Santa Marta (Tayrona) weather in December

December in Santa Marta: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 36°C afternoons.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Santa Marta🇨🇴 Colombia · Caribbean Colombia & Venezuela · Beach89
  1. 93Jan
  2. 92Feb
  3. 90Mar
  4. 83Apr
  5. 72May
  6. 71Jun
  7. 79Jul
  8. 76Aug
  9. 69Sep
  10. 61Oct
  11. 67Nov
  12. 89Dec

#4 of 12 months in Santa Marta · #139 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 89/100 (tier A)

Days
31°C
Nights
23°C
Wet days
7
Sun
10.3 h
Humidity
82%
Daylight
12 h
Santa Marta, Colombia
Photo: Juan Camilo Trujillo Botero 🇨🇴📸 · Pexels

Traveller notes on Santa Marta in December

Other months in Santa Marta

Colombia's coast forum has mixed reports for August, but the pattern that comes up again and again is hot, humid days cut by a steady onshore breeze, with rain that's more forecast than felt - a few minutes of tropical shower rather than a soaking afternoon, most days. One traveler who spent the whole month on the coast said it only properly rained a couple of times the entire trip. Santa Marta gets recommended as a solid base for day trips to Tayrona, since the beach weather generally holds even when the forecast looks ominous.
CaribbeanCoastTraveler · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe February as hot and largely dry along this stretch of Colombia's Caribbean coast, with daytime temperatures commonly in the 85-95F range and January-through-March named as the best overall window to visit. Mornings can feel intensely warm, but posters note a breeze typically picks up by midday, providing real relief. One recurring theme in the forums: online weather forecasts for this region are notoriously unreliable, frequently showing rain nearly every day regardless of what actually happens - posters consistently advise trusting the destination's seasonal reputation over a daily forecast app. Santa Marta serves as the main gateway for Tayrona National Park and the Lost City trek, both commonly paired with a February visit given the reliably dry conditions.
Tripadvisor community · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Santa Marta climate normals — December

Daytime high31°C / 88°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low23°C / 73°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Sea temperature27°C / 81°F😎 warm sea
Rainfall38 mm / 1.5 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days7 days
Humidity82%💦 very humid
Dew point23°C / 73°F
Sunshine10.3 h/day
Daylight11.5 h
Wind19 km/h / 11 mph
Air quality (US AQI)33🍃 good

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

Crowds in Santa Marta in December

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.

Peak crowdsColombian high season, Year-end holidays in Colombia, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Santa Marta'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).

Fair weatherSanta Marta's weather peaks January–March.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Santa Marta in December

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

  • Season

    Colombian high season

    20 Dec – 15 JanSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

    The driest weeks and the national holidays arrive together, so Rodadero fills, the Tayrona entrance queue starts before dawn and the Minca jeeps run all day. Book the park day, not the beach day.

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Santa Marta?

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Santa Marta in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Santa Marta?
December in Santa Marta: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 36°C afternoons. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Santa Marta on SeasonMap's comfort score (89/100).
What is the weather like in Santa Marta in December?
In December, Santa Marta averages a daily high of 31.3°C and a low of 22.9°C, with about 37.5 mm of rain over roughly 7.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Santa Marta in December?
Santa Marta has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.

Within 300 km: Cartagena's Cruise season around 1 Nov – 15 Apr.