Santa Marta (Tayrona) weather in September
September in Santa Marta: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 24 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#10 of 12 months in Santa Marta · #971 of 1413 destinations to visit in September · comfort 69/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 33°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 24
- Sun
- 9.8 h
- Humidity
- 83%
- Daylight
- 12 h

Traveller notes on Santa Marta in September
Notes from nearby Minca (14 km away)
Santa Marta doesn't have its own notes for September yet — these are about Minca, close enough to share the season.
Minca-forum threads on September sunshine describe late September as typically the rainiest stretch of the year in this part of Colombia, though patterns vary by region and Minca's higher elevation gives it a real edge over the coast. Posters call the temperature here genuinely pleasant, noticeably cooler than Santa Marta below given the altitude, real relief from the coastal intensity. Regulars describe a typical day as clear through the morning with a shower building by afternoon, rarely lasting long even when it arrives hard. Posters recommend the Pozo Azul waterfalls and coffee and cacao farm tours as reliable regardless of forecast, most of the experience shaded under forest canopy anyway. Regulars call flexible daily plans the real key to a smooth visit this time of year. Posters recommend a proper rain layer even on a promising morning. The record: 25.7C days feeling like a punishing 31C, 22.1C nights, an extraordinarily high 272mm across nearly 26 days and 84 percent humidity.
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.
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.
Add your own note from Santa Marta's card on the map.
Santa Marta climate normals — September
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Santa Marta in September
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.
Quietschool holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)
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).
Toughest weatherSanta Marta's weather peaks January–March.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Santa Marta in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk24 rainy days and about 234 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Where is Santa Marta?
Santa Marta in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Santa Marta?
- September in Santa Marta: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 24 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Santa Marta on SeasonMap's comfort score (69/100).
- What is the weather like in Santa Marta in September?
- In September, Santa Marta averages a daily high of 32.6°C and a low of 25.2°C, with about 234.4 mm of rain over roughly 24.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Santa Marta in September?
- Santa Marta has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in September.