Climate of San Andrés and Providencia

The archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina has a tropical Caribbean climate with warm and stable temperatures throughout the year. San Andrés, the main island, records temperatures of 27 to 30 °C with northeast trade winds that cool the environment especially from December to March. Providencia, more mountainous and greener, is somewhat rainier than San Andrés. The archipelago is surrounded by the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, and its crystal-clear waters of different shades of blue and green are the result of low turbidity and the richness of its coral reefs. The Reserve has the third largest coral barrier reef in the Western Caribbean.

THERMAL FLOORS OF SAN ANDRÉS AND PROVIDENCIA

Temperature in San Andrés and Providencia varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:

Thermal Floor	Altitude	Temperature	Municipalities
Tropical insular	0 – 100 m	26 – 30 °C	San Andrés (island), Providencia, Santa Catalina

RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN SAN ANDRÉS AND PROVIDENCIA

Bimodal Caribbean regime: dry December–April (intense trade winds), rainy May–November. San Andrés receives 1,600–1,900 mm annually. Providencia receives more rain (2,500 mm). Atlantic hurricane season: June–November (rare direct impacts but generates swell). Best months for diving are December–April.

TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN SAN ANDRÉS AND PROVIDENCIA

Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of San Andrés and Providencia:

Municipality	Average Temperature
San Andrés	28 °C
Providencia	27 °C
Santa Catalina	27 °C

BEST TIME TO VISIT SAN ANDRÉS AND PROVIDENCIA

December to April: dry season, fresh winds, calm sea, optimal underwater visibility for diving and snorkeling. Holy Week and December are high season; book in advance. Avoid October–November: period of higher rainfall and possible tropical system impact.