When is the best time to visit Colombia?
TripBlogs
Colombia, nestled in the corner of South America, is a country with a little bit of everything. With Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, a big slice of the Amazon rainforest and the beginning of the Andes Mountains, some of South America's most iconic sights can be enjoyed in this colourful country.
Combine that with treks to ruined cities lost in the jungle, wandering under the tallest palm trees and exploring sun-baked colonial towns and you've got a destination that can easily be explored for several weeks.
With so many different ecosystems, it can be tricky to figure out the best time to visit Colombia. If there's something you really want to experience, choosing when to go is not something you want to get wrong. If you are looking to experience the best of this beautiful country, we recommend planning your trip according to the following seasons:
The Dry Season: December to March
The dry season, which runs from December to March, is the best time to travel to Colombia. Although it still rains during the dry season in the Andean region, there are plenty of sunny days and the odd rainy day keeps the landscape lush and green so you can enjoy the spectacular natural landscape at its best.
Along the Colombian Caribbean coast, dreamy white sand beaches in places like San Andrés and Barú in Cartagena are sun-drenched paradises. It's also the best time to visit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and learn about the cultural wealth of its indigenous communities, while enjoying the landscapes around where it sits nestled between the mountains.
In December, it's also a great time to visit Cali. In the last week of the year, Cali celebrates 'La Feria de Cali', where you can enjoy the best salsa bands like Grupo Niche & Fruko y sus Tesos. In January, Pasto celebrates 'Carnaval de Negros y Blancos', a carnival full of colour and emotion, decorating its streets with beautiful floats.
In February, you can enjoy one of the most important festivals in America, the 'Carnaval de Barranquilla'. It's a festival filled with colourful dancers and joyous celebrations of the Caribbean coast, all exuding the warm spirit of the people. In the centre of the country, cities like Bogotá and Medellín welcome visitors with pleasant temperatures and clear skies, ideal for exploring their vibrant streets, museums, and tasting some delicious local food.
The Festival Season: June to August
If you want to discover the cultural richness of Colombia, this is the perfect time to travel there. During these months, you can experience the various events that take place throughout the country, including some incredible festivals.
Prime examples of such festivals include the 'Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro' in Bogotá, 'Fiestas del Mar' in Santa Marta, 'Feria de las Flores' in Medellín, and 'Festival Petronio Álvarez' in Cali. The June to August season offers favorable weather conditions in many parts of the country, allowing you to explore both cities and rural regions comfortably. Expereincing a festival in Colombia is an iconic thing to do in South America and luckily, there are lots to choose from!
Whale watching season: July to October
The whale-watching season from July to October offers an excellent opportunity to experience a whale watching along the Colombian Pacific coast. During this period, the warm Pacific waters become the home of the humpback whale, which migrates from the south to temporarily inhabit the Pacific's warm waters for mating and giving birth to their new babies.
Places such as Bahía Solano and Nuquí offer unforgettable experiences that showcase the best of whale watching in their natural habitats, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with these giant marine mammals.
July to October is also the best time visit Caño Cristales, the river of five colours. Endemic aquatic plants, mainly Macarenia clavigera, bloom and the river displays its impressive colors of red, green, yellow, blue, and black—a real natural spectacle.
Caño Cristales is a part of the Serranía de la Macarena, one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth. It's where three ecosystems converge: the Amazon, the Andes, and the Eastern Plains. This combination gives rise to an immense variety of flora and fauna with some stunning landscapes to boot.
Interested in planning a holiday to Colombia?
There's always something interesting happening in Colombia, whethere you want to come for sunny weather, buzzing festivals or to find whales along the rugged coast. I hope you're inspired to visit Colombia - if you would like to start planning your trip, just give us a call on 1273 320 580 to speak to an expert or request a quote.
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at Travel Nation
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About the author Grainne Sheffer
Senior Travel Consultant
After her finishing her degree and backpacking around Europe, Grainne set off for Australia and Asia. She has travelled all over the world, with a self-drive through Namibia and her exploration of Sri Lanka standing out as particular highlights. Since starting a family she enjoys passing the travel bug on to her kids; from wandering through the riads of Morocco to snorkelling the reefs of Mauritius and visiting orangutans in Borneo. With over 15 year’s travel industry experience, she joined Travel Nation in 2015 as a round the world specialist and with an extensive personal experience of Business Class travel, she is also a member of our Business Class team.
