Cartagena · Colombia
May
Rainy season begins — afternoon downpours most days but warm; prices drop noticeably.
Strong option
#7 of 12 months
There are better months for Cartagena — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
31°C
Low
25°C
Rain
85mm
Sun
7hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How May scores in Cartagena
Weather
Good
Value
Excellent
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Below average
Atmosphere
Good
What you gain in May
- ↑Accommodation prices drop 25–35% below dry-season peak: mid-range and boutique hotels in the walled city available at budget-adjacent rates
- ↑The old city significantly less crowded: cruise ship schedules thin out and international tourism retreats, returning the colonial streets to their local character
- ↑Morning hours (07:00–11:00) typically dry and ideal for the walled city, Castillo San Felipe, and Getsemaní exploration before afternoon rains
What you sacrifice
- ↓Afternoon rainstorms arrive reliably from 14:00–17:00 and are often heavy: boat trips to Barú or the Rosario Islands face cancellation risk
- ↓Humidity at 82% makes 31°C feel significantly more oppressive than dry-season temperatures; comfortable only in air-conditioned spaces midday
- ↓Some beach-club operators on Barú reduce service in the wet season; the island experience degrades compared to January–April
How May compares to February (best month)
| Factor | May | February ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 6 | 9 |
| Value | 8 | 5 |
| Crowds | 8 | 4 |
May in other destinations
Lisbon (20.7°C)Barcelona (20.8°C)Tokyo (23.8°C)Bali (31.2°C)Santorini (19.8°C)Paris (18.1°C)New York (20.4°C)Marrakech (26.4°C)Amsterdam (16.4°C)Maldives (31.5°C)Rome (21.7°C)Bangkok (32.6°C)Istanbul (20.7°C)Vienna (19.7°C)Seoul (21.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (26.2°C)Kyoto (25.2°C)Phuket (32.6°C)Cape Town (18.9°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (23°C)Mexico City (27°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (18°C)Sydney (19°C)Iceland (10°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (38°C)Singapore (33°C)Hoi An (33°C)Chiang Mai (33°C)Miami (30.6°C)Florence (23.1°C)Queenstown (11°C)Madrid (21.7°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (15°C)Copenhagen (16°C)Budapest (22°C)Kraków (20°C)Tbilisi (23°C)Palawan (32°C)Hanoi (31°C)Osaka (25°C)Goa (33°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (19°C)Mykonos (23°C)Zanzibar (28°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)Costa Rica (27°C)Cancun (32°C)Krabi (33°C)Athens (25°C)Seville (27°C)Siem Reap (34°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Cartagena, not across destinations. Methodology →