Monthly Travel Dossier · January 2026/2027

Visiting Cartagena in January: Crowds, Weather & Prices

Planning a trip to Cartagena, Colombia in January? Here is the empirical 365-day intelligence covering thermal comfort, landmark queues, and accommodation rates.

Direct Answer Summary · Cartagena in January TripTiming Index: 62 / 100 (MODERATE)
Overall Suitability Score
62 / 100 (moderate)
Expected Climate & Rain
27°C · 11% Rain
Feels like 36°C · High Humid Heat
Tourist Density & Queues
Heavy Visitor Congestion
Space Score: 51/100
Hotel Room Rate Level
Standard Room Rates
Estimated ADR: ~$210/night
💡 Timing Arbitrage Insight: January in Cartagena experiences seasonal friction (Index: 62/100). If your dates are flexible, shifting your trip to February provides a +4 point increase in overall travel quality (66/100) with milder conditions and lower queues.
Open Interactive 365-Day Calendar for January → Book January Stays ↗ Check January Flights ↗

January 5-Pillar Intelligence Breakdown

TripTiming evaluates 5 independent dimensions for every day in January. Here is how Cartagena scores across all pillars:

Tranquility & Crowds (30%)
51/100
Heavy Visitor Congestion
Climate Comfort (30%)
68/100
27°C · 11% Rain
Urban Vitality (15%)
66/100
Cultural & Dining Pulse
Lodging Economics (15%)
67/100
Standard Room Rates
Safety & Municipal (10%)
46.2/100
Standard Municipal Safety

How January Compares to All 12 Months in Cartagena

Compare January against other seasons to identify the ideal trade-off between price, weather, and tranquility:

Month TripTiming Index Tier Daytime Temp Rain % Crowds Room Rates Action
👉 January (This Guide) 62 / 100 moderate 27°C 11% Heavy Visitor Congestion Standard Room Rates Current
February 66 / 100 favorable 28°C 7% Moderate Footfall Below-Average Rates View →
March 63 / 100 moderate 28°C 26% Moderate Footfall Below-Average Rates View →
April 60 / 100 moderate 28°C 62% Moderate Footfall Standard Room Rates View →
May 31 / 100 friction 28°C 74% Moderate Footfall Below-Average Rates View →
June 29 / 100 friction 27°C 83% Moderate Footfall Below-Average Rates View →
July 63 / 100 moderate 28°C 75% Low Density / Tranquil Standard Room Rates View →
August 35 / 100 friction 28°C 79% Moderate Footfall Standard Room Rates View →
September 66 / 100 favorable 28°C 88% Low Density / Tranquil Below-Average Rates View →
October 35 / 100 friction 27°C 81% Low Density / Tranquil Below-Average Rates View →
November 59 / 100 moderate 27°C 81% Heavy Visitor Congestion Standard Room Rates View →
December 59 / 100 moderate 27°C 31% Heavy Visitor Congestion Elevated Seasonal Rates View →

Landmark Crowding in Cartagena (January)

Avoid peak congestion bottlenecks at Cartagena's most frequented sights during your visit:

Ciudad Amurallada (Walled City) & Balconies

district
Peak Hours: 16:00 - 21:00 · Congestion: 1.5x

💡 Pro-Tip: Walk the 400-year-old stone ramparts at sunset; sip rum cocktails at Café del Mar.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

monument
Peak Hours: 09:00 - 13:00 · Congestion: 1.45x

💡 Pro-Tip: Greatest Spanish fortress built in the Americas; explore complex underground acoustic tunnels.

Getsemaní Bohemian Quarter & Plaza de la Trinidad

district
Peak Hours: 18:30 - 23:00 · Congestion: 1.4x

💡 Pro-Tip: Street murals, live street salsa music, and street food arepas con huevo.

Islas del Rosario (Archipelago Day Trip)

nature
Peak Hours: 10:00 - 15:30 · Congestion: 1.35x

💡 Pro-Tip: 45-minute speedboat ride to turquoise coral reefs and white sand beaches.

Explore All Months in Cartagena

January
62/100
February
66/100
March
63/100
April
60/100
May
31/100
June
29/100
July
63/100
August
35/100
September
66/100
October
35/100
November
59/100
December
59/100