Panama City vs Cartagena: which is sunnier?
🇵🇦 Panama vs 🇨🇴 Colombia · 451 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Cartagena is the sunnier overall: about 2,547 hours of sunshine a year to Panama City's 1,770. Cartagena has the higher Sunshine Score in 12 of 12 months — a clean sweep.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Panama City | Cartagena | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,770 | 2,547 |
| Sunniest month | February (87/100) | January (94/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 76/100 | 84/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 61/100 | 67/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,937 mm | 1,369 mm |
| Warmest sea | 30°C / 86°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Panama City vs Cartagena month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City | Cartagena | Panama City | Cartagena | Panama City | Cartagena | Panama City | Cartagena | |
| January | 85 | 94 | 29° | 29° | 20 | 2 | 28° | 29° |
| February | 87 | 93 | 30° | 30° | 9 | 3 | 26° | 29° |
| March | 86 | 92 | 31° | 30° | 18 | 10 | 27° | 29° |
| April | 69 | 83 | 31° | 30° | 107 | 60 | 28° | 30° |
| May | 61 | 66 | 30° | 30° | 245 | 178 | 30° | 30° |
| June | 61 | 69 | 29° | 30° | 253 | 135 | 30° | 30° |
| July | 61 | 66 | 29° | 30° | 204 | 160 | 30° | 30° |
| August | 61 | 66 | 29° | 30° | 220 | 160 | 30° | 30° |
| September | 61 | 66 | 29° | 29° | 245 | 182 | 30° | 31° |
| October | 61 | 66 | 29° | 29° | 260 | 242 | 30° | 30° |
| November | 61 | 66 | 29° | 29° | 248 | 181 | 29° | 30° |
| December | 69 | 84 | 29° | 29° | 108 | 56 | 29° | 30° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Cartagena · Feb Cartagena · Mar Cartagena · Apr Cartagena · May Cartagena · Jun Cartagena · Jul Cartagena · Aug Cartagena · Sep Cartagena · Oct Cartagena · Nov Cartagena · Dec Cartagena.
When to pick which
- November–February: Cartagena (average score 84/100 vs 76). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 29°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Cartagena (average score 80/100 vs 72). Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: Cartagena (average score 67/100 vs 61). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C).
- September–October: Cartagena (average score 66/100 vs 61). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 29°C).
Sea temperature
Cartagena's sea gets warmer: 31°C / 88°F at its peak vs 30°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Panama City all year, Cartagena all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Panama City weather by month · Cartagena weather by month · Best time to visit Colombia.
More comparisons: Panama City vs Montería · Panama City vs San Andrés · Cartagena vs Barranquilla · Cartagena vs Santa Marta · Cartagena vs Montería · all head-to-heads