Weather and when to go

Guatapé sits at 1,925 m above sea level with temperatures between 13 and 22 C; visitors should carry a light jacket for mornings and evenings.

La Ceja's town center sits at 2,143 m with a mean temperature of 18 C, 41 km from Medellín; the municipality's Fiestas del Toldo, las Bicicletas y las Flores are held in August.

Santa Fe de Antioquia lies about 80 km northwest of Medellin and nearly 1,000 m lower in altitude, so it is much warmer; the journey uses the 4.6 km Tunel del Occidente.

Jerico is 104 km from Medellin at 1,950 m above sea level with a temperature of 18 C.

Jardin combines colonial architecture, a pleasant climate and many colours; the official guide cites the quality of its coffee, the cathedral and main-park architecture, trout farms and panela production on local farms, and a wide hotel offer.

Guatapé sits at 1,925 m with temperatures of 13-22 C, about 81 km and roughly 1h50 from Medellín by road under normal conditions.

Medellin is nicknamed the 'City of Eternal Spring'; temperatures stay around 19 C on average, within a year-round range of roughly 18-28 C.

The official Medellin guide gives a year-round temperature range of 16-26 C and describes the climate as humid subtropical with frequent rain all year.

Medellin sits at about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level in the Aburra Valley of the Western Colombian Andes.

In September 2026 the official guide warned of a drier, sunnier season with intense UV radiation, cited IDEAM as giving over 90% probability that El Nino persists through Q1 2027, and advised carrying water, sunscreen and a hat, and checking official channels for access conditions before visiting Parque Arvi, rural areas or trails (which remain open).

ProColombia describes Santa Fe de Antioquia's climate as warm, ranging between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Medellín CVB says the best time to visit is said to be mid-December to early March (the most summer-like period), and for cooler temperatures early October to mid-January.

ProColombia states dry seasons run December to March and July to August, and the rainiest periods are April-May and October-November; Colombia has no spring/summer/autumn/winter, and temperature varies by altitude.

ProColombia states Medellín lies at an elevation of roughly 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) above sea level.

Lonely Planet says Bogotá, Medellín and Cali have a secondary rainy season in April and May, July to August is another short dry season with brief tropical showers in highland cities, and December to February is dry everywhere in Colombia except the Amazon.

Lonely Planet says October and November are Colombia's rainiest months, Medellín is disproportionately wet in October, and rain mostly falls in the afternoon, so travellers should pack an umbrella and get out early.

IDEAM (page updated 10 September 2026) lists the most probable El Niño intensity as 'muy fuerte', with '90 % de intensidad muy fuerte para el último trimestre de 2026', and states the most probable intensity is 'muy fuerte' between September 2026 and February 2027; next update scheduled for October 2026.

IDEAM (published 1 October 2026) says Colombia is currently in its second rainy season while El Niño conditions are present, that El Niño does not mean it will stop raining across the country, and that it can alter rainfall and temperature patterns with effects that differ by territory.

Medellín CVB says Medellín keeps its 16-26 °C climate but El Niño can bring sunnier, drier days with stronger UV; it advises carrying water, using sun protection, checking weather and each site's official channels before visiting Parque Arví, and consulting IDEAM and the Alcaldía de Medellín for climate alerts.

Canada reports that on August 10, 2026 a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near San José de Palmar, Chocó department, about 280 km west of Bogotá; a state of national disaster was declared, and damage was reported in several cities including Bogotá, Cali, Manizales and Pereira.

Canada: Colombia's rainy seasons usually occur from March to June and from September to November; El Niño in 2026 is expected to generate heavy rainfall during the September to November rainy season. Flooding and mudslides can occur, and roads may become impassable.

El Retiro averages about 18 C and the Gobernación advises bringing a coat; it also advises reserving restaurants in advance because of high demand and scheduling tourism experience tours ahead.

Plaza Minorista José María Villa (Calle 55A # 57-80) lists opening hours of Monday to Saturday 4:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays and holidays 4:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.