Travel time: Year-round
Medellín is famously known as the City of Eternal Spring (La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera). Located at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in the Andes' Aburrá Valley, its climate is classified as a tropical rainforest climate that borders on subtropical highland. This height tempers the equatorial heat, resulting in remarkably stable temperatures year-round that typically oscillate between 17°C (63°F) at night and 28°C (82°F) during the day.
The weather in Medellín follows a highly predictable daily cycle. Mornings are typically clear and bright, with the sun quickly warming the valley air. By mid-afternoon, clouds often build up over the surrounding peaks, frequently resulting in short, intense tropical downpours. These rains are usually brief, lasting one to two hours, and are often followed by a rapid return of sunlight or a pleasant, clear evening. The air maintains a consistent freshness, rarely feeling oppressive despite the tropical latitude.
In Medellín, "seasons" are defined by rainfall rather than temperature changes. The city experiences two wet and two dry cycles annually:
Geography plays a massive role in what you will experience. The valley floor, including neighborhoods like Laureles and El Centro, tends to be the warmest point of the city. As you move up the slopes into areas like El Poblado, Envigado, or Sabaneta, temperatures can drop by 2°C to 5°C.
Higher still, in mountain townships like Santa Elena (2,500 meters), the climate shifts dramatically; it is significantly cooler, misty, and more prone to persistent fog. Locals often travel to these higher elevations for a "cold weather" experience or to the lower, nearby towns like Santa Fe de Antioquia to seek intense tropical heat.
While Medellín’s climate is stable, it is highly sensitive to the El Niño and La Niña cycles. El Niño can lead to prolonged dry spells and record highs—the city’s all-time high hit 38°C (100.4°F)—while La Niña intensifies the wet seasons, increasing the risk of landslides on the steep valley walls.
To combat the "urban heat island effect" caused by rapid urbanization, the city has implemented a revolutionary Green Corridors project. By planting millions of trees and plants along major thoroughfares and waterways, Medellín has successfully lowered average temperatures in some urban sectors by up to 2°C, enhancing the "fresh" feel that the city is known for.
Beyond the thermometer, Medellín’s weather feels invigorating. Because the humidity is moderate (averaging 65–70%) and there is almost always a gentle mountain breeze flowing through the valley, the heat rarely feels "sticky" like coastal Colombia. The UV index is consistently extreme due to the altitude and equatorial position, meaning the sun feels much stronger on the skin than the air temperature might suggest. Evenings are famously "spring-like," perfect for open-air dining as the valley air cools into a crisp, comfortable range.