Things to Do in Colombia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Colombia
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December is peak dry season in most of Colombia - you'll get consistent sunshine in Cartagena, Santa Marta, and the Caribbean coast with daytime temps around 28°C (82°F), which means beach days actually work without afternoon downpours interrupting every plan. The Tayrona National Park trails are passable and the ocean visibility for snorkeling is at its annual best.
- Bogotá and the coffee region have their clearest skies of the year - the usual fog that blankets the mountains burns off by 9am, giving you those postcard views of coffee plantations and the Cocora Valley wax palms. You can actually see Nevado del Ruiz from Salento on most December mornings, which doesn't happen during the rainy months.
- Christmas season in Colombia is genuinely special and not tourist-manufactured - from December 7th onward, every city lights up for Día de las Velitas, neighborhoods compete with elaborate displays, and locals are in an unusually festive mood. You'll see nativity scenes (pesebres) that families spend weeks building, and the food gets noticeably better with seasonal treats like natilla and buñuelos appearing everywhere.
- Crowd levels are actually manageable until December 20th - the first three weeks of December see mostly European and North American travelers, but Colombian domestic tourism doesn't kick in until the final week when schools close. If you're visiting December 1-18, you get the great weather without the Colombian holiday crush that doubles hotel prices in the last ten days.
Considerations
- Prices spike dramatically after December 20th and stay elevated through January 15th - hotels in Cartagena and the coffee region can triple their rates during this Colombian high season, and many require 5-7 night minimums. If your dates include Christmas or New Year, you're looking at paying peak prices and booking 4-6 months ahead just to secure decent accommodation.
- The weather isn't uniformly perfect across Colombia - while the coast is dry, Medellín and the coffee region still get occasional afternoon showers (though much lighter than other months), and the Amazon is in its wettest season with 250+ mm (10+ inches) of rain. You can't just assume December equals sunshine everywhere, which catches first-timers off guard.
- Many businesses close December 24-26 and December 31-January 2 - Colombians take Christmas and New Year seriously, and you'll find restaurants, tour operators, and even some attractions shuttered during these specific days. If your trip falls over these dates, you need to plan around limited services and pre-book any tours or activities.
Best Activities in December
Tayrona National Park Coastal Hiking
December is genuinely the only reliable month for the full Tayrona experience - the coastal trails from Cañaveral to Cabo San Juan are muddy disasters during rainy season, but in December they're dry and passable in regular hiking shoes. The ocean is calm enough for swimming at Arrecifes beach (though still respect the currents), and you'll actually see howler monkeys because they come down from the canopy when it's not pouring. The heat is real though - start your hike before 8am to avoid the midday sun on exposed sections.
Cartagena Old City Walking and Food Tours
The walled city is actually pleasant to walk in December because the humidity drops to tolerable levels by late afternoon, and you're not dodging rain showers every hour. The evening breeze off the Caribbean makes the plazas and ramparts genuinely comfortable after 5pm - this is when locals come out, and you'll see the city as it actually functions rather than just as a tourist set piece. The seasonal food is better too, with coastal restaurants serving fresh pargo rojo (red snapper) and you'll find street vendors selling carimañolas and arepas de huevo on every corner.
Coffee Farm Tours in Salento and Valle de Cocora
December gives you the clearest mountain views of the year - the Cocora Valley wax palms are visible from kilometers away instead of hidden in fog, and the coffee farms have just finished their main harvest so farmers actually have time to show you around properly. The morning temperatures in Salento sit around 18°C (64°F), which is perfect for hiking through plantations without overheating. You'll also catch the tail end of coffee processing season, so you can see the full bean-to-cup process rather than just walking through dormant plants.
Caribbean Island Day Trips from Cartagena
The Rosario Islands and Playa Blanca trips are actually worth it in December because the sea is flat and the boat rides aren't the vomit-inducing experiences they become during rougher months. The water visibility for snorkeling reaches 10-15 m (33-49 ft), and you can actually see the coral and tropical fish rather than just murky water. That said, these trips are heavily tourist-oriented and can feel like cattle calls - you're looking at 50-100 people on some boats. But the water quality in December makes it tolerable, and it's genuinely the best month for swimming.
Bogotá Museum Circuit and Candelaria Neighborhood Exploration
December is actually ideal for Bogotá because the rain that usually hammers the city every afternoon mostly disappears - you can walk La Candelaria's steep streets and colonial plazas without getting soaked, and the Museo del Oro and Botero Museum are less crowded in early December before Colombian families descend for Christmas break. The altitude (2,640 m/8,660 ft) means temperatures stay cool around 18°C (64°F), so you're comfortable walking all day. The Christmas decorations in Plaza Bolívar and along Carrera 7 are genuinely impressive, not just token lights.
Medellín Communa 13 and Transformation Tours
The famous outdoor escalators and street art of Comuna 13 are actually accessible in December without the rain that makes the steep hillside neighborhoods slippery and miserable. The transformation story of this former no-go zone is genuinely compelling, and December weather means you can spend 2-3 hours walking the neighborhood comfortably. The metrocable (cable car) rides that connect the comunas offer incredible valley views when it's not foggy - December gives you those clear days more consistently than any other month. Just know these tours have become very popular, so expect crowds especially on weekends.
December Events & Festivals
Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles)
December 7th is when Colombia lights up - families place candles and paper lanterns outside their homes, in windows, and along streets to honor the Virgin Mary. In cities like Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena, entire neighborhoods compete with elaborate displays. It's not a tourist event, it's genuinely what Colombians do, which makes it special. Walk any residential neighborhood after dark and you'll see thousands of candles creating an atmosphere that's both beautiful and slightly surreal. The main plazas in every city have official displays, but the residential streets are where it's actually happening.
Christmas Novenas and Alumbrados
From December 16-24, Colombian families gather nightly for novenas - nine nights of prayers, Christmas carols, and eating natilla and buñuelos. You won't participate unless you're invited to someone's home, but the alumbrados (Christmas light displays) in every major city run throughout December and peak during novena nights. Medellín's display along the river is legitimately impressive with millions of lights, and Bogotá's Carrera 7 becomes a pedestrian walkway lined with illuminated figures. These aren't tourist traps - locals actually go see them with their families.
Cali Feria de Cali
If you're in Colombia December 25-30, Cali hosts the Feria de Cali - a massive salsa festival with concerts, dance competitions, and the famous Salsódromo parade on December 26th. The entire city becomes a party, with stages set up across neighborhoods and free concerts featuring major salsa orchestras. It's crowded, loud, and genuinely fun if you're into music and dancing. Hotels in Cali book out months ahead for these dates, and prices triple, but if salsa is your thing, this is the event. Just know it's intense - you're dealing with massive crowds and very limited sleep.