Cartagena in December

When to go

December falls after the Atlantic hurricane season dates that the National Hurricane Center lists, and the center's basin includes the Caribbean Sea. The WMO climate table, supplied by Colombia's national meteorological institute, shows the month's temperatures and precipitation, so check it against your beach and walking plans. Colombian law lists holidays in December, including Christmas Day, as days of paid rest, so check opening hours and transport schedules around them.

Trip facts

• The WMO's World Weather Information Service lists, for Cartagena, Colombia, a mean daily maximum temperature of 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) and a mean daily minimum temperature of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in December, from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies and based on monthly averages for 1971–2000. (worldweather.wmo.int, checked 2026-10-15)
• The WMO's World Weather Information Service lists, for Cartagena, Colombia, a mean total precipitation of 35 mm in December, from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies and based on monthly averages for 1971–2000. (worldweather.wmo.int, checked 2026-10-15)
• The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and that the Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America. (www.nhc.noaa.gov, checked 2026-10-15)
• Colombia's Ley 51 de 1983, as published in the Función Pública's Gestor Normativo, says all public and private sector workers have the right to paid rest on a list of civil or religious holidays that includes December 8 and December 25. (www.funcionpublica.gov.co, checked 2026-10-15)
• Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 'Estados Unidos de America' among the foreigners exempt from a visa for short-stay visits, and defines a short stay as staying in the country for up to 90 days, extendable up to 180 days per calendar year. (www.cancilleria.gov.co, checked 2026-10-15)
• Migración Colombia describes Check Mig as a free online service, of non-mandatory use, that lets travelers preload their trip information up to 72 hours before the trip or until one hour before it. (www.migracioncolombia.gov.co, checked 2026-10-15)
• The U.S. Embassy in Colombia's website shows the State Department's Travel Advisory Level 3: Reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters, and says some areas have an increased risk. (co.usembassy.gov, checked 2026-10-15)
• The website of the airport's operator, OINAC, says Rafael Núñez International Airport is inside the urban area of Cartagena, in the Crespo neighborhood, 10 minutes from the Historic Center and the Convention Center and 15 minutes from the hotel zone. (aeropuertocartagena.com.co, checked 2026-10-15)
• The airport operator OINAC's accommodation page lists colonial and boutique hotels in the Historic Center and chain hotels in areas such as Bocagrande, El Laguito and Manga, and describes Getsemaní as one of Cartagena's most emblematic neighborhoods, with lodging from boutique hotels to hostels and posadas. (aeropuertocartagena.com.co, checked 2026-10-15)
• The airport operator OINAC's transport page says the airport has two authorized taxi stations, at the national and international exits, and recommends that passengers always use these stations for transfers to other areas of the city. (aeropuertocartagena.com.co, checked 2026-10-15)