What's the best time to visit Colombia?
The best times to visit Colombia are from December to March and June to September, offering excellent weather with minimal rainfall. December-March is perfect for beach vacations and Caribbean island visits, while June-September is great for outdoor activities and city exploration, though it may have larger crowds and higher prices. July-September is ideal for humpback whale sightings along Colombia’s northern coast.
Colombia is full of adventure, natural beauty, and colorful culture that wows tourists and makes locals proud to call this South American country home.
If you’re planning to go soon, you need to know the best time to visit Colombia for the best weather, lowest prices on travel, and fewest crowds to get the ideal Colombian experience.
Consider us your travel guide as we outline some of the most attractive reasons to visit Colombia, the best time to visit for your trip goals, and helpful travel tips to make the most of your stay.
The Overall Best Time to Visit Colombia
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- December-March, June-September is the best time to visit Colombia
- Colombia’s 2 high seasons for tourism with great weather, little rain
- Perfect conditions for beaches, hiking, touring the Amazon, and cities
December-March is usually the driest period of the year for Colombia, while June-September sees little rainfall and is the most popular for tourists arriving at Colombia’s beaches and major cities.
December-March is the best time to visit Colombia’s beaches (also great for surfing) as locals desert the cities to take vacations of their own.
Visit the Caribbean islands of Colombia during this period to avoid the rains and experience ideal beach, swimming, and diving conditions.
From June to September, you’ll run into bigger crowds and higher prices as kids are out of school and summer vacations result in huge numbers of tourists arriving. But it’s a great period for dry weather and sunny skies throughout most of the country.
This is a good time to visit Colombia’s beaches, hike through the national parks, and explore the bustling cities that are packed with tourists and non-stop events.
Hiking in the Andes and exploring the national parks is ideal at this time of year because there’s little rain to keep you off the trails.
It’s the perfect time to walk and sightsee in Colombia’s bustling cities as well. Expect rainy weather in the Amazon in December-March with better, drier conditions for tours from June to September.
If you’re out to spot Colombian wildlife, July-September (extending into October) is an ideal time to see humpback whales migrating from Colombia’s northern coast (Choco).
Cheapest Time to Visit Colombia
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- September-November is typically the cheapest time to visit
- Perfect period to visit the Amazon Rainforest and beaches
- Mountainous regions + the Caribbean coast are rainy and wet
The best time to visit Colombia on a budget is September to November, which is part of the off-season here. You’ll find lower prices on flights to Colombia and cheaper rates on hotels and accommodations during this part of the year.
Resorts are known for offering low-priced packages and deals to entice visitors during the off-season, and September-November is the peak for cheap prices.
You’ll find that this is one of the ideal times to tour the Amazon Rainforest via boat or trails (with a guide, of course). Lower water levels at this time of year leave the trails through the Amazon dry.
During the wetter parts of the year, trails are covered by the swollen Amazon River. With the waters receded, wildlife is abundant and easily spotted during rainforest tours. From sloths and snakes to colorful birds and crouching cats, there’s a lot to see at this time of year.
Colombia’s beaches are also prime for visiting at this time of year, with fewer visitors crowding the sandy shores of mainland Colombia and the many islands and islets off the coast.
If you visit the Pacific coast, you’ll have the chance to spot the end of humpback whale migration! It’s not a great time for the mountainous regions, which are battered by intense rains and even flash floods that wash out mountain pass roads at this time of year.
The Caribbean coast sees a little more rainfall as well, but the showers tend to take place in the afternoons so you can time your beach visits to avoid them.
Least Busy Time to Visit Colombia
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- April-June, August-October is the least busy time to visit
- Off-season periods mean fewer tourists, lower prices
- Rain can complicate outdoor activities
The best time to visit Colombia without large crowds is April to June and August to October. These are generally rainier periods than the rest of the year for most of Colombia, which explains why fewer tourists are traveling here at these times.
But there are plenty of options for adventure and activities when you visit during these low-season lulls if you know where to look!
These 2 periods see the most rainfall on average, making them less popular months to visit Colombia with one exception: Semana Santa (Holy Week surrounding Easter).
Things get busy, expensive, and more crowded, especially in Popayan, Pamplona, Tunja, and Mompox. The Amazon is difficult to tour and explore from April to early June as the increased rain makes the river swell and cover many of the trails through the rainforest.
Mid-June is when the waters of the river finally drop and leave trails clear and dry, and conditions are ideal for Amazon tours and exploration until November.
It’s also a great time to visit San Gil, the adventure capital of Colombia, for white water rafting on the fast-flowing rivers, paragliding, and spelunking in Colombia’s caves.
Prime surfing and fishing conditions in Nuquí and Buenaventura are another plus for visiting during April, May, and June.
Things to Consider
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You know the best time to visit Colombia for great weather, outdoor activities and Amazon tours, city exploration, and cheap prices. What else should you know to make your Colombian visit perfect?
Here are some helpful travel tips to consider as you start planning your stay:
- Choose the right region to visit. Colombia is made up of 5 geographic regions: The Pacific coast, Atlantic/Caribbean lowlands, Andean region, the Llanos Orientales (tropical grassland plains), and the Amazon rainforest. It’s easy to narrow down where you should visit by considering your goals for the trip. The Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean coasts are best for beachgoers and the Amazon rainforest and Andes Mountains are perfect zones for thrill-seeking adventurers. Wildlife lovers need to visit the tropical Llanos region during the dry season, where hundreds of species of colorful birds, mammals, and reptiles can be spotted.
- Be safe during your stay. While Colombia had a poor reputation for violence, drugs, and cartel activity in decades past, the country has worked hard to clean up its reputation and become a safer place for international visitors. Pickpocketing is one of the more common crimes now, so keep an eye on your belongings, don’t accept gifts or food/drink from strangers, and keep your wits about you if traveling in cities after dark. Don’t travel alone if you can help it – it’s just another way to stay safe while traveling abroad!
- Spanish is the official language. About 99.5% of Colombians speak Spanish, which is the official language here. English-speaking tourists will appreciate that English is widely spoken in some of the more popular tourist zones in Colombian islands, like Providencia, San Andres, and Santa Catalina. Brush up on common Spanish phrases to more easily communicate when you’re out and about in Colombian cities – it will make your stay go a lot smoother!
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Colombia?
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Overall, the best time to visit Colombia is during the high seasons of December-March and June-August. These are ideal for tourists who want to spend time on the beaches, exploring the Amazon, hiking in the national parks, and traversing the cities.
There are lots of tourists during these periods and prices are a little higher, but it’s the best time to experience Colombia at its best.
With so much diverse terrain, city-wide celebrations, and outdoor activities to enjoy, Colombia makes a great place to visit for the entire family. Consider your goals for the trip to determine the absolute best time to visit Colombia.
If you want your trip to go smoothly, get familiar with Spanish before you travel and decide which region(s) you want to spend your stay exploring.
With so much delicious food, lively culture, and things to do in this adventurous South American country, you’ll leave with a new appreciation of nature and Colombian history after your stay.
If you’re not sure which South American country to visit, consider Argentina. It’s known for its rugged natural beauty and similar but uniquely spiced and flavored cuisine. Check out The Best Time to Visit Argentina in 2024 next!