Cartagena's historic centre is compact enough to walk in an afternoon, which makes it deceptively easy to plan and surprisingly hard to enjoy at the wrong time of year. This is a hot, humid, coastal city, and the difference between the dry season and the wet one is substantial.
Two days covers the walled city and Getsemaní properly. A third adds the islands or the beaches, which is what most people actually came for.
The city works best on a split-day rhythm: mornings and evenings outside, the hottest hours indoors or on the water. Fighting that produces a worse trip than accepting it.
Three quite different places within a few kilometres of each other, and each has a different reason to be there.
Temperatures barely move across the year — it is hot in every month. What changes is rainfall and humidity, and that is enough to change the trip.
The dry season, and it is a real difference
Little rain, more breeze and lower humidity, which makes walking the old city genuinely pleasant. This is peak season, so prices are high and the walled city gets busy — particularly around the turn of the year.
A drier gap inside the wet season
A relatively drier interlude between the two rainy peaks, with fewer visitors than the winter high season. A reasonable compromise if the dates suit.
Rain, but usually in bursts
Wetter and more humid, typically as heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day rain. Prices are lower and the city is quieter.
The wettest months, and peak storm risk
The heaviest rainfall of the year and the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Cartagena is rarely hit directly, but the weather is at its least cooperative and boat trips to the islands are more often cancelled.
Three days in Cartagena is inside the free version: one destination, up to three days, no account. Adding the islands or the coast is Premium.
