Things to Do in Colombia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Colombia
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season in most regions means Cartagena, Santa Marta, and the Caribbean coast get brilliant sunshine with minimal rain - perfect beach weather averaging 30°C (86°F) with calm seas. You'll actually be able to plan beach days without weather anxiety.
- December is festive season in Colombia with Christmas lights transforming Medellín into an illuminated spectacle from late November through early January. The entire Medellín River gets decorated with millions of lights, and neighborhoods compete for the best displays - locals take this seriously and it's genuinely spectacular.
- Coffee harvest season in the Zona Cafetera means you can see the entire process from picking to roasting. The hills around Salento and Manizales are full of workers hand-picking ripe cherries, and fincas offer tours showing fresh harvest processing - you're seeing coffee production at its most active, not just walking through static plantations.
- Cooler temperatures in Bogotá make walking the city actually pleasant - you're looking at 18-20°C (64-68°F) during the day instead of the warmer months. The altitude is less punishing when you're not also dealing with heat, and December typically has clearer skies for those Monserrate views.
Considerations
- Peak tourist season means prices jump 30-50% for accommodations in Cartagena, Santa Marta, and popular destinations. A hotel room that costs 150,000 COP in September might hit 220,000 COP in late December. Book at least 8-10 weeks ahead or you'll pay premium rates for mediocre options.
- Colombians take their Christmas holidays seriously - many businesses, restaurants, and tour operators close December 24-26 and again December 31-January 2. Don't count on getting much done during these windows. Even in tourist areas, your options shrink considerably.
- The Amazon region (Leticia) experiences heavy rainfall in December with 200+ mm (7.9+ inches) - river levels rise, trails get muddy, and some jungle activities become difficult or impossible. If the Amazon is your priority, you're visiting at the wrong time.
Best Activities in December
Caribbean Coast Beach Activities
December is prime time for Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, and the islands off Santa Marta. Seas are calm, rainfall drops to almost nothing, and water visibility peaks for snorkeling. Tayrona's beaches like La Piscina and Cabo San Juan are accessible without the mud that plagues rainy season trails. Water temperatures sit around 27°C (81°F) - you'll spend hours in the ocean without getting cold. The trade-off is crowds, but the weather reliability makes it worth it.
Coffee Farm Tours in Zona Cafetera
Harvest season means you're seeing actual coffee production, not just walking through plants. Farms around Salento, Filandia, and Manizales have workers in the fields picking ripe cherries, and tours include hands-on picking and processing demonstrations with fresh harvest. The weather is ideal - mornings are cool and clear around 18°C (64°F), perfect for walking hillside plantations before afternoon clouds roll in. You'll understand why Colombian coffee has its reputation when you taste beans processed that week.
Medellín Christmas Lights Tours
The Alumbrados are a genuine spectacle, not tourist marketing fluff. The Medellín River corridor gets transformed with elaborate light installations, and neighborhoods like La Candelaria compete for the most impressive displays. Tours typically run 6pm-10pm when everything is illuminated. December weather in Medellín is pleasant - 22-26°C (72-79°F) with occasional evening showers, but the displays are designed to handle rain. Locals flood the streets, street vendors sell buñuelos and natilla, and the energy is infectious.
Bogotá Cultural Walking Tours
December's cooler, drier weather makes exploring Bogotá on foot actually enjoyable. La Candelaria's colonial streets, street art in the international district, and markets like Paloquemao are best experienced walking, and you're not battling heat or constant rain. Temperatures stay comfortable at 18-20°C (64-68°F), though you'll want layers - mornings are cool and afternoons warm up. The city decorates for Christmas, and locals are out shopping and celebrating, giving you a real sense of urban Colombian life.
Caño Cristales Day Trips
December catches the tail end of the viewing season for the Liquid Rainbow - the river's famous red aquatic plants are still vibrant through mid-December before dry season fully sets in. You're looking at a full day trip from Villavicencio or La Macarena with hiking to multiple viewpoints. Weather is transitioning from wet to dry, so trails are manageable but rivers still have good water levels. Temperatures in the region hit 28-32°C (82-90°F) with high humidity - it's physically demanding but the payoff is seeing one of Colombia's most unique natural phenomena.
Valle de Cocora Hiking
The iconic wax palm valley near Salento is spectacular in December with relatively dry trails and clear morning skies. The loop hike through cloud forest to the palm valley takes 4-6 hours, climbing to 2,800 m (9,186 ft), and December weather gives you the best chance of clear views before afternoon clouds roll in. Temperatures range from 12-18°C (54-64°F) depending on elevation - you'll start warm and cool down as you climb. The landscape is surreal - the world's tallest palm trees rising from green valleys with Andean peaks in the background.
December Events & Festivals
Día de las Velitas
December 7th marks the unofficial start of Christmas season when Colombians light candles and paper lanterns outside their homes after dark. Cities and towns glow with millions of candles - it's a genuinely beautiful tradition. Streets fill with families, neighbors gather, and the atmosphere is warm and communal. In Bogotá and Medellín, entire neighborhoods coordinate displays. Join locals in public squares or parks to see the full effect.
Feria de Cali
Colombia's biggest salsa festival runs late December in Cali with concerts, dance competitions, and street parties. The city transforms into a non-stop celebration of salsa culture with both free street events and ticketed concerts featuring major Latin artists. If you're in southwest Colombia during this window, it's worth experiencing - the energy is massive and salsa is serious business in Cali.