Climate of Risaralda
Temperature, thermal floors, rainy seasons and best time to visit Risaralda. Complete climate data by municipality.
The department of Risaralda is the heart of the Coffee Axis and one of the most visited destinations in Colombia. Pereira, its capital, at 1,411 meters above sea level, is known as "the beloved, night-owl and brunette" and enjoys an average temperature of 22 °C that many Colombians consider the ideal climate of the country. This condition of eternal spring —neither too cold nor excessively hot— has made Pereira one of the cities with the highest quality of life in Colombia. To the north, Marsella and Santuario are somewhat cooler; to the west, municipalities like Mistrató and Pueblo Rico border Chocó and have a much rainier climate. The Otún Lake and Los Nevados Park, accessible from Santa Rosa de Cabal, present high mountain climates and glaciers.
THERMAL FLOORS OF RISARALDA
Temperature in Risaralda varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:
| Thermal Floor | Altitude | Temperature | Municipalities |
| Temperate coffee-growing | 900 – 2,000 m | 18 – 24 °C | Pereira, Dosquebradas, Santa Rosa, Marsella |
| Warm humid Pacific | 200 – 900 m | 24 – 28 °C | Mistrató, Pueblo Rico, Apía |
| Cold | 2,000 – 3,000 m | 12 – 17 °C | Santa Rosa de Cabal (hot springs), La Celia |
| Páramo | > 3,000 m | 5 – 12 °C | Otún Lake, PNN Los Nevados |
RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN RISARALDA
Bimodal regime: rainy March–May and September–November, dry December–February and June–August. Pereira receives 2,000–2,500 mm annually. The Chocó biogeographic zone (Mistrató) can exceed 4,000 mm. The Pereira Fair takes place in August, in relatively dry season.
TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN RISARALDA
Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Risaralda:
| Municipality | Average Temperature |
| Pereira | 22 °C |
| Dosquebradas | 22 °C |
| Santa Rosa de Cabal | 18 °C |
| Marsella | 19 °C |
| La Virginia | 24 °C |
| Apía | 19 °C |
| Mistrató | 24 °C |
| Santuario | 18 °C |
BEST TIME TO VISIT RISARALDA
December–February and June–August: driest seasons. For Santa Rosa de Cabal and the hot springs: pleasant all year round. For Los Nevados: July–August is the best window to reach the glacier. Pereira is pleasant practically all year round.