Barranquilla vs Santa Marta: which is sunnier?
🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇨🇴 Colombia · 65 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santa Marta is the sunnier overall: about 2,935 hours of sunshine a year to Barranquilla's 2,640. Santa Marta has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months; the other 4 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Barranquilla | Santa Marta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,640 | 2,935 |
| Sunniest month | January (94/100) | January (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 86/100 | 90/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 72/100 | 81/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,127 mm | 848 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Barranquilla vs Santa Marta month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barranquilla | Santa Marta | Barranquilla | Santa Marta | Barranquilla | Santa Marta | Barranquilla | Santa Marta | |
| January | 94 | 96 | 30° | 32° | 2 | 2 | 28° | 29° |
| February | 94 | 96 | 30° | 32° | 2 | 2 | 28° | 29° |
| March | 93 | 95 | 30° | 32° | 6 | 7 | 28° | 30° |
| April | 88 | 91 | 30° | 32° | 38 | 30 | 28° | 30° |
| May | 67 | 75 | 30° | 32° | 151 | 114 | 30° | 31° |
| June | 74 | 81 | 30° | 32° | 111 | 83 | 30° | 31° |
| July | 72 | 82 | 30° | 32° | 120 | 79 | 30° | 31° |
| August | 71 | 79 | 30° | 32° | 129 | 96 | 30° | 31° |
| September | 67 | 73 | 30° | 31° | 168 | 130 | 31° | 31° |
| October | 67 | 69 | 30° | 30° | 220 | 175 | 31° | 31° |
| November | 68 | 77 | 29° | 30° | 143 | 104 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 88 | 92 | 30° | 31° | 37 | 26 | 29° | 30° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Santa Marta · May Santa Marta · Jun Santa Marta · Jul Santa Marta · Aug Santa Marta · Sep Santa Marta · Oct even · Nov Santa Marta · Dec Santa Marta.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santa Marta (average score 90/100 vs 86). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 31°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santa Marta (average score 87/100 vs 83). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- June–August: Santa Marta (average score 81/100 vs 72). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- September–October: Santa Marta (average score 71/100 vs 67). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 31°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Barranquilla all year, Santa Marta all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Barranquilla weather by month · Santa Marta weather by month · Best time to visit Colombia.
More comparisons: Barranquilla vs Cartagena · Barranquilla vs Montería · Barranquilla vs Valledupar · Santa Marta vs Cartagena · Santa Marta vs Valledupar · Santa Marta vs Riohacha · all head-to-heads