Weather and Climate

Climate & Geography

By Daniel T. Johnson

Colombia has two seasons—wet and dry—though you can experience each more than once in a calendar year depending on where you are. In Bogotá, for example, there are two rainy seasons (from April to June and October to December), while the coastal town of Cartagena typically has one rainy season from May to November. Colombia’s temperatures, on the other hand, are generally dictated by altitude, with temperatures in eastern lowlands among the hottest in South America and temperatures in the Andean range that can fall well below freezing. Temperatures in Cartagena, for example, are what you might expect from a tropical beach town, with highs around 30°C (85°F). Temperatures in Bogotá, meanwhile average around 14°C (57°F). Generally expect to wear a sweater at night along the coast and a jacket in higher elevations. Also be aware that precipitation tends to be heavier on the Pacific coast and in the Andes, with annual rainfall in excess of 100 inches.