The climate of Santa Marta (whose official name is "Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta") is
, with a rainy period from May to November and a dry period from December to April. The rains are more frequent from August to October.
The city is located in the north of Colombia, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the department of Magdalena, at 11 degrees north latitude.
. The closest mountain is Cuchilla San Lorenzo, 2,866 meters (9,402 feet) high, but the highest is Pico Cristóbal Colón, the highest peak in Colombia with its 5,700 meters (18,700). Perennial snows (which are actually threatened by global warming) are found above 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
, occupied by green hills that receive the humidity of the north-east trade winds.
, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic Ocean, can pass. This means that hurricanes affect this area quite rarely, but sometimes they can do it, as happened with Hurricane Joan in October 1988, Cesar in late July 1996, Matthew in late September 2016, and Iota in mid-November 2020. The hurricane season runs from June to November, but they are most likely from August to October.
The best time to visit Santa Marta is from December to April, as it is the dry season. The sea is warm all year round.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.1 °C, with a minimum of
23.2 °C and a maximum of
33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
18.8 °C in January 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in January 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
February is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.7 °C, with a minimum of
23.7 °C and a maximum of
33.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19.6 °C in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
38.2 °C in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
March is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
29.3 °C, with a minimum of
24.9 °C and a maximum of
33.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
20.4 °C in March 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
36.8 °C in March 1995.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
April, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
29.9 °C, with a minimum of
26.2 °C and a maximum of
33.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24 °C. However, it dropped to
20 °C in April 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
14.1 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
11.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.8 °C, with a minimum of
26.4 °C and a maximum of
33.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23.5 °C. However, it dropped to
22 °C in May 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.8 °C, with a minimum of
26.1 °C and a maximum of
33.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24 °C. However, it dropped to
22.2 °C in June 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
38.4 °C in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.5 °C, with a minimum of
25.6 °C and a maximum of
33.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
20.4 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
38.2 °C in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.1 °C, with a minimum of
25.3 °C and a maximum of
32.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
20.6 °C in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
37.3 °C in August 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29 °C, with a minimum of
25.2 °C and a maximum of
32.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
20.6 °C in September 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
37.2 °C in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
24.8 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
20.2 °C in October 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.4 °C, with a minimum of
24.4 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19.8 °C in November 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.3 °C, with a minimum of
23.8 °C and a maximum of
32.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
20 °C in December 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.