Climate of Bolívar

The department of Bolívar spans from the Caribbean beaches to the foothills of the Western mountain range, generating great climatic diversity. Cartagena de Indias, its capital and Caribbean tourist jewel, maintains temperatures of 28 to 33 °C throughout the year with high humidity. Inland, riverside municipalities like Mompox reach 35 °C in the hottest months. The south of the department, in the Montes de María region and the Magdalena Medio, has somewhat more moderate temperatures with higher rainfall. The trade winds alleviate coastal heat between December and March, making that season the most pleasant to visit Cartagena.

THERMAL FLOORS OF BOLÍVAR

Temperature in Bolívar varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:

Thermal Floor	Altitude	Temperature	Municipalities
Warm coastal	0 – 200 m	28 – 34 °C	Cartagena, Turbaco, Arjona, Mahates
Warm inland	200 – 800 m	26 – 32 °C	Mompox, El Banco, Magangué
Temperate	800 – 2,000 m	18 – 24 °C	Montes de María (highlands)

RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN BOLÍVAR

Unimodal regime: dry December–April, rainy May–November. Cartagena receives 900–1,100 mm annually. The high tourist season coincides exactly with the dry season. October and November are the rainiest months and may present flooding in low-lying areas.

TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN BOLÍVAR

Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Bolívar:

Municipality	Average Temperature
Cartagena	30 °C
Magangué	32 °C
Mompox	34 °C
El Carmen de Bolívar	28 °C
Turbaco	29 °C
Arjona	29 °C
Achí	31 °C
San Jacinto	28 °C

BEST TIME TO VISIT BOLÍVAR

December to March: dry season, sea breeze, clear skies. Ideal for beaches in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands. Holy Week and December are high season, advance booking recommended.