Santa Marta has a warm and sunny climate all year round, so any time is a good idea to visit it, even so, it has a rainy season you must consider for your next trip. Furthermore, perhaps you want to avoid the crowds, go to Tayrona National Park or do the Lost City trek, so, better you know when they are closed to the public. As you can see, we are taking every detail into account to provide you with the best information about when is the best time to visit Santa Marta.
Santa Marta is located north of Colombia on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. As a coastal city in the tropics, its weather is warm, between 28°C and 31°C (80°F to 88°F). During certain times of the year, you can find heavy rainfalls (October) or strong winds (December).
Let’s see point by point what you have to consider to choose the best time to visit the city.
The months with the lower flow of tourists in Santa Marta are February, April (except for Easter week), May, June and from August to November (Except for one student holiday week in October).
On the other hand, the high seasons are from December to January, Easter week, July (Holiday and Sea festival periods) and the Student Holiday week in October.
The best seasons to enjoy sunny beaches are the months that go from December to the first half of April and June to August. This is the dry season, which makes it ideal for sun and beach activities.
If you come in September or October, be ready for the rainy season. By the way, despite being in the Caribbean, you can remain calm because Santa Marta is not at risk of being devastated by hurricanes.
As an additional fact, December is a dry month in which a season of strong winds begins, curiously in the region, we call it ‘La Loca’ (The mad breeze).
It is easier and more convenient to visit Tayrona National Park on weekdays during the low season because the park will be less crowded. The park is closed three times a year for giving it a “breathe” to nature and space for the local fauna.
Lately, all the closures have been done in February, the first half of June and from October 19th to November 2nd. If you need more information about the closures, the Colombian National Parks website updates the annual closure dates.
The Lost City is a popular attraction in Santa Marta, so, agencies provide daily departures no matter the day of the year. You can do the Lost City trek whenever you want with the exception of the closure period.
The Archaeological site is sacred for the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada, they make spiritual cleansing rituals and then they require a closure to the public for some days. The month chosen for these rituals is September, for example in 2022 it was from the 1st to the 17th of September. But, even so, every year agencies wait for the indigenous authorities to confirm the date of closure and opening.
The days after Easter Week is the best time (April and May): Santa Marta has so few visitors, the weather is perfect and you find low season prices. In addition, Tayrona Park and the Lost City are open to the public.
Finally, we remind you that whenever you want to visit this beautiful city will be an excellent idea, and in Visit Santa Marta we’ll be pleased to show you these destinations, taking care of the details, so you can enjoy it the most, no matter the date of the year.