December turns Cartagena into the Caribbean’s busiest city for a few weeks. The rainy season that soaks the coast through October and November finally lets go, the humidity drops a notch, and the walled city fills with Colombian families, Europeans escaping winter and a steady stream of weekend arrivals from Bogotá and Medellín. If we had to pick one month to see Cartagena at its most photogenic, this would be it. If we had to pick one month to see it cheaply, it would not.
This guide covers what December actually feels like on the ground: weather, costs, where to stay, what to book early and how to avoid the worst of the crowds. For the month that follows, see our Cartagena in January guide, and for the whole country in the same month, read Colombia in December.
December Weather in Cartagena
Expect daytime highs around 31°C, nights near 25°C and sea temperatures close to 28°C. November is typically the wettest month on the Caribbean coast; December is the turning point. The first week can still bring a short, heavy afternoon shower, but from mid-month the city settles into dry-season pattern: clear mornings, a few clouds, and a steady breeze off the sea in the afternoon. Humidity stays high (around 80 percent), so plan sightseeing for 8am to 11am and again after 4pm.
The trade winds strengthen through December and run into March. That is good news for the walled city, which is noticeably more comfortable than in September, and for kitesurfers heading along the coast. It is less good news for small-boat crossings: the Rosario Islands run can be choppy in the afternoon, so take the morning departure if you are prone to seasickness. For long-range weather checks, the national weather service IDEAM publishes forecasts at ideam.gov.co.
What Cartagena Feels Like at Christmas and New Year
The Old City is decorated through December, with lights strung around the Torre del Reloj and the main plazas, and restaurants and rooftop bars run festive menus. Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is a family night in Colombia, so some local restaurants close early on 24 and 25 December while hotel restaurants and the tourist-facing places in Getsemaní stay open. Book dinner for those two nights in advance.
New Year’s Eve is the biggest night. Rooftop parties at the walled city hotels, beach clubs on Bocagrande and Playa Blanca packages, and street parties in Getsemaní all sell out well before the date. Expect fireworks over the bay at midnight and noisy streets until dawn. If you want to sleep, book a room away from Plaza de la Trinidad, which is the unofficial centre of the Getsemaní party.
Hotel Prices in December 2026
December is when Cartagena’s hotels earn their year. All prices below are approximate nightly rates as of 2026 and rise further around 28 December to 2 January; check current rates before booking.
| Area | Typical property | Approximate rate in December |
|---|---|---|
| Getsemaní | Boutique hotel or guesthouse | USD 90 to 180 |
| Walled city | Mid-range boutique hotel | USD 160 to 300 |
| Walled city | Luxury, e.g. Sofitel Legend Santa Clara or Casa San Agustín | USD 400 to 800 and up |
| Getsemaní | Design hotel, e.g. Hotel Capellán de Getsemaní | USD 200 to 350 |
| Bocagrande and El Laguito | Beachfront tower apartments and hotels | USD 100 to 220 |
The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara is a converted 17th-century convent on Plaza San Diego with the largest pool in the historic centre, and Casa San Agustín is a boutique property assembled from three colonial buildings. Both sit at the top of the market. Hotel Capellán de Getsemaní is a boutique hotel just outside the walls with a rooftop pool. For a wider shortlist across budgets, see our best hotels in Cartagena page and the Cartagena accommodation overview.
Money-saving options: stay in Getsemaní rather than inside the walls (a ten-minute walk), travel before 20 December for noticeably lower rates, or choose Bocagrande for a beach-front apartment with a kitchen. A kitchen is useful when restaurants are fully booked.
What to Do in Cartagena in December
Walk the walled city early. The Old City is at its best between 7am and 10am, before the tour groups and the heat. Start at the Torre del Reloj, move through Plaza de los Coches and Plaza Santo Domingo, and finish on the city walls (Las Bóvedas to Baluarte de Santo Domingo) for sunset. Our Cartagena things to do page has the full route.
Go to the Rosario Islands. Day trips run most days in December and are among the first things to sell out. A boat day with lunch and snorkelling typically costs COP 180,000 to 300,000 per person as of 2026, plus a COP 30,000 to 40,000 national park fee on many tours. Book a guided Rosario Islands tour a week ahead in December and more for 27 December to 3 January. We cover options in detail in the Rosario Islands day trip guide.
Eat at the right places. Book La Cevichería for ceviche (mains around COP 45,000 to 70,000), Restaurante Interno for a Colombian lunch cooked by inmates of the city’s women’s prison (set menu around COP 60,000 to 80,000, reservations essential) and Getsemaní street food for arepas de huevo, which cost only a few thousand pesos. Our Cartagena restaurant guide has more.
Join a guided walking tour. A Cartagena walking tour in the cooler morning slot is the best way to cover the history, and many run in English and Spanish. Browse all Cartagena tours if you want a sailing sunset or a food tour instead.
Take a day beach trip. Playa Blanca on Barú island is crowded in December, so go on a weekday and arrive before 10am. Closer to town, the beaches of Bocagrande are free but busy. See our Cartagena beaches guide for alternatives.
Costs and Getting Around
Cartagena is compact. The Old City and Getsemaní are walkable, and taxis within the central zone cost roughly COP 10,000 to 15,000 for short rides. Airport (Rafael Núñez) to the walled city is around COP 20,000 to 30,000 by taxi as of 2026; agree the price or use a fixed-fare taxi booth. In December traffic on the Bocagrande road and around the Crespo airport approach can double journey times, so allow extra time for departures.
A comfortable mid-range day in December, excluding the hotel, costs around COP 350,000 to 550,000 per person (about USD 90 to 140) covering meals, local transport and one activity. Budget travellers can manage on COP 150,000 to 220,000 by eating set lunches (almuerzo corriente, COP 15,000 to 25,000) and walking everywhere.
Flights, Entry and Practical Tips
Domestic and international flights into Cartagena rise sharply in the second half of December. Book flights at least two to three months ahead for 20 December onwards and check flights to Colombia for fares. Review official entry and health information at the national tourism site colombia.travel before you go.
Practical tips for the festive season:
- Carry small bills; vendors and taxis rarely have change for COP 100,000 notes.
- Use sun protection and a refillable bottle. Even in the cooler morning the UV index is very high.
- Pack light, breathable clothes plus one long-sleeved layer for air-conditioned restaurants.
- Keep copies of your booking confirmations. Many hotels ask for proof of the festive minimum stay.
- Arrange travel insurance and an eSIM before you land so you can use ride-hailing and maps on arrival.
December Versus January
If you can choose, we would pick the first two weeks of December or the second half of January. Early December has lower prices and thinner crowds; late January adds the Hay Festival and reliably dry skies, as covered in our January guide. The 20 December to 5 January window is the most expensive and the most crowded, but also the most festive. For the wider picture, see the Cartagena city guide and our best time to visit Colombia page.
Plan Your Trip
Book hotels first, then boat tours, then restaurants for 24, 25 and 31 December. Find hotels in Cartagena while rates are still open, and add a Cartagena tour for a day when you want someone else to handle the logistics.