Season guide · Cartagena · Colombia
Cartagena in the veranillo
July–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
A drier spell in many years, busy with Colombian school holidays in late June and July; still hot and humid. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 20 rainy days across July–August.
Key facts
- Months
- July–August
- Temperatures
- 26°C (79°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 20
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the veranillo
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 9 | 12.7 h | 3/5 |
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 | 12.5 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 20 of the year's roughly 84 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
Good choices for the veranillo
Museum · El Centro
Palace of the Inquisition
On Plaza de Bolívar, this 18th-century palace with an elaborate stone doorway was the seat of the Inquisition tribunal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · El Centro
Museo del Oro Zenú
A free, cool half-hour stop between Plaza de Bolívar and the cathedral.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Religious site · El Centro
Church and Cloister of San Pedro Claver
The church and cloister commemorate the 17th-century Jesuit Pedro Claver, who ministered to enslaved Africans arriving in the port.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · El Centro
Museo de Arte Moderno de Cartagena
A short air-conditioned stop next to the San Pedro Claver church.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in the veranillo
- Totumo mud volcano (About 1 hour by road) — El Totumo is a small mud cone about 15 metres high; visitors climb a ladder and float in its warm, thick mud, then are washed off by local women in the lagoon nearby.
- San Basilio de Palenque (About 1.5 hours by road) — Founded by escaped enslaved Africans in the 17th century, Palenque is recognised by UNESCO for its culture and keeps its own Creole language, music and traditions.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the veranillo a good time to visit Cartagena?
It is a trade-off: A drier spell in many years, busy with Colombian school holidays in late June and July; still hot and humid. The best months overall are February–April.
+What is the weather like in Cartagena in the veranillo?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 20 rainy days over the season.