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As the capital of Colombia, Bogotá is an exciting Latin American city you do not want to miss. Between the mild weather, the lively culture, and the friendly people, a few days in Bogotá is a non-negotiable on your trip to Colombia. Be sure to plan for a few days to check out the art of Botero, climb to the top of Monserrate, and eat in Chapinero! But don’t forget to plan accordingly… As any traveler knows, time of year can absolutely make or break a trip. When planning a trip to Colombia, you may want to take the weather into account as the country does have a rainy and dry season. Aside from the rain, though, the temperature is pretty constant! This can be a major pro if the timing of your trip isn’t flexible.
Keep reading to learn all about the weather, seasons, festivals, and what to pack for your trip to Bogotá!
Here’s a quick overview of the best times to visit Bogotá:
🌧 Rainy season: March – May, October, November; you may want to avoid
☀️ Dry season: December – February
🚦 Busy months: December – February, June – August; drier but lots of tourists!
✈️ Shoulder season: September, early March; the best of both worlds
🧳 What to pack (the short version): a rain jacket and comfy shoes
A little about Bogotá
Bogotá is the capital city of Colombia nestled in the Andes mountains. It is actually the third highest elevation capital in the world at 8,661 feet (2,640 meters)! Similar to the rest of Colombia, Bogotá has a storied past with corruption, violence, and drug trafficking but in recent decades has emerged as an awesome city for tourism. The history adds to the magic of this city knowing all it has overcome and continues to overcome!
This is authentic Colombia at its best. While many other cities like Medellín and Cartagena are no strangers to tourism, Bogotá is lower on the radar of many international travelers. But don’t let that keep you from visiting! You may not see quite as many tourists as other big cities in Colombia, but it is safe and lively. You’ll experience a wonderful taste of Colombian culture and art in the capital city.
The city of Bogotá has a population of about 8 million people. It’s huge! The official language spoken is Spanish and knowing a few phrases will take you far here. We found everyone to be very friendly and willing to help if we at least tried to speak with them! Check out how we enjoyed our day in Bogotá right over here.
Now that we have a little bit of background, let’s get into it. In this article, I’ll be sharing all about Bogotá weather, when to visit, and what to pack.
When to Visit
Let’s talk weather
Bogotá has a rather mild climate year-round. Thanks to its location in the Andes mountains, it never gets too hot. What you will experience, though, is humidity, plenty of rain, and a cool temperature. The temperature ranges from 44-66 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 13-15 degrees Celsius) and rarely drops below 37 degrees. There is a rainy season and a dry season with March, April, May, October and November being the rainiest months of the year. Want to avoid the rain as much as you can? July is the driest month in Bogotá with approximately 35 millimeters of rain. The city does experience 220 days of fog per year though, so there’s a good chance that even if it’s not raining you won’t have sunshine.
Long story short: prepare for cool weather, rain, and fog.
Rainy and dry seasons
There is truly no “bad” time to visit Bogotá as long as you know what to expect. If you want to avoid rain, shoot for December, January, and February. If you don’t mind a little rain, June, July, and August would be okay. You have the greatest chance of more rain in April, May, October and November.
However, as you can imagine, the driest months also have the most tourists. High season in Bogotá is late December through February and then again in June, July, and August. Low season is October and November as well as April through May. The sweet spot between less rain and less tourists is March or September.
Just because you visit in a popular month doesn’t mean you won’t be able to escape the tourists! We visited in June and truly only saw a handful of other tourists. It rained briefly on and off throughout the day and from my understanding, that’s pretty typical no matter if it’s rainy or dry season.
Is the only time you’re free to visit during the rainy season? Have no fear! It typically doesn’t rain ~all day every day~. Expect daily, frequent showers often in the afternoon but you’ll still have plenty of opportunity to explore!
Festivals and events
Aside from the weather, you may want to visit Bogotá during a special event. There are a few major events that tourists will specifically seek out:
Carnival de Bogotá is one of the biggest carnival festivals (aside from Rio de Janeiro, of course!) celebrating its Hispanic foundation. This is celebrated every August 5 & 6.
In September, plan your trip around the Bogota Wine and Food festival. What better way to learn about Colombia food and culture than a huge food & wine festival?!
In May, although it’s the rainiest month, it’s also the month that hosts the Baum festival. The Baum festival is huge for its celebration of discotheque.
What to pack for Bogotá
No matter what month you are visiting Bogotá, your packing list won’t change too much! Be prepared for rain, cooler nights, and fog. Oh, and lots of walking around the city, of course! Early spring and autumn outfits are your inspiration for this high altitude city.
Packing tips:
- Don’t forget your rain jacket!!! Here’s my favorite one for anytime and here’s one that’s a bit more ~fashionable~
- Comfortable yet cute shoes
- Layers. If the sun comes out, it can feel warm but it can change in an instant! I love this Athleta lightweight sweatshirt, this pullover, and this jacket
- Waterproof backpack to carry all your gear
- The most durable suitcase for dragging along all those cobblestone and bumpy sidewalks
- Stretchy, comfy jeans
The electrical outlets are the same as in the US, so if you’re traveling from here you won’t need a converter of any type.
Safety tips
Bogotá is absolutely a safe city for tourists to visit, but just like any city in Latin America or the world… It’s a large city and you need to take precautions. I’m sure you’ve heard it before but I’ll belabor the point here.
- Avoid La Candelaria at night. It’s not quite as “upscale” as the Zona Rosa or Chapinero neighborhoods and is often a hot spot for petty crime at night.
- Be mindful of how much you drink and never leave your drink unattended.
- Carry your phone in your FRONT jeans pocket and don’t walk around with it in your hand.
- Leave expensive jewelry at home.
- Avoid hailing taxis if you can and ask for your hotel/hostel to call one for you. If you do need to hail one, make sure it’s marked and metered.
- Stick to touristy neighborhoods. La Candelaria (in the day), Chapinero, Usaquen, Zona Rosa, and many of the neighborhoods in the northern portion of the city are safe to wander. Going south of La Candelaria isn’t recommended.
My final tip isn’t so much of a safety tip but something to be aware of. Uber is widely used in Bogotá but your driver may ask you to sit in the front. Uber isn’t “illegal” but the company isn’t liked by taxi drivers or the government due to competition and regulation rules. The app will work and is very quick and cheap but isn’t approved by authorities. To look less suspicious, drivers will have you sit in the front. You also won’t be able to get a pick up from the arrivals section of the airport because police are cracking down at the airports. You can get an Uber from the airport, you’ll just have to walk out towards the highway.
Beat is another app that is widely used in the city. Honestly, taxis were pretty cheap and as long as it was marked, we had meters and a good experience.
Final thoughts
When planning your trip, there’s really no “bad” time to visit but the best time to visit Bogotá depends on what you are looking for! Weather is pretty consistent with some rainier times of the year. If you want to avoid the most rain, avoid the rainy season. If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to go in the shoulder seasons in late spring and early fall. And don’t forget to check out if there are any festivals or events you want to check out during your trip to Bogotá! However, if you are limited by a work schedule or traveling for an event, you’ll still have a great time. The most important thing is that you make it to this beautiful, unique, and vibrant city! Best time to go? Whenever you can make it!
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