Best Time to Visit Cali

Two wet seasons, two drier spells

Cali sits close to the equator, so temperature barely changes. It's warm all year, with highs around 30°C and mild nights. What changes is the rain. You get two wetter stretches, April to May and October to November, and two drier ones, December to February and June to September.

The wet months aren't all-day downpours, but the rain falls on about 21 days in April, October and November. Afternoons often turn grey and humid, and the streets of San Antonio and Granada can flood briefly. Even the "dry" months stay cloudy and muggy, so don't expect a sunburnt desert.

Which month for which trip

July to September is the best stretch. August is the driest month, with 43 mm of rain, and July is close behind at 48 mm. Evenings are comfortable for walking up to the Tres Cruces viewpoint or along the Río Cali. It's also a good window for day trips to the cool hills of Dagua and the Farallones de Cali, where trails are less muddy.

Come in January if you want a fair-weather break from the rain. February is wetter than you might expect, at 80 mm. If you mostly want salsa clubs, food and museums, the rain matters less. Duck into a bar on Avenida Sexta or a *champús* stall (a sweet corn and fruit drink) and wait it out.

Planning a trip to the Pacific coast? That's a separate climate and a much wetter one, so check before you combine them.

Crowds and events

Cali isn't a big overseas tourist town, so crowds are mostly Colombians on holiday. Expect fuller hotels in late December, around Semana Santa (Easter week) and in the mid-year school break of June and July. Outside those weeks it's usually easy to find a room.

The big event is the Feria de Cali, held from December 25 to 30. It brings concerts, parades and the Salsódromo, a street parade of dancers. It's lively and loud, and it falls in a month that's still fairly wet, so bring a poncho. In August, the Petronio Álvarez Festival fills the city with Afro-Pacific music, food and dance. It's a great reason to visit in the best weather of the year.

If you hate crowds and don't mind drizzle, April, May or November are the quietest. Just keep your plans flexible.