Cartagena · Colombia
December
High season begins — Christmas and New Year in the walled city, festive and expensive.
Best match
#5 of 12 months
There are better months for Cartagena — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
31°C
Low
24°C
Rain
25mm
Sun
8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Cartagena
Weather
Excellent
Value
Average
Crowds
Average
Events
Very good
Atmosphere
Outstanding
What you gain in December
- ↑Dry season fully underway from mid-December: the brilliantly painted old city streets in Caribbean sunshine are the image people travel from across the world to see
- ↑Christmas and New Year celebrations throughout the walled city and Getsemaní: open-air parties, live music, and the Cartagena Film Festival in mid-November carrying into December energy
- ↑Sea conditions excellent again: boat trips to Rosario Islands and Barú running daily, beaches at their best for the holiday period
What you sacrifice
- ↓December accommodation prices surge: Christmas week and New Year in the walled city command the highest rates of the year, often double November
- ↓The walled city floods with international visitors and Colombian holiday crowds: colonial streets packed, restaurants fully booked weeks ahead
- ↓New Year in Cartagena is spectacular but extremely busy — spontaneous access to the best events and restaurants requires planning well in advance
How December compares to February (best month)
| Factor | December | February ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 8 | 9 |
| Value | 4 | 5 |
| Crowds | 4 | 4 |
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Kyoto (11.3°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Cape Town (25.6°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (30°C)London (8°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Dubai (25°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)Chiang Mai (27.5°C)Miami (25.6°C)Florence (9.8°C)Queenstown (21°C)Madrid (9.5°C)Porto (14°C)Edinburgh (7°C)Copenhagen (5°C)Budapest (5°C)Kraków (2°C)Tbilisi (7°C)Palawan (29°C)Hanoi (20°C)Osaka (11°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (29°C)Mykonos (14°C)Zanzibar (31°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)Cancun (28°C)Krabi (32°C)Athens (14°C)Seville (15°C)Siem Reap (28°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Cartagena, not across destinations. Methodology →