Retirement Lists

Climate in Cartagena, Colombia

This is a photo of a Colombian monument identified by the ID
Photo by Sgonzalezb via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cartagena climate

A hot, humid year makes shade, cooling, and rain planning essential

IDEAM's Rafael Núñez station normals show a 28.0°C annual mean, 31.7°C average high, 25.4°C average low, 80.9% humidity, and 1,073.8 millimeters of annual rain. October is the wettest normal month, while February is the driest.

The home may carry more of the afternoon than in a cooler retirement destination. Review air conditioning, ventilation, mold, roof, drainage, corrosion, water intrusion, power, shade, and indoor activities.

Living through the seasons

Winters are the easier season. Summer heat deserves a closer look.

Overall Comfort
Good

3 / 5

Average Summer High
87°F

Warm · 87°F

Days Above 90°F
13 days/year

Excellent

Summer Feel
Very Good

4.1 / 5

Average Winter Low
79°F / 26°C

Fair

Days Below Freezing
0 days/year

Excellent

Winter Feel
Excellent

4.7 / 5

The shape of the year

Humidity, comfortable months, and sunshine show how the seasons differ.

Humidity
79%

Good

Comfortable Months
0 months

Poor

Solar Exposure
1984 peak sun hrs/yr

Good

Air, allergies, and weather

Air quality and allergies shape day to day comfort. The best months and weather risks help with timing.

Air and allergies

Air Quality
Excellent

4.7 / 5

Allergy Levels
Poor

Current AQI

Checking…

Current PM2.5

Checking…

Timing and weather

Long Term Fine Particle Pollution
6.7 µg/m³ 2021-2025 modeled average

Good · 6.7 µg/m³ 2021-2025 modeled average

Best Months
Jan, Mar, Feb
Toughest Months
Oct, Aug, Jul
Heat Risk
Low

Very Good

Drought Risk
Medium (0.4-0.6)
Weather Volatility
Moderate

3.4 / 5

Cartagena in everyday life

Could Cartagena work for you?

What may work well

  • Warm weather supports year-round cultural and coastal activity.
  • The station provides clear temperature, humidity, and rainfall normals.
  • Libraries, museums, and historic places provide indoor choices.

What to think about

  • Heat and humidity are sustained.
  • Rain and flooding can disrupt roads.
  • Cooling, power, mold, corrosion, and ventilation need attention.

Choose Cartagena for the whole climate

  1. Visit at different times

    Compare dry and wet periods, hot afternoons, evenings, storms, and the indoor comfort of the proposed home.

  2. Inspect cooling

    Review air conditioning, electricity, ventilation, filters, windows, shade, humidity, and backup power.

  3. Plan rain routes

    Use care, pharmacy, groceries, transit, culture, and home during wet conditions and note drainage and traffic.

  4. Keep indoor alternatives

    Pair historic and coastal outings with libraries, museums, meals, exercise, reading, calls, and rest.

Questions retirees ask

Is Cartagena's climate mild?

No. IDEAM normals show a hot, humid Caribbean climate with a 28.0°C annual mean and 80.9% relative humidity.

When is the wettest period?

Rain is concentrated mainly from May through November, with October especially wet in the station normals.

What should a home inspection include?

Cooling, ventilation, mold, roof, drainage, corrosion, water intrusion, electricity, water, shade, and backup power.

Can the climate affect care?

Heat, humidity, rain, traffic, and flooding can make a care trip harder. Map the route and keep an indoor or transport alternative.

Cartagena climate can suit a retiree who embraces tropical warmth and gives the home enough cooling, shade, ventilation, power, and rain protection to make that warmth comfortable.

Sources

Climate comfort helps estimate how practical daily life may feel across the year, especially for heat, humidity, cold, and seasonal constraints.

Seasonal timing, health conditions, air conditioning, air quality, and elevation can change the lived experience.

  • NASA POWER

    Used for Overall Comfort, Summer Feel, Average Summer High, Days Above 90°F, Winter Feel, Average Winter Low, Days Below Freezing, Humidity, Comfortable Months, Solar Exposure, Best Months, Toughest Months, Allergy Levels, Heat Risk

  • Open-Meteo / Copernicus CAMS

    Used for Air Quality, Long-Term Fine-Particle Pollution

    Checked 2026-05-18

  • World Resources Institute (WRI)

    Used for Drought Risk

    Checked 2026-07-13

  • NOAA IBTrACS

    Used for Weather Volatility

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