Santa Marta weather in March
In March, Santa Marta sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 5 mm of rain across 1.1 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Santa Marta's 3rd-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Santa Marta's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 26°
- 10th warmest
- Overnight low
- 25°
- 3rd coldest
- Rainfall
- 5 mm
- 1.1 wet days
- Daylight
- 11 h 54 min
- 6:09 AM – 6:04 PM
- Cloud cover
- 41%
- 3rd clearest
- Wind
- 33 km/h
- 3rd windiest
- Solar energy
- 6.37 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 8.3
- out of 10
Santa Marta is capital of the Colombian department of Magdalena.
- Air quality
- Moderate
- PM2.5 13 µg/m³ · 2018
- Density
- 1,700/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1525
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in March
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.
A typical March day in Santa Marta reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and on par with April.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Avg low (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 25 |
| 2 | 26 | 25 |
| 3 | 26 | 25 |
| 4 | 26 | 25 |
| 5 | 26 | 25 |
| 6 | 26 | 25 |
| 7 | 26 | 25 |
| 8 | 26 | 25 |
| 9 | 26 | 25 |
| 10 | 26 | 25 |
| 11 | 26 | 25 |
| 12 | 26 | 25 |
| 13 | 26 | 25 |
| 14 | 26 | 25 |
| 15 | 26 | 25 |
| 16 | 26 | 25 |
| 17 | 26 | 25 |
| 18 | 26 | 25 |
| 19 | 26 | 25 |
| 20 | 26 | 25 |
| 21 | 26 | 25 |
| 22 | 26 | 25 |
| 23 | 26 | 25 |
| 24 | 26 | 25 |
| 25 | 26 | 25 |
| 26 | 26 | 25 |
| 27 | 26 | 25 |
| 28 | 26 | 25 |
| 29 | 26 | 25 |
| 30 | 26 | 25 |
| 31 | 26 | 25 |
Santa Marta weather by month
How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 25° | 4 | 0.3 | 11.4 | 8.7 |
| Feb | 26° / 25° | 3 | 0.6 | 11.6 | 8.7 |
| Mar | 26° / 25° | 5 | 1.1 | 11.9 | 8.3 |
| Apr | 27° / 26° | 33 | 3.3 | 12.2 | 7.3 |
| May | 27° / 26° | 129 | 10.9 | 12.5 | 5.9 |
| Jun | 28° / 26° | 95 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 5.8 |
| Jul | 28° / 26° | 78 | 8.4 | 12.6 | 6.2 |
| Aug | 28° / 26° | 84 | 11.9 | 12.4 | 5.7 |
| Sep | 28° / 26° | 140 | 16.4 | 12.1 | 5.0 |
| Oct | 27° / 26° | 199 | 19.8 | 11.7 | 4.8 |
| Nov | 27° / 26° | 129 | 12.1 | 11.5 | 6.0 |
| Dec | 27° / 26° | 22 | 2.7 | 11.4 | 7.9 |
Cloud cover in March
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in March.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 31%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 79 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 56 | 55 |
| Cloudier (%) | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 44 | 45 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79 | 21 |
| 2 | 78 | 22 |
| 3 | 78 | 22 |
| 4 | 78 | 22 |
| 5 | 76 | 24 |
| 6 | 76 | 24 |
| 7 | 76 | 24 |
| 8 | 75 | 25 |
| 9 | 75 | 25 |
| 10 | 74 | 26 |
| 11 | 74 | 26 |
| 12 | 73 | 27 |
| 13 | 72 | 28 |
| 14 | 72 | 28 |
| 15 | 70 | 30 |
| 16 | 69 | 31 |
| 17 | 68 | 32 |
| 18 | 68 | 32 |
| 19 | 67 | 33 |
| 20 | 66 | 34 |
| 21 | 65 | 35 |
| 22 | 64 | 36 |
| 23 | 63 | 37 |
| 24 | 62 | 38 |
| 25 | 62 | 38 |
| 26 | 60 | 40 |
| 27 | 59 | 41 |
| 28 | 58 | 42 |
| 29 | 58 | 42 |
| 30 | 56 | 44 |
| 31 | 55 | 45 |
Chance of precipitation in March
Santa Marta gets around 5 mm of rain over 1.1 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 3% and peaks near 4% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 3 |
| 8 | 3 |
| 9 | 3 |
| 10 | 3 |
| 11 | 3 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 3 |
| 14 | 4 |
| 15 | 4 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 4 |
| 18 | 4 |
| 19 | 4 |
| 20 | 4 |
| 21 | 4 |
| 22 | 4 |
| 23 | 4 |
| 24 | 4 |
| 25 | 4 |
| 26 | 4 |
| 27 | 3 |
| 28 | 3 |
| 29 | 3 |
| 30 | 3 |
| 31 | 3 |
Humidity in March
Most of March feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 93% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muggy (%) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oppressive (%) | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 94 | 94 | 95 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 97 | 96 | 96 | 97 | 97 | 96 | 96 | 95 |
| Miserable (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | Miserable (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 2 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 3 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 4 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 5 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 6 | 10 | 89 | 1 |
| 7 | 9 | 89 | 2 |
| 8 | 9 | 89 | 2 |
| 9 | 8 | 90 | 2 |
| 10 | 8 | 90 | 2 |
| 11 | 7 | 91 | 2 |
| 12 | 7 | 91 | 2 |
| 13 | 6 | 92 | 2 |
| 14 | 6 | 92 | 2 |
| 15 | 5 | 93 | 2 |
| 16 | 5 | 93 | 2 |
| 17 | 5 | 93 | 2 |
| 18 | 4 | 94 | 2 |
| 19 | 4 | 94 | 2 |
| 20 | 3 | 95 | 2 |
| 21 | 3 | 95 | 2 |
| 22 | 2 | 96 | 2 |
| 23 | 2 | 97 | 1 |
| 24 | 2 | 97 | 1 |
| 25 | 2 | 96 | 2 |
| 26 | 2 | 96 | 2 |
| 27 | 1 | 97 | 2 |
| 28 | 1 | 97 | 2 |
| 29 | 1 | 96 | 3 |
| 30 | 1 | 96 | 3 |
| 31 | 1 | 95 | 4 |
Wind in March
Winds average 33 km/h in March.
Across March, daily wind ranges from about 30 km/h on the calmest days to 35 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Feels | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy | windy |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | windy |
| 2 | 35 | windy |
| 3 | 35 | windy |
| 4 | 35 | windy |
| 5 | 34 | windy |
| 6 | 34 | windy |
| 7 | 34 | windy |
| 8 | 34 | windy |
| 9 | 34 | windy |
| 10 | 34 | windy |
| 11 | 34 | windy |
| 12 | 33 | windy |
| 13 | 33 | windy |
| 14 | 33 | windy |
| 15 | 33 | windy |
| 16 | 33 | windy |
| 17 | 32 | windy |
| 18 | 32 | windy |
| 19 | 32 | windy |
| 20 | 32 | windy |
| 21 | 31 | windy |
| 22 | 31 | windy |
| 23 | 31 | windy |
| 24 | 31 | windy |
| 25 | 31 | windy |
| 26 | 31 | windy |
| 27 | 31 | windy |
| 28 | 30 | windy |
| 29 | 30 | windy |
| 30 | 30 | windy |
| 31 | 30 | windy |
Sunrise & sunset in March
Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 18 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:17 AM to 5:59 AM, and sunset from 6:03 PM to 6:04 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:17 | 6:17 | 6:16 | 6:16 | 6:15 | 6:14 | 6:14 | 6:13 | 6:13 | 6:12 | 6:12 | 6:11 | 6:11 | 6:10 | 6:09 | 6:09 | 6:08 | 6:08 | 6:07 | 6:06 | 6:06 | 6:05 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:03 | 6:02 | 6:02 | 6:01 | 6:01 | 6:00 | 5:59 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:03 | 6:03 | 6:03 | 6:03 | 6:03 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 | 6:04 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.8 | 6:17 | 6:03 |
| 2 | 11.8 | 6:17 | 6:03 |
| 3 | 11.8 | 6:16 | 6:03 |
| 4 | 11.8 | 6:16 | 6:03 |
| 5 | 11.8 | 6:15 | 6:03 |
| 6 | 11.8 | 6:14 | 6:04 |
| 7 | 11.8 | 6:14 | 6:04 |
| 8 | 11.8 | 6:13 | 6:04 |
| 9 | 11.8 | 6:13 | 6:04 |
| 10 | 11.9 | 6:12 | 6:04 |
| 11 | 11.9 | 6:12 | 6:04 |
| 12 | 11.9 | 6:11 | 6:04 |
| 13 | 11.9 | 6:11 | 6:04 |
| 14 | 11.9 | 6:10 | 6:04 |
| 15 | 11.9 | 6:09 | 6:04 |
| 16 | 11.9 | 6:09 | 6:04 |
| 17 | 11.9 | 6:08 | 6:04 |
| 18 | 11.9 | 6:08 | 6:04 |
| 19 | 12.0 | 6:07 | 6:04 |
| 20 | 12.0 | 6:06 | 6:04 |
| 21 | 12.0 | 6:06 | 6:04 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 6:05 | 6:04 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 6:04 | 6:04 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 6:04 | 6:04 |
| 25 | 12.0 | 6:03 | 6:04 |
| 26 | 12.0 | 6:02 | 6:04 |
| 27 | 12.0 | 6:02 | 6:04 |
| 28 | 12.1 | 6:01 | 6:04 |
| 29 | 12.1 | 6:01 | 6:04 |
| 30 | 12.1 | 6:00 | 6:04 |
| 31 | 12.1 | 5:59 | 6:04 |
Solar energy in March
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.37 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.84 kWh/m² to a high of 6.37 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 6.37 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 2 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 3 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 4 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 5 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 6 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 7 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 8 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 9 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 10 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 11 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 12 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 13 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 14 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 15 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 16 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 17 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 18 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 19 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 20 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 21 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 22 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 23 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 24 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 25 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 26 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 27 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 28 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 29 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 30 | 6.4 | Intense |
| 31 | 6.4 | Intense |
Hazard calendar for Santa Marta
None of Santa Marta's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.
Santa Marta sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Santa Marta's monsoon runs September–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is March a good time to visit Santa Marta?
Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
March is one of the better times to visit Santa Marta for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Santa Marta in March
From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In March, Santa Marta sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Pack sun protection and a windbreaker. Worth having: light clothes.
Sea temperature near Santa Marta in March
The nearest coast averages about 26°C in March — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 17 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 25°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | Warm |
| Feb | 25 | Warm |
| Mar | 26 | Warm |
| Apr | 26 | Warm |
| May | 28 | Warm |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 28 | Warm |
| Aug | 28 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Tropical |
| Dec | 27 | Warm |
UV index in Santa Marta in March
Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santa Marta peaks around April 11 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 12 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Santa Marta in March
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Santa Marta is worst in June — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Santa Marta's WHO annual average of 13 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Good |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 16 | Moderate |
| May | 17 | Moderate |
| Jun | 19 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Santa Marta?
Santa Marta sits at 11.2°N, 74.2°W, 14 m above sea level, in Colombia. The nearest listed city is Ciénaga, 26 km away.
Topography around Santa Marta
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Santa Marta.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Santa Marta has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 299 m around an average of 36 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,745 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,612 m.
The land around Santa Marta is covered by artificial surfaces (58%) within 3 km, water (50%) and trees (38%) within 16 km, and water (48%) and trees (33%) within 80 km.
Colombia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 / 240 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 38% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $8,562
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 74%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 24.9
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 15.4
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 480
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Santa Marta (11.2386°, -74.1943°, elevation 14 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).