Barranquilla is hot year-round — temperatures hover between 28°C and 34°C (82–93°F) and the humidity is tropical. The dry season runs from December to April and is the most comfortable time to visit. The rainy season (May to November) brings afternoon downpours that clear the air temporarily but flood streets that weren't built for the volume.
February: Carnaval de Barranquilla is the overwhelming reason to visit at this time of year. The festival runs for four days before Ash Wednesday, but the city gets into the spirit a week or more before the official start. Hotels book up months in advance and prices rise sharply — plan early if you want to attend. The heat and the crowds are intense, but the experience is genuinely unlike anything else in South America. The main parades run along Vía 40; arriving early to get a spot along the barrier is worth the effort.
Outside Carnaval, Barranquilla is a functional, unpretentious city with no particular high or low season beyond climate. December and January are dry and slightly cooler, and the Christmas season brings its own street life and cumbia concerts. If you are combining Barranquilla with Cartagena, a two- or three-day stay is usually enough to cover the city's main sights.