Barranquilla weather in January

January in Barranquilla: sweltering, dry, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Barranquilla🇨🇴 Colombia · Caribbean Colombia & Venezuela · City76
  1. 76Jan
  2. 78Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 65Apr
  5. 49May
  6. 50Jun
  7. 59Jul
  8. 53Aug
  9. 47Sep
  10. 44Oct
  11. 56Nov
  12. 71Dec

#2 of 12 months in Barranquilla · #558 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 76/100 (tier B)

Days
31°C
Nights
25°C
Wet days
1
Sun
10.6 h
Humidity
78%
Daylight
12 h
Barranquilla, Colombia
Photo: Felipe Jiménez · Pexels

Traveller notes on Barranquilla in January

Forum posters place January solidly in Colombia's dry season on the Caribbean coast - mild, tropical, essentially the same climate pattern as any Caribbean island, with the wet season not returning until May through November. Barranquilla can flood during heavy rain spells, so the dry season carries a real practical upside beyond just comfort. Posters are candid that the city isn't typically thought of as a tourist draw outside of Carnival (held in February) - it's valued more by visitors looking for an authentic, less-touristed alternative to nearby Cartagena or Santa Marta, with the Malecon riverside walk cited as a worthwhile if quieter stop.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Barranquilla

Forum posters describe the Caribbean coast around Barranquilla as staying roughly 28-32C year-round, hot but not overly humid, and consistently name July and August among Colombia's driest months - a generalization that actually reflects the interior highlands around Bogota more than this coast, since Barranquilla's own real dry season runs January through March, well before July, and July itself sits closer to the middle of the coast's wetter mid-year stretch. Posters note forecasts often predict rain that in practice turns out to be just a few minutes of tropical shower. Posters are direct that Barranquilla itself has no real beach, with the waters made turbid by the nearby Río Magdalena emptying into the sea, and generally point visitors toward Santa Marta or Cartagena instead for beach time. Posters generally rate July as a warm, comparatively dry time to visit the Barranquilla area, with beach logistics rather than weather the main planning consideration.
Tripadvisor community · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Barranquilla's card on the map.

Barranquilla climate normals — January

Daytime high31°C / 87°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low25°C / 76°F
Feels like (high)35°C / 95°F
Sea temperature26°C / 79°F😎 warm sea
Rainfall7 mm / 0.3 in☀️ dry
Rainy days1 days
Humidity78%💦 very humid
Dew point23°C / 73°F
Sunshine10.6 h/day
Daylight11.6 h
Wind23 km/h / 14 mph
Air quality (US AQI)38🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Barranquilla in January

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyYear-end holidays in Colombia, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Barranquilla's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherBarranquilla's weather peaks January–March, best around February.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Barranquilla in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Brisas of the dry months

    1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyWind season

    The trade winds come hard off the Caribbean from December, which is what makes the dry months bearable and the kite beaches west of the city work. They also flatten market awnings and carnival stands. Source ↗

What's on around the world in January →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Barranquilla — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Barranquilla?

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Barranquilla in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Barranquilla?
January in Barranquilla: sweltering, dry, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Barranquilla on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
What is the weather like in Barranquilla in January?
In January, Barranquilla averages a daily high of 30.7°C and a low of 24.6°C, with about 6.7 mm of rain over roughly 1.4 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Barranquilla in January?
Barranquilla has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in January.

Within 300 km: Cartagena's Cartagena Music Festival around 5–15 Jan.