Riohacha vs Oranjestad: which is sunnier?
🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇦🇼 Aruba · 335 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Oranjestad is the sunnier overall: about 3,176 hours of sunshine a year to Riohacha's 2,757. Oranjestad has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months; the other 3 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Riohacha | Oranjestad | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,757 | 3,176 |
| Sunniest month | January (94/100) | March (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 87/100 | 89/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 81/100 | 93/100 |
| Rain / year | 931 mm | 455 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 30°C / 86°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Riohacha vs Oranjestad month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riohacha | Oranjestad | Riohacha | Oranjestad | Riohacha | Oranjestad | Riohacha | Oranjestad | |
| January | 94 | 93 | 29° | 27° | 4 | 29 | 28° | 27° |
| February | 94 | 95 | 29° | 27° | 4 | 15 | 29° | 27° |
| March | 93 | 96 | 30° | 27° | 13 | 10 | 29° | 27° |
| April | 89 | 96 | 30° | 28° | 34 | 11 | 29° | 27° |
| May | 72 | 94 | 31° | 28° | 126 | 21 | 31° | 28° |
| June | 79 | 94 | 31° | 28° | 89 | 21 | 31° | 28° |
| July | 85 | 93 | 31° | 28° | 55 | 26 | 30° | 28° |
| August | 79 | 93 | 31° | 29° | 87 | 27 | 31° | 29° |
| September | 70 | 89 | 31° | 29° | 140 | 51 | 31° | 30° |
| October | 68 | 81 | 30° | 29° | 213 | 94 | 31° | 30° |
| November | 72 | 81 | 30° | 29° | 124 | 90 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 88 | 87 | 29° | 28° | 42 | 60 | 29° | 28° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Oranjestad · Apr Oranjestad · May Oranjestad · Jun Oranjestad · Jul Oranjestad · Aug Oranjestad · Sep Oranjestad · Oct Oranjestad · Nov Oranjestad · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Riohacha averages 87/100, Oranjestad 89/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 28°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Oranjestad (average score 95/100 vs 85). Riohacha is the warmer, around 30°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- June–August: Oranjestad (average score 93/100 vs 81). Riohacha is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- September–October: Oranjestad (average score 85/100 vs 69). Riohacha is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
Sea temperature
Riohacha's sea gets warmer: 31°C / 88°F at its peak vs 30°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Riohacha all year, Oranjestad all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Riohacha weather by month · Oranjestad weather by month · Best time to visit Colombia.
More comparisons: Riohacha vs Barranquilla · Riohacha vs Santa Marta · Riohacha vs Valledupar · Oranjestad vs Willemstad · Oranjestad vs Kralendijk · all head-to-heads