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Colombia - Things to Do in Colombia in June

Things to Do in Colombia in June

June weather, activities, events & insider tips

June Weather in Colombia

19°C (66°F) High Temp
7°C (45°F) Low Temp
40 mm (1.6 inches) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is June Right for You?

Advantages

  • June is the absolute sweet spot for Bogotá - it's one of the driest months at around 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rain, which means you can actually walk around the historic center without getting drenched every afternoon. The city comes alive with street life and outdoor cafés fill up.
  • Caribbean coast weather is near-perfect in June - Cartagena and Santa Marta sit at 28-31°C (82-88°F) with minimal rain, making it ideal for beach time before the intense July-August heat kicks in. The water is warm at 27°C (81°F) and visibility for diving is excellent.
  • You're visiting during shoulder season across most of Colombia, which means flight prices from North America and Europe drop by 20-30 percent compared to December-January peaks, and hotels in popular spots like the Coffee Triangle offer rates that are typically 15-25 percent lower than high season.
  • June marks the beginning of coffee harvest season in the Coffee Triangle (Salento, Manizales, Pereira), so you'll see the actual picking process on farm tours rather than just walking through plantations. The hills are incredibly green from the previous rainy months, and temperatures sit comfortably at 18-22°C (64-72°F) during the day.

Considerations

  • The Amazon region (Leticia) is deep in its wettest period with 250+ mm (9.8+ inches) of rain expected in June, making jungle treks muddy and river levels unpredictable. If the Amazon is your main goal, you'd be better off visiting in July-September when rainfall drops significantly.
  • June sits right in the middle of Colombia's first rainy season in many Andean regions, so places like San Agustín and Popayán can see afternoon downpours 60-70 percent of days. It's not constant rain, but you'll need to plan morning activities and have indoor backup options.
  • Whale watching season in the Pacific (Nuquí, Bahía Solano) doesn't really get going until late June or early July, so if you're visiting in the first three weeks of June, you might miss the humpback whales entirely. The Pacific coast is also experiencing heavy rain in June with 400+ mm (15.7+ inches) typical.

Investigate Other Months

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Best Activities in June

Cartagena Colonial City Walking and Food Sampling

June weather in Cartagena is actually ideal for exploring the walled city on foot - mornings are warm at 26-28°C (79-82°F) without the oppressive heat of July-August, and rain is minimal (maybe 50 mm or 2 inches for the whole month). The humidity sits around 75 percent, which sounds high but the Caribbean breeze makes it manageable. Start early around 7-8am when locals are buying fresh fruit at Bazurto Market, then work your way through Getsemaní before the midday sun. You'll want to focus on the street food scene - arepas de huevo, carimañolas, and fresh ceviche from coastal vendors. The evening paseo (stroll) along the walls around 5-6pm is when the city really comes alive.

Booking Tip: Most walking and food tours run 3-4 hours and typically cost 120,000-180,000 COP (30-45 USD) per person. Book 5-7 days ahead through licensed guides who actually live in Cartagena - you want someone who knows which street vendors are safe and which to avoid. See current tour options in the booking section below. Alternatively, you can easily explore independently with a good offline map.

Coffee Farm Tours in Salento and Valle de Cocora

June is when the main coffee harvest begins in Quindío department, so you're visiting at exactly the right time to see the actual picking process rather than just walking through empty plantations. The weather in Salento sits at a comfortable 18-22°C (64-72°F) during the day, with afternoon showers maybe 40-50 percent of the time - but they're usually brief. The Valle de Cocora, with its famous wax palms reaching 60 m (197 ft) tall, is incredibly lush and green from the previous months of rain. The hike through the valley takes 4-5 hours round trip and involves some muddy sections, so you'll want proper hiking boots. Most coffee farms are working farms where you can see the entire process from cherry to cup.

Booking Tip: Coffee farm tours typically run 80,000-150,000 COP (20-38 USD) for half-day experiences including tastings. Book directly with farms when you arrive in Salento - many don't take advance reservations and operate on a walk-in basis. For Valle de Cocora hikes, you can go independently (entrance fee 5,000 COP or about 1.25 USD) or join guided nature walks. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Tayrona National Park Coastal Hiking and Beach Time

June hits the sweet spot for Tayrona - the park sits just outside Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast and gets minimal rain in June (around 30-40 mm or 1.2-1.6 inches), with temperatures at 28-30°C (82-86°F). The main trail from El Zaino entrance to Cabo San Juan beach is about 9 km (5.6 miles) through jungle and along coastline, taking 3-4 hours at a steady pace. The humidity is noticeable at 75-80 percent, but the ocean breeze helps. June means fewer crowds than December-January peak season, so you can actually find space on the beaches. The water is warm at 27°C (81°F) and generally calm for swimming, though some beaches have dangerous currents - locals will tell you which ones are safe.

Booking Tip: Park entrance costs 60,500 COP (about 15 USD) for foreigners. You can visit independently or join guided day trips from Santa Marta that typically cost 120,000-200,000 COP (30-50 USD) including transport and entrance. Book 3-5 days ahead if you want a guide, or just show up early (park opens 8am) if going solo. See current tour options in the booking section below. Bring plenty of water - there are vendors inside but prices are 2-3 times higher than outside.

Bogotá Museum Circuit and Candelaria Exploration

June's relatively dry weather in Bogotá makes it perfect for mixing outdoor neighborhood walks with indoor museum time. When those afternoon showers do hit (maybe 10 days out of the month), you'll want quality indoor options. The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) holds 55,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic gold work and takes 2-3 hours to see properly. Botero Museum is free and houses Fernando Botero's distinctive style plus his personal collection of Picasso, Monet, and Dalí. The Candelaria neighborhood where these museums sit is walkable and safe during the day, with temperatures at 14-19°C (57-66°F) - you'll want layers since buildings aren't heated. The street art scene in Candelaria has exploded in recent years, with massive murals covering entire building facades.

Booking Tip: Museum entry ranges from free (Botero) to 5,000 COP or about 1.25 USD (Gold Museum on Sundays) to 15,000 COP or about 3.75 USD (regular Gold Museum admission). Most museums close Mondays. You can explore independently or join walking tours that combine museums with neighborhood history, typically 60,000-100,000 COP (15-25 USD) for 3-4 hours. See current tour options in the booking section below. The Transmilenio rapid bus system connects to museums easily - get a rechargeable card at any station.

Guatapé Rock Climbing and Reservoir Boat Tours

Guatapé sits about 2 hours east of Medellín and June weather here is mixed - you'll get afternoon rain maybe 50-60 percent of days, but mornings are usually clear and sitting at 20-24°C (68-75°F). The famous Peñol Rock (El Peñón) rises 200 m (656 ft) above the reservoir and requires climbing 740 steps to the top - it takes 20-30 minutes depending on fitness level. The view over the reservoir and its countless islands is genuinely spectacular on clear mornings. The town itself is known for colorful zócalos (decorative bas-reliefs) on building facades. Boat tours around the reservoir visit Pablo Escobar's destroyed mansion and small islands, taking 1-2 hours.

Booking Tip: Peñol Rock entrance costs 25,000 COP (about 6 USD). Boat tours around the reservoir typically run 40,000-60,000 COP (10-15 USD) per person for group tours or 150,000-200,000 COP (38-50 USD) for private boats fitting 6-8 people. Day trips from Medellín including transport typically cost 120,000-180,000 COP (30-45 USD). Book 3-5 days ahead during June or go independently via bus from Medellín's North Terminal (20,000 COP or 5 USD each way). See current tour options in the booking section below.

San Andrés and Providencia Island Beach and Snorkeling

The Caribbean islands of San Andrés and Providencia hit their stride in June with minimal rain (around 100 mm or 3.9 inches for the month), warm temperatures at 28-30°C (82-86°F), and calm seas perfect for snorkeling. The water visibility reaches 20-30 m (66-98 ft) in June, and you'll see the seven-color sea phenomenon where different depths create distinct blue and turquoise bands. Johnny Cay, a small island 1.5 km (0.9 miles) off San Andrés, offers excellent beach time and reggae beach bars. Providencia, 90 km (56 miles) north, is significantly less developed and more expensive to reach, but the coral reefs around Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park are some of Colombia's best.

Booking Tip: Flights to San Andrés from Bogotá or Medellín typically cost 300,000-500,000 COP (75-125 USD) round trip if booked 4-6 weeks ahead. Snorkeling tours around the islands run 80,000-150,000 COP (20-38 USD) for half-day trips. Boat transfers to Providencia cost around 180,000 COP (45 USD) round trip or you can fly for 250,000-350,000 COP (63-88 USD). Book island tours 3-5 days ahead or arrange through your accommodation. See current tour options in the booking section below. Note that there's a tourist entry tax of 116,000 COP (about 29 USD) when you arrive at San Andrés airport.

June Events & Festivals

Throughout June

Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival) Preparation in Medellín

While the main Feria de las Flores happens in early August, June is when Medellín's flower growers in the surrounding hills begin preparing their elaborate displays and silleteros (flower carriers) start planning their designs. If you visit Santa Elena, the village above Medellín where most silleteros live, you can see families working on their craft and learn about the tradition. It's not a major event in June itself, but it gives context to one of Colombia's most important cultural celebrations.

Early to Mid June

Corpus Christi Celebrations

Corpus Christi is a Catholic celebration that typically falls in early to mid-June (60 days after Easter), and several Colombian towns create elaborate alfombras (carpets) made from colored sawdust, flowers, and natural materials in the streets. The town of Villa de Leyva, about 3 hours north of Bogotá, is known for particularly impressive displays. The celebration lasts one day, usually a Thursday, with religious processions walking over the carpets. It's worth timing your visit to Villa de Leyva if you're in the area, though exact dates vary year to year based on the Easter calendar.

Late June

San Juan and San Pedro Festivals

Late June brings the festivals of San Juan (June 24) and San Pedro (June 29), which are celebrated in various regions but particularly strongly in Tolima and Huila departments in the central Andes. The town of Neiva hosts the Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco, featuring traditional bambuco music and dance competitions, parades, and beauty pageants. In the Coffee Triangle, some towns celebrate with traditional music and local food festivals. These are authentic local celebrations rather than tourist-focused events, so you'll need some Spanish and willingness to figure things out as you go.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Lightweight rain jacket that packs small - afternoon showers in Andean cities like Bogotá and Medellín last 20-40 minutes and happen maybe 10 days in June, but when they hit, they're proper downpours. A poncho works too but gets annoying in wind.
Layering pieces for Bogotá's 7-19°C (45-66°F) temperature range - mornings start cool, afternoons warm up, then evenings get chilly again. A light fleece or sweater plus a long-sleeve shirt gives you options. Buildings aren't heated so you'll wear layers indoors too.
SPF 50+ sunscreen - the UV index hits 8 in June and at Colombia's elevations (Bogotá sits at 2,640 m or 8,661 ft), you'll burn faster than you expect even on cloudy days. Reapply every 2 hours if you're outside.
Comfortable walking shoes with good tread - cobblestone streets in Cartagena, Villa de Leyva, and Bogotá's Candelaria get slippery when wet. You'll walk 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) daily in cities, so skip the new shoes.
Proper hiking boots if you're doing Valle de Cocora or Tayrona - trails get muddy in June from previous rain, and ankle support matters on uneven terrain. The Cocora valley hike involves stream crossings and 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation changes.
Quick-dry clothing in breathable fabrics - the 70-80 percent humidity on the Caribbean coast means cotton takes forever to dry. Synthetic or merino wool shirts dry in 2-3 hours if you hand wash in your accommodation.
Small daypack (20-25 liters or 1,220-1,526 cubic inches) - you'll carry water, rain jacket, sunscreen, and camera on day trips. Make sure it has a water-resistant cover or is water-resistant itself for those afternoon showers.
Insect repellent with 25-30 percent DEET if visiting coastal areas or coffee region - mosquitoes are active in June, particularly around dawn and dusk. Dengue is present in Colombia so take this seriously.
Refillable water bottle (1 liter or 34 oz minimum) - tap water isn't drinkable in most of Colombia but hotels and restaurants have filtered water dispensers. Staying hydrated matters at altitude and in coastal humidity.
Basic Spanish phrasebook or offline translation app - English is limited outside major tourist areas in Cartagena and Bogotá's tourist zone. Locals appreciate any attempt at Spanish, and you'll need it for ordering food, asking directions, and negotiating with taxi drivers.

Insider Knowledge

Book domestic flights within Colombia at least 4-6 weeks ahead for June travel - Avianca, LATAM, and Viva Air prices jump significantly closer to departure, sometimes doubling from 200,000 COP to 400,000+ COP (50 to 100+ USD) for routes like Bogotá-Cartagena. Tuesday and Wednesday flights tend to be cheaper than weekend departures.
The afternoon rain pattern in Andean cities is predictable - schedule outdoor activities like city walks, markets, and viewpoint visits for morning hours between 8am-1pm, then plan museum visits or coffee shop time for 2-5pm when rain is most likely. By 6pm it usually clears up for dinner.
ATM withdrawal limits in Colombia are typically 600,000-1,000,000 COP (150-250 USD) per transaction with fees of 15,000-25,000 COP (3.75-6.25 USD) per withdrawal, so pull out larger amounts less frequently. Banco de Bogotá and Bancolombia ATMs are most reliable. Notify your bank before traveling - fraud detection often blocks Colombian transactions.
Taxi apps like Uber technically aren't legal in Colombia but operate anyway in major cities, while DiDi and InDriver are alternatives. Traditional taxis are safe but agree on price before getting in or insist on the meter (taxímetro). From Bogotá airport to Candelaria should cost 30,000-40,000 COP (7.50-10 USD), not the 80,000 COP some drivers quote tourists.
June is mango season across Colombia and you'll see street vendors selling them everywhere - try them with salt and lime the way locals eat them. Also look for lulo, guanábana, and maracuyá (passion fruit) juices, which are peak season and cost 3,000-5,000 COP (0.75-1.25 USD) from street vendors.
The tourist entry tax for San Andrés island (116,000 COP or about 29 USD) is mandatory and paid at the airport before you board your return flight, not when you arrive. Keep the receipt - you'll need to show it when leaving. This catches many first-time visitors off guard.
Colombian mealtimes run later than North American schedules - lunch is the main meal and happens 12:30-2:30pm with many restaurants offering menú del día (set lunch) for 15,000-25,000 COP (3.75-6.25 USD). Dinner starts around 7-8pm. If you eat at tourist-focused restaurants during off-hours, you'll pay more and get reheated food.
Altitude affects you more than you think in Bogotá at 2,640 m (8,661 ft) - take it easy the first day, drink extra water, and avoid heavy alcohol consumption until you adjust. If you're flying directly to Bogotá from sea level, consider spending your first night there to acclimatize before heading to even higher elevations in the Coffee Triangle.

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating travel times between cities - Colombia's mountainous terrain means that a 200 km (124 mile) bus trip from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva takes 4 hours, not the 2 hours you'd expect on flat highways. Always add buffer time and check actual travel duration, not just distance. Flying between cities saves enormous amounts of time.
Visiting the Pacific coast (Nuquí, Bahía Solano) in early to mid-June expecting whale watching - humpback whales don't really arrive until late June or early July, and the Pacific gets 400+ mm (15.7+ inches) of rain in June making it miserable for beach time. If whales are your goal, push your trip to July-September.
Bringing only US dollars for currency exchange - while dollars are accepted at exchange houses, you'll get better rates exchanging at banks or withdrawing Colombian pesos directly from ATMs. Credit cards work in cities but many smaller towns and local restaurants are cash-only. Exchange rates at airports are typically 5-8 percent worse than city exchange houses.
Skipping travel insurance that covers altitude-related issues - many standard policies exclude coverage above 2,400 m (7,874 ft), which means Bogotá at 2,640 m (8,661 ft) isn't covered. Make sure your policy specifically includes high-altitude coverage if you're spending time in Andean cities.
Packing only for hot weather because Colombia is near the equator - Bogotá averages 13°C (55°F) year-round and can drop to 7°C (45°F) at night in June. The Coffee Triangle sits at 1,800-2,000 m (5,906-6,562 ft) elevation and gets cool in evenings. You need warm layers for highland regions even though coastal areas are hot.

Explore Activities in Colombia

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July

Travel guide for July

Climate Guide

Weather and seasonal patterns for Colombia

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