Things to Do in Colombia in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Colombia
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing kicks in - accommodation runs 20-30% cheaper than June-August high season, and you'll actually find availability without booking months ahead. Domestic tourists are back at work after Easter, so popular spots like Cartagena and the Coffee Region feel pleasantly uncrowded.
- The rainy season is just starting, which sounds worse than it actually is - showers tend to hit late afternoon (around 3-5pm), last 30-45 minutes, then clear out. Mornings are consistently gorgeous for hiking, city walking, and outdoor activities. Plus, the countryside is turning brilliantly green.
- May sits right before the June-July international tourist surge, so you'll get better service at restaurants, easier tour bookings, and locals who haven't yet hit their seasonal exhaustion. Tour guides are eager and attentive rather than burned out.
- Coffee harvest season is wrapping up in May, meaning the Coffee Triangle is still buzzing with activity. You can see the tail end of picking, participate in processing demonstrations, and taste the freshest beans. The fincas are less crowded than April but still fully operational.
Considerations
- May marks the transition into the first rainy season, especially in Andean regions and the Amazon. You will get rained on - count on it. The Caribbean coast handles it better, but Bogotá, Medellín, and the coffee region can see afternoon downpours about 60% of days. This isn't monsoon-level rain, but it does affect hiking plans.
- Some Andean hiking trails start getting muddy and occasionally close for maintenance, particularly in Los Nevados National Park and certain sections around San Agustín. If high-altitude trekking is your main goal, March-April or December-January are honestly better months.
- Whale watching season on the Pacific coast doesn't start until late June, so if humpback whales are on your list, May is too early. The Pacific in general is wetter and rougher in May - not ideal for that region specifically.
Best Activities in May
Coffee Region Farm Experiences
May catches the tail end of coffee harvest season, so farms in Salento, Filandia, and around Manizales are still processing beans and running full demonstrations. The landscape is intensely green from early rains, making the palm-dotted valleys absolutely stunning for photography. Morning farm tours work perfectly with May's weather pattern - you'll finish before afternoon showers. The region sits at 1,200-2,000 m (3,937-6,562 ft) elevation, so temperatures are mild, around 18-24°C (64-75°F), and that 70% humidity feels comfortable rather than oppressive.
Cartagena Old City Walking and Food Tours
May is actually brilliant for Cartagena - the Caribbean coast gets less rain than inland regions, and the reduced crowds mean you can actually enjoy the walled city without shoulder-to-shoulder tourists. Temperatures sit around 28-32°C (82-90°F), but the humidity is high, so early morning or evening walking works best. The city's covered arcades and colonial architecture provide natural rain shelter. Street food vendors are out in full force, and restaurant reservations are easy to snag even at popular spots in Getsemaní.
Medellín Metro Cable and Comuna Tours
The metro cable system offers incredible views of the valley, and May's afternoon clouds create dramatic photography conditions - just plan for morning rides to avoid getting stuck in a downpour at the top. Comuna 13's outdoor street art is accessible year-round, and the covered escalators protect you during showers. The city sits at 1,495 m (4,905 ft), so despite being near the equator, temperatures are spring-like at 22-28°C (72-82°F). May sees fewer international tourists, so these popular tours feel less performative and more authentic.
Tayrona National Park Coastal Hiking
May sits just before peak rainy season on the Caribbean coast, so Tayrona is still accessible with manageable afternoon showers. The park's jungle-backed beaches are less crowded than December-March, and the vegetation is lush from early rains. Temperatures hover around 27-30°C (81-86°F) with high humidity, so start hikes early - the main trail from El Zaino to Cabo San Juan takes 2-3 hours and is brutal in midday heat. The park occasionally closes in June for maintenance, making May one of the last good months before the summer closure.
Bogotá Museum Circuit and Indoor Cultural Activities
Bogotá gets hammered with afternoon rain in May, making it perfect for the city's world-class museum scene. The Gold Museum, Botero Museum, and National Museum are all clustered in La Candelaria and provide excellent rainy-day options. At 2,640 m (8,661 ft) elevation, Bogotá is cool year-round - expect 10-18°C (50-64°F), which feels chilly to most visitors. May's weather pattern actually works beautifully: explore outdoor neighborhoods and markets in the morning, duck into museums when afternoon showers hit around 2-3pm.
Caño Cristales River Tours
May marks the very beginning of the viewing season for Caño Cristales, the 'Liquid Rainbow' river in La Macarena. The aquatic plants that create the famous red, yellow, and green colors start blooming in late May as water levels drop slightly from the dry season. You might catch early colors, though June-November is more reliable. That said, May means virtually zero crowds - you could have sections of the river to yourself. The area requires flights from Bogotá or Villavicencio, making it a significant investment, but the exclusivity in May is remarkable.
May Events & Festivals
Manizales Fair
This week-long festival in early January actually has no May equivalent, but worth noting that May is refreshingly festival-free in most of Colombia. You won't be competing with event-driven crowds or inflated prices. The exception is occasional local fiestas in smaller towns - ask locally, as these aren't heavily publicized but can be wonderful to stumble into.