Colombia Weather

Colombia climate

Colombia's position near the equator and its dramatic Andean topography create an extraordinary variety of microclimates packed into a relatively compact area. The country uses elevation rather than latitude to define its climate zones: the tierra caliente (hot lands) below 1,000 meters, the tierra templada (temperate lands) from 1,000 to 2,000 meters, and the tierra fría (cold lands) above 2,000 meters, each with distinct temperature ranges and vegetation.

The Pacific coast of Colombia is one of the wettest places on Earth, with areas like Lloró receiving over 13,000mm of annual rainfall. The Intertropical Convergence Zone passes over the country twice yearly, creating two wet seasons and two dry seasons in most regions. The Caribbean coast is drier and warmer, while the eastern llanos (plains) experience dramatic seasonal flooding during the wet season that transforms the landscape.

Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters elevation and enjoys year-round spring-like temperatures averaging 14°C, though rain can fall at any time. Medellín at 1,500 meters is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" with consistent 22°C temperatures. Cartagena and Barranquilla on the Caribbean coast are hot and humid year-round, while the Amazon region in the south receives heavy equatorial rainfall throughout the year.