Colombia
Cartagena in December
☀️ Dry seasonWarm, humid and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · quick-dry fabrics · sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.8
- ✓Warm (30.1°C highs / 26.9°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~30 mm rain)
- Air quality9.4
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~9 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline5.0
- ·High caution
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.3 Very good | 8.5 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 30° / 27° | 30° / 26° |
| Rain | 30 mm | 11 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 24° | dew pt 23° |
| PM2.5 | 9 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Immaculate Conception (8 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore CartagenaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA Caribbean port city in Colombia with a colourful walled colonial centre, Spanish fortifications and nearby islands.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Hay Festival CartagenaDate variesUsually late January
A literature and ideas festival with writers from Latin America and beyond.
Why go: Many events are in Spanish; some have translation.
Where: Walled City
Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI)Date variesUsually March or April
Latin America's oldest film festival.
Why go: Many screenings are free.
Where: Walled City
Independence festivitiesDate variesAround 11 November
Parades and celebrations of Cartagena's 1811 declaration of independence.
Why go: Streets are lively and crowded.
Where: Citywide
Walled City
A UNESCO-listed old town of colonial houses, balconies, plazas and churches.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
A large Spanish fortress overlooking the city.
💡 Visit early; there is little shade.
Getsemaní
A neighbourhood just outside the walls known for street art and nightlife.
City walls
Stone ramparts you can walk along, popular at sunset.
Rosario Islands
A group of islands with beaches and reefs, reached by boat.
Palace of the Inquisition
A colonial building now a museum of the city's history.
Arepa de huevo
A fried corn arepa with an egg cooked inside.
💡 Street stalls
Fried fish with coconut rice
Whole fried fish served with coconut rice and fried plantain.
Posta negra cartagenera
Beef slow-cooked in a dark, sweet sauce.
Cocadas
Coconut sweets sold by street vendors.
Fresh tropical fruit
Cut fruit sold by palenqueras in colourful dress.
Sombrero vueltiao
The woven hat that is a national symbol of Colombia.
💡 Las Bóvedas
Wayuu mochila bags
Colourful woven bags made by Wayuu women.
💡 Craft shops and Las Bóvedas
Colombian coffee
Beans from Colombia's coffee regions.
💡 Supermarkets and coffee shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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