Maracaibo in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Maracaibo sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 38 mm of rain over about 8 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 33°C in early December to 35°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Maracaibo's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Maracaibo's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 38 mm
- 8 wet days
- Avg wind
- 14 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.4
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Maracaibo in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 33°C in early December to 35°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Maracaibo reaches about 34°C and drops to 25°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Maracaibo
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Maracaibo weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34° / 25° | 6 | 1.4 | 11.4 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 35° / 25° | 3 | 0.8 | 11.6 | 3.2 |
| Mar | 35° / 25° | 17 | 3.6 | 11.9 | 2.8 |
| Apr | 35° / 26° | 58 | 9.8 | 12.2 | 2.4 |
| May | 34° / 26° | 151 | 18.8 | 12.5 | 2.3 |
| Jun | 34° / 26° | 100 | 13.8 | 12.6 | 2.4 |
| Jul | 35° / 27° | 67 | 11.6 | 12.6 | 2.3 |
| Aug | 34° / 26° | 119 | 17.3 | 12.4 | 2.3 |
| Sep | 33° / 26° | 164 | 21.5 | 12.1 | 2.2 |
| Oct | 32° / 25° | 196 | 25.5 | 11.8 | 2.4 |
| Nov | 32° / 25° | 135 | 19 | 11.5 | 2.9 |
| Dec | 34° / 25° | 30 | 5.9 | 11.4 | 3.5 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Maracaibo gets around 38 mm of rain over 8 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 14 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Maracaibo
None of Maracaibo's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Maracaibo's rainy season runs August–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Maracaibo?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Maracaibo. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Maracaibo in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Maracaibo sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 8 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Maracaibo in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 27°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 26 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February near 26°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) | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | Warm |
| Feb | 26 | Warm |
| Mar | 27 | Warm |
| Apr | 27 | Warm |
| May | 28 | Tropical |
| Jun | 29 | Tropical |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 30 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Warm |
UV index in Maracaibo in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Maracaibo peaks around March 17 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 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 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 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 | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Maracaibo in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Maracaibo is worst in May — around 29 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (December, 11 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 15 | Moderate |
| Mar | 20 | Moderate |
| Apr | 25 | Moderate |
| May | 29 | Moderate |
| Jun | 28 | Moderate |
| Jul | 24 | Moderate |
| Aug | 20 | Moderate |
| Sep | 17 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 14 | Moderate |
| Dec | 11 | Good |
Where is Maracaibo?
Maracaibo sits at 10.6°N, 71.6°W, in Venezuela. The nearest listed city is Los Puertos de Altagracia, 13 km away.
Topography around Maracaibo
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Maracaibo.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Maracaibo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 54 m around an average of 14 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 92 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 759 m.
The land around Maracaibo is covered by artificial surfaces (66%) and water (31%) within 3 km, water (38%) and artificial surfaces (32%) within 16 km, and grassland (36%) and water (36%) within 80 km.
Venezuela travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 0% of US
- price level, 2011
- GDP per capita
- $3,495
- 2025
- Happiness
- 5.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 12.6
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 39
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 520
- 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 Maracaibo (10.6423°, -71.6109°), 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.