Climate of Casanare

The department of Casanare has the typical climate of the Colombian Eastern Plains: warm, with a marked alternation between dry season and floods. Yopal, its capital, records temperatures of 28 to 33 °C throughout the year. The Casanare plains experience one of the most extreme climatic contrasts in Colombia: in the dry season (December–March) the wetlands and streams disappear, the soil cracks and the wind raises dust; in the rainy season (April–November) vast areas flood and the Meta, Casanare and Cravo Sur rivers overflow their banks, creating the spectacular aquatic landscape that characterizes the flooded plains. This dynamic sustains a rich fauna of birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals.

THERMAL FLOORS OF CASANARE

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

Thermal Floor	Altitude	Temperature	Municipalities
Warm plains	100 – 400 m	28 – 35 °C	Yopal, Aguazul, Villanueva, Paz de Ariporo
Temperate foothill	400 – 1,500 m	18 – 28 °C	Nunchía, Recetor, Chámeza

RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN CASANARE

Very marked unimodal regime: dry December–March (intense heat, winds, dust), rainy April–November (flooding in plains). Yopal receives 2,400 mm annually. The most intense rainfall period is June–August. Wildlife tourism is better in the dry season when animals concentrate around water sources.

TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN CASANARE

Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Casanare:

Municipality	Average Temperature
Yopal	30 °C
Aguazul	30 °C
Villanueva	32 °C
Paz de Ariporo	32 °C
Trinidad	31 °C
Orocué	33 °C
San Luis de Palenque	31 °C
Hato Corozal	32 °C

BEST TIME TO VISIT CASANARE

December to March: dry season, ideal for plains tourism, wildlife spotting (capybaras, caimans, turtles, birds). Flooded plains (June–October) offer unique landscapes but make travel difficult. The Plains festivals take place in January.