Cartagena vs Santa Marta: which is sunnier?
🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇨🇴 Colombia · 159 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 Cartagena's 2,547. Santa Marta has the higher Sunshine Score in 11 of 12 months; the other 1 is within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Cartagena | Santa Marta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,547 | 2,935 |
| Sunniest month | January (94/100) | January (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 84/100 | 90/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 67/100 | 81/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,369 mm | 848 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Cartagena vs Santa Marta month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartagena | Santa Marta | Cartagena | Santa Marta | Cartagena | Santa Marta | Cartagena | Santa Marta | |
| January | 94 | 96 | 29° | 32° | 2 | 2 | 29° | 29° |
| February | 93 | 96 | 30° | 32° | 3 | 2 | 29° | 29° |
| March | 92 | 95 | 30° | 32° | 10 | 7 | 29° | 30° |
| April | 83 | 91 | 30° | 32° | 60 | 30 | 30° | 30° |
| May | 66 | 75 | 30° | 32° | 178 | 114 | 30° | 31° |
| June | 69 | 81 | 30° | 32° | 135 | 83 | 30° | 31° |
| July | 66 | 82 | 30° | 32° | 160 | 79 | 30° | 31° |
| August | 66 | 79 | 30° | 32° | 160 | 96 | 30° | 31° |
| September | 66 | 73 | 29° | 31° | 182 | 130 | 31° | 31° |
| October | 66 | 69 | 29° | 30° | 242 | 175 | 30° | 31° |
| November | 66 | 77 | 29° | 30° | 181 | 104 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 84 | 92 | 29° | 31° | 56 | 26 | 30° | 30° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Santa Marta · Mar Santa Marta · Apr Santa Marta · May Santa Marta · Jun Santa Marta · Jul Santa Marta · Aug Santa Marta · Sep Santa Marta · Oct Santa Marta · Nov Santa Marta · Dec Santa Marta.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santa Marta (average score 90/100 vs 84). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 29°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santa Marta (average score 87/100 vs 80). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- June–August: Santa Marta (average score 81/100 vs 67). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- September–October: Santa Marta (average score 71/100 vs 66). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Cartagena all year, Santa Marta all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Cartagena weather by month · Santa Marta weather by month · Best time to visit Colombia.
More comparisons: Cartagena vs Barranquilla · Cartagena vs Panama City · Cartagena vs Montería · Santa Marta vs Barranquilla · Santa Marta vs Valledupar · Santa Marta vs Riohacha · all head-to-heads