and December.
Colombia vs places to visit around
Best time to visit Chile
Chile is hands down one of the most amazing countries to visit. From crazy trek trails to tons of geysers, this country has everything you want to see. It would be difficult to pinpoint the best time to visit the country and varies from one city to another due to its topological difference.
The country usually faces the summer season from October to March, thus attracting many visitors. The weather remains warm during this time, with the temperature staying around 22 degrees centigrade.
Best time to visit Bolivia
From the Amazon Basin rainforests to the Atacama desert to the Andes mountains, Bolivia’s country situated in South America has a huge spectrum of sights to gift to its visitors.
As far as the weather of Bolivia is concerned, although this country lies literally on the equator, one cannot say that it faces a uniformly tropical climate.
The weather and temperature of this country get affected by changes occurring in the altitude and not the latitude. To pick, the best months for a vacation to this place would be from May to October when it faces the winter season. It would be best to avoid visiting this place during the rainy season.
Best time to visit Peru
Another amazing country of South America that attracts huge crowds every year in Peru. Home to the Machu Pichu and a little part of the Amazon rain forest, this country is filled with wonders.
The best time to visit this country would be between May and October, facing the summer season.
The visitors during this period get to witness beautiful clear skies, sunny and warm days, and get the chills during the night hours.
To avoid the rainfalls, avoid visiting this place during January and February, which receive the maximum rainfall. Apart from this, if you are there between November and April, be ready to face a certain amount of precipitation.
Final thoughts
Colombia is one of the most beautiful counties to plan a trip to. Now that we know the best time to travel to Colombia plan to visit the country according to your preference and book early. However, do remember to go through all the Colombia travel restrictions before paying a visit.
