Things to Do in Colombia in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Colombia
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing across most regions - accommodation rates typically drop 20-30% compared to December-February peak season, and you'll actually be able to book that boutique hotel in Cartagena without a three-month advance reservation
- Coffee harvest season in the Zona Cafetera wraps up in April, meaning fresh crop tastings at fincas and the landscapes are still lush from harvest activity. The coffee triangle sees fewer tour groups than March, so farm tours feel more intimate
- Semana Santa (Holy Week) brings Colombia's most elaborate cultural celebrations - Popayán's processions are UNESCO-recognized, and Mompox transforms into a living colonial tableau. Even if crowds aren't your thing, the week after Easter is exceptionally quiet for travel
- Whale watching season in the Pacific coast (Nuquí, Bahía Solano) runs through early April - humpback whales are still migrating with calves, and you'll catch the tail end of this spectacular natural event before operators close for the season
Considerations
- April sits right in Colombia's first rainy season, particularly in Andean regions like Bogotá, Medellín, and the coffee zone. Expect afternoon downpours that last 30-60 minutes, usually between 2pm-5pm. This isn't monsoon rain, but it will disrupt outdoor plans if you're not flexible
- Semana Santa week (April 13-20 in 2026) creates a split personality for travel - major cities empty out as Colombians head to coastal towns and pueblos, meaning beach destinations and popular colonial towns like Villa de Leyva get genuinely crowded and prices spike 40-60% for that specific week
- Caribbean coast humidity peaks in April before the heavier May rains arrive. Cartagena and Santa Marta feel sticky, with that 70% humidity translating to a feels-like temperature closer to 33-35°C (91-95°F) in the afternoons. Air conditioning becomes non-negotiable, not a luxury
Best Activities in April
Coffee Farm Tours in Salento and Valle del Cocora
April catches the end of the main coffee harvest, so fincas are still processing fresh beans and you'll see the full production cycle. The wax palms in Valle del Cocora are surrounded by green hillsides from recent rains, making the 5-6 hour hike through cloud forest particularly dramatic. Morning tours work best - clouds roll in by 1pm and the afternoon rain starts around 3pm. The shoulder season timing means tour groups are smaller than March, typically 6-8 people instead of 15.
Whale Watching Expeditions on the Pacific Coast
Early April is your last chance to see humpback whales with calves before they migrate back to Antarctica. Nuquí and Bahía Solano offer boat tours where you're likely to see breaching, tail slapping, and mother-calf pairs. The Pacific coast is remote and wet year-round, but April still falls within the optimal viewing window before most operators close in late April. Seas tend to be calmer in morning hours, and visibility is better before afternoon rain clouds move in.
Colonial Town Walking and Cultural Immersion
Semana Santa transforms colonial towns like Popayán and Mompox into living museums with elaborate religious processions, flower-carpeted streets, and traditional foods like rosquillas and carantanta. Even outside Holy Week, April's afternoon rains make these walkable towns ideal - duck into baroque churches, colonial courtyards, and family-run restaurants when the 3pm downpour hits. Villa de Leyva's plaza and surrounding paleontology sites are manageable even with rain, though avoid Semana Santa week itself when prices triple.
Bogotá Museum Circuit and Indoor Cultural Activities
April's reliable afternoon rain makes Bogotá's world-class museums strategically smart. The Gold Museum, Botero Museum, and National Museum are perfect 2-4 hour afternoon activities when the 2:30pm rain starts. Mornings stay mostly dry for walking La Candelaria's street art and colonial architecture. The city's covered food markets like Paloquemao are excellent rainy-day destinations where you'll see seasonal fruits like lulo, guanabana, and maracuyá at peak freshness. Bogotá empties during Semana Santa week, so museums are quieter April 13-20.
Tayrona National Park Coastal Hiking
April sits just before Tayrona's May-June closure for environmental recovery, so trails and beaches are accessible but less crowded than January-March peak season. The park's jungle-to-beach hikes cover 4-8 km (2.5-5 miles) depending on your route, with the trail to Cabo San Juan taking about 2 hours one-way. Morning hikes are essential - start by 7am to avoid the midday heat that pushes feels-like temperatures to 35°C (95°F), and finish before afternoon clouds roll in. The Caribbean here is swimmable, though riptides require attention to posted warnings.
Medellín Metrocable and Comuna Tours
Medellín's cable car system becomes a practical sightseeing tool in April when afternoon rains make walking less appealing. The Metrocable to Parque Arví offers cloud forest access and artisan markets, while Comuna 13's transformation from no-go zone to street art destination is best experienced with local guides who lived through the change. April's weather means fewer tour groups on weekday mornings. The city's eternal spring climate stays consistent, with temperatures around 22-24°C (72-75°F), though afternoon showers are frequent.
April Events & Festivals
Semana Santa (Holy Week) Processions
April 13-20 in 2026, Semana Santa brings Colombia's most significant religious and cultural celebrations. Popayán hosts UNESCO-recognized processions with colonial-era statues carried through candlelit streets, while Mompox and Pamplona stage elaborate reenactments. Even in Bogotá and Medellín, you'll find processions, special masses, and traditional foods like fanesca. This is when Colombia pauses - banks and businesses close Thursday-Sunday, and domestic travel peaks.
Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata
Held in Valledupar in late April, this festival celebrates vallenato music with competitions, concerts, and street parties. Accordion players compete for the title of Rey Vallenato, and the entire city transforms into a music venue. If you're interested in Colombia's musical heritage beyond salsa and cumbia, this offers deep immersion into accordion-driven folk traditions of the Caribbean coast region.
Feria de las Flores Preparation Activities
While Medellín's famous Feria de las Flores happens in August, April marks when flower growers in Santa Elena begin intensive cultivation for the festival. Some fincas offer tours showing the silletero tradition - elaborate flower arrangements carried on backs - in its working phase. This is genuinely insider access, not a tourist show, and you'll see the agricultural reality behind the August spectacle.