Things to Do in Colombia in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
High Season · Book Early
February Weather in Colombia
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
68°F (20°C)
High Temp
45°F (7°C)
Low Temp
2.0 inches (51 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is February Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Dry season in the Andes means Bogotá's Cerro de Monserrate is visible instead of socked in by clouds, giving you those postcard city views that disappear in March. Snap now. The peak clears its throat.
- + Cartagena's February humidity drops to tolerable levels. You can walk the city walls at 2pm without feeling like you're breathing through a wet towel. Breeze returns. Walls feel kind.
- + Coffee region harvest is winding down. Fincas offer fresh-cupping sessions where you'll taste beans roasted the same morning they were picked. Aroma hangs. Flavor shocks.
- + Whale watching on the Pacific coast peaks. Humpbacks breach so close to shore you can hear them exhale from your beach chair in Nuquí. Sit still. Heart pounds.
- + Carnival de Barranquilla falls in February (dates vary). The city becomes a four-day street party where locals will grab your hand and pull you into cumbia circles. Dance anyway. Feet learn.
Considerations
- − It's peak season pricing everywhere. Cartagena hotels that cost half as much in October suddenly require you to book three months out for anything decent. Pay up. Or bunk elsewhere.
- − The Caribbean coast gets packed with escaping Europeans. Playa Blanco on a Tuesday looks like August in Ibiza. Arrive early. Claim sand.
- − Bogotá's altitude sickness hits harder in dry air. You'll feel the 2,640 m (8,660 ft) elevation when climbing the 1,500 steps to Monserrate. Pace yourself. Sip water.
Best Activities in February
Top things to do during your visit
Coffee Farm Tours in Zona Cafetera
February sits at the tail end of harvest season, meaning fincas are still active with picking and processing. The dry weather makes dirt roads accessible to 4WD vehicles, and you'll see coffee cherries drying on patios instead of industrial dryers. Temperatures hover around 22°C (72°F) in the valleys. Good for walking between shade-grown rows without sweating through your shirt.
Booking Tip: Book agritourism visits 5-7 days ahead through licensed operators. Look for fincas that include hands-on picking sessions and wet-mill demonstrations. See current options in booking section below.
Cartagena Walking Photography Tours
February's light is photographer-gold. Low angle sun hits the colonial walls at 4pm instead of disappearing behind storm clouds. The dry air means less lens fog when moving between air-conditioned museums and 30°C (86°F) street heat. Street vendors sell coconut water from wheelbarrows at Plaza Santo Domingo, giving you authentic props for portraits. Click away.
Booking Tip: Early morning tours (7am) beat both heat and cruise ship crowds. Licensed guides know which balconies allow rooftop access for aerial shots of the cathedral domes. Check booking widget for current tour availability.
Tayrona National Park Jungle-Beach Treks
February transforms Tayrona from a muddy slog into a proper hike. River crossings that swallow boots in October become ankle-deep streams you can rock-hop across. The trail to Cabo San Juan beach smells like wild ginger instead of damp rot, and howler monkeys are more active in dry canopy. You'll still sweat. It's 28°C (82°F) in the shade. But your clothes dry while you walk.
Booking Tip: Enter through Calabazo entrance to avoid El Zaino crowds. Licensed guides mandatory for overnight stays. Book 2-3 days ahead. See current park entry and guide options in booking section.
Bogotá Street Art Cycling Routes
February's morning fog burns off by 9am, revealing the full technicolor spectrum of La Candelaria's murals. The dry pavement means you can bike instead of pushing through puddles. Important at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) where walking uphill leaves you winded. Artists are painting fresh pieces for upcoming festivals, so you'll see works that won't exist in guidebook photos. Pedal slow.
Booking Tip: Sunday mornings are best. Ciclovía closes 120 km (75 miles) of roads to cars. Book bike tours 1-2 days ahead through operators who provide helmets and mountain bikes suitable for cobblestones. Current cycling options appear in booking widget.
Pacific Coast Whale Watching Boat Tours
Humpback mothers teach calves to breach in February's calm Pacific waters. The boat ride from Nuquí to Utría National Park becomes a marine safari. You'll spot whale spouts before your captain cuts the engine. Water visibility hits 15 m (49 ft) when afternoon showers stay inland, letting you see spotted eagle rays gliding under the boat. Stare down.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead. Only two operators run boats from Nuquí and they fill fast. Look for tours that include snorkeling at Playa Blanca and lunch of fresh ceviche caught that morning. Whale watching options available in booking section below.
Where to Stay in Colombia in February
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for February travellers.
February Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Dates vary (typically mid-February)
Carnaval de Barranquilla
Four days of street parties where costumed dancers perform traditional cumbia, mapalé and garabato. The city shuts down. Even banks close. Parades snake through neighborhoods. Locals will hand you aguardiente shots from house windows and teach you basic steps. Book accommodation six months out.
Late February
Festival de Música del Pacífico PetronO
Bajo Baudó region hosts this Afro-Colombian music festival where marimbas and cununos echo through jungle clearings. You'll hear chirimía bands play rhythms that pre-date salsa, while women sell cocadas (coconut sweets) wrapped in banana leaves from wooden stalls. Dance barefoot.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Colombia Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Bogotá's TransMilenio bus system is faster than taxis during February rush hour. The dedicated lanes move while cars sit in gridlock. Hop on.
Coffee farm tours are better on weekdays when workers are processing beans instead of giving staged demonstrations for weekend crowds. Visit midweek.
Cartagena's Getsemaní neighborhood has better street food than the old city. Look for arepa de huevo carts where locals queue instead of tourists. Follow the line.
San Andrésitos markets in Bogotá peddle legitimate electronics at 20% below retail. Ignore the guidebooks. These aisles are not pirate dens. Bargain hard. Walk out with sealed smartphones, warranted cameras, boxed laptops. The city's best open secret.
Locals bolt to Villa de Leyva every February weekend. The 4-hour bus ride balloons to 6 hours after 3pm Friday. Travel Saturday morning instead. You'll glide straight into the cobblestone calm.
Avoid These Mistakes
Book inside Cartagena's walls and you'll pay peak prices. You'll also inherit rooms that throb with bar bass until 3am. Earplugs help. So does staying a few blocks outside the stone ring.
Dry season does not mean no rain. The coffee region still fires off afternoon thunderstorms. Streets flood in 10 minutes. Pack a shell. Keep shoes in a plastic bag.
Wear shorts in Bogotá and locals clock you instantly. After sunset the mercury drops to 45°F (7°C). You'll shiver. Pack jeans. Blend in. Stay warm.
Trying to hit three cities in one week is a gamble. February winds delay domestic flights daily. Build two buffer days. Or cut one city. Flexibility beats frantic airports.
Book Experiences in Colombia
Top-rated things to do in Colombia this February
Explore More Activities in Colombia
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Colombia.
See All Colombia Tours on Viator