Santa Marta vs Riohacha: which is sunnier?
🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇨🇴 Colombia · 149 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 Riohacha's 2,757. Santa Marta has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months, Riohacha in 1 (7 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Santa Marta | Riohacha | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,935 | 2,757 |
| Sunniest month | January (96/100) | January (94/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 90/100 | 87/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 81/100 | 81/100 |
| Rain / year | 848 mm | 931 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 12 (extreme) | 11 (extreme) |
Santa Marta vs Riohacha month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Marta | Riohacha | Santa Marta | Riohacha | Santa Marta | Riohacha | Santa Marta | Riohacha | |
| January | 96 | 94 | 32° | 29° | 2 | 4 | 29° | 28° |
| February | 96 | 94 | 32° | 29° | 2 | 4 | 29° | 29° |
| March | 95 | 93 | 32° | 30° | 7 | 13 | 30° | 29° |
| April | 91 | 89 | 32° | 30° | 30 | 34 | 30° | 29° |
| May | 75 | 72 | 32° | 31° | 114 | 126 | 31° | 31° |
| June | 81 | 79 | 32° | 31° | 83 | 89 | 31° | 31° |
| July | 82 | 85 | 32° | 31° | 79 | 55 | 31° | 30° |
| August | 79 | 79 | 32° | 31° | 96 | 87 | 31° | 31° |
| September | 73 | 70 | 31° | 31° | 130 | 140 | 31° | 31° |
| October | 69 | 68 | 30° | 30° | 175 | 213 | 31° | 31° |
| November | 77 | 72 | 30° | 30° | 104 | 124 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 92 | 88 | 31° | 29° | 26 | 42 | 30° | 29° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May Santa Marta · Jun even · Jul Riohacha · Aug even · Sep Santa Marta · Oct even · Nov Santa Marta · Dec Santa Marta.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santa Marta (average score 90/100 vs 87). Santa Marta is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 29°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Santa Marta averages 87/100, Riohacha 85/100. Santa Marta is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Santa Marta averages 81/100, Riohacha 81/100. Daytime highs are similar (32°C vs 31°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Santa Marta averages 71/100, Riohacha 69/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Santa Marta all year, Riohacha all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Santa Marta weather by month · Riohacha weather by month · Best time to visit Colombia.
More comparisons: Santa Marta vs Barranquilla · Santa Marta vs Cartagena · Santa Marta vs Valledupar · Riohacha vs Barranquilla · Riohacha vs Valledupar · Riohacha vs Oranjestad · all head-to-heads