Climate of Santander
Temperature, thermal floors, rainy seasons and best time to visit Santander. Complete climate data by municipality.
The department of Santander is notable for its extraordinary diversity of landscapes and climates, determined by the Eastern mountain range and the deep canyons that cross it. Bucaramanga, its capital, is at 959 meters above sea level and enjoys an average temperature of 23 °C, earning it the nickname "the beautiful city of Colombia." At its feet opens the majestic Chicamocha Canyon, where Barichara and Aratoca record temperatures of 18–22 °C and the canyon floor reaches 35 °C. To the north, the Serranía de los Yariguíes and the Catatumbo are more humid and warm areas. To the south, the Santurbán Páramo supplies water to Bucaramanga and protects páramo ecosystems at over 3,000 meters.
THERMAL FLOORS OF SANTANDER
Temperature in Santander varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:
| Thermal Floor | Altitude | Temperature | Municipalities |
| Warm | 0 – 1,000 m | 24 – 35 °C | Barrancabermeja, Sabana de Torres, Chicamocha Canyon |
| Temperate | 1,000 – 2,000 m | 17 – 24 °C | Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Girón, Piedecuesta |
| Cold | 2,000 – 3,000 m | 12 – 17 °C | Málaga, Cerrito, Concepción |
| Páramo | > 3,000 m | 5 – 12 °C | Santurbán Páramo, Las Mercedes Páramo |
RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN SANTANDER
Bimodal regime: rainy March–May and August–October, dry December–February and June–July. Bucaramanga receives 1,000–1,200 mm annually. Barrancabermeja, in the Magdalena Medio, receives 2,500–3,000 mm. The Chicamocha Canyon is dry all year round (700–900 mm). The Bucaramanga Fair takes place in September.
TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN SANTANDER
Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Santander:
| Municipality | Average Temperature |
| Bucaramanga | 23 °C |
| Floridablanca | 22 °C |
| Girón | 25 °C |
| Barrancabermeja | 30 °C |
| San Gil | 23 °C |
| Barichara | 22 °C |
| Málaga | 15 °C |
| Socorro | 22 °C |
BEST TIME TO VISIT SANTANDER
December–February and June–July: dry seasons, ideal for the Chicamocha Canyon and adventure activities (paragliding, rafting). For the Santurbán Páramo: June–August. Barichara and the canyon towns are pleasant all year round due to their dry microclimate.