Things to Do in Colombia in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Colombia
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season in most regions - Cartagena and the Caribbean coast get only 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rain across the month, making beach days reliable. You'll actually see blue skies most mornings, with that occasional afternoon shower clearing out quickly.
- Perfect Andean weather - Bogotá and Medellín sit at 18-24°C (64-75°F) during the day, which is ideal for walking tours without melting. The high altitude means cooler evenings around 12°C (54°F), so you can comfortably explore without the oppressive heat you'd get in coastal areas.
- Post-holiday pricing dip - The first two weeks of January see accommodation prices drop 20-30% compared to December. Colombians return to work after Año Nuevo, so you'll find better availability and less competition for popular restaurants and tours, especially after January 10th.
- Festival season kicks off - Feria de Manizales runs all month, Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in Pasto happens early January, and you'll catch the tail end of Christmas decorations in Medellín (they typically stay up until mid-January, which locals call 'alumbrados').
Considerations
- First week crowds and premium pricing - January 1-7 is still peak domestic travel season as Colombians extend their New Year holiday. Expect hotels in Cartagena, Santa Marta, and San Andrés to charge high-season rates (sometimes 40-50% more than mid-January), and popular beaches get genuinely packed with Colombian families.
- Amazon region sees heavy rainfall - If you're planning jungle trips to Leticia or the Amazon basin, January brings 250-300 mm (10-12 inches) of rain. Rivers run high, which can be good for boat access but means muddy trails and afternoon downpours that last 2-3 hours, not just 30 minutes.
- Coffee harvest timing - The main coffee harvest runs October-December, so by January you've mostly missed the peak picking season in the Zona Cafetera. You can still tour farms and see processing, but the fields won't have that visual abundance of red cherries you might expect from photos.
Best Activities in January
Caribbean Coast Beach Time
January is legitimately the best month for Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, and the Rosario Islands. You're looking at consistent sunshine, calm Caribbean waters around 27°C (81°F), and visibility for snorkeling that reaches 15-20 m (50-65 ft). The humidity sits around 70% but the coastal breeze makes it manageable. Tayrona's beaches like La Piscina and Cabo San Juan are accessible without the mud you'd deal with in rainy season, and the hiking trails from El Zaino entrance stay dry.
Bogotá Walking and Museum Tours
The capital's weather in January is actually perfect for outdoor exploration - daytime temperatures around 18-20°C (64-68°F) mean you can walk La Candelaria's steep cobblestone streets without overheating. Mornings are typically clear, so that's your window for Monserrate (the cable car station opens at 6:30 AM and you'll get views before afternoon clouds roll in around 2 PM). The Gold Museum and Botero Museum have shorter lines than in December, and you'll notice fewer international tour groups in the first half of January.
Medellín Metrocable and Comuna Tours
January's clear skies make the Metrocable system spectacular - you're riding above the city with visibility stretching to the surrounding mountains. The weather sits at 22-26°C (72-79°F), which is comfortable for the uphill walking you'll do in Comuna 13. The famous graffiti tours happen rain or shine, but January means you're not dealing with wet stairs and slippery streets. Parque Arví at the top of Line L offers hiking trails that are actually dry and accessible.
Zona Cafetera Farm Stays and Hiking
Salento, Filandia, and the coffee region around Manizales see their driest weather in January. The Valle de Cocora hike to see wax palms (the world's tallest palm trees reaching 60 m or 197 ft) is actually doable without turning into a mud bath. Trails stay relatively firm, and you'll get mountain views that are often clouded over in wetter months. Morning temperatures start around 14°C (57°F) and climb to 22°C (72°F) by afternoon - perfect hiking weather.
San Andrés and Providencia Island Activities
These Caribbean islands see peak conditions in January - water clarity for diving and snorkeling reaches 25-30 m (82-98 ft), and the sea stays calm enough for boat trips to Johnny Cay and the natural pools. Temperatures hover around 28-30°C (82-86°F) with that constant Caribbean breeze keeping it from feeling oppressive. The coral reefs around Providencia (a 3-hour ferry or 20-minute flight from San Andrés) are genuinely some of Colombia's best, and January's calm seas make the boat crossing much more pleasant than in windier months.
Cali Salsa Scene and Dance Classes
January in Cali means warm evenings around 24-26°C (75-79°F) - perfect for the outdoor salsa clubs in the Juanchito district. The city's salsa schools offer drop-in classes for beginners, and you'll find that locals are actually more available for social dancing after the December holiday rush ends. The energy picks up on weekends, and you can genuinely learn basic steps in 2-3 days of intensive classes before hitting the clubs at night.
January Events & Festivals
Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (Pasto)
Running January 2-7 in 2026, this UNESCO-recognized carnival in Pasto (near the Ecuador border) is Colombia's most elaborate street festival. The 'black day' on January 5th sees everyone painting each other with black cosmetic grease, followed by 'white day' on January 6th with talcum powder and foam. Giant parade floats, traditional music, and street parties take over the city. Worth noting it gets genuinely crowded - this is a major domestic tourism event.
Feria de Manizales
This week-long festival in the coffee region runs throughout the first week of January (typically January 2-10). You'll see bullfighting (which is controversial and declining in popularity), beauty pageants, folk music concerts, and coffee-themed events. The International Coffee Parade on the final day features elaborate floats. It's a traditional Colombian festival that gives you insight into paisa culture, though it's less international-tourist-focused than Cartagena's events.
Hay Festival Cartagena
Usually held late January (around January 24-27 in recent years), this literary and cultural festival brings international authors, musicians, and thinkers to Cartagena. Events happen across the historic center in colonial courtyards and theaters. Many talks are in Spanish, but there's typically an English-language program. You'll need to book tickets for specific events ahead of time through their website, and hotel prices in Cartagena's old town spike during this weekend.