San Andrés is warm year-round (average temperature twenty-eight degrees Celsius with little seasonal variation), but the wind and rain patterns create two distinct seasons that meaningfully affect what the photography looks like.
December to April: Dry and Clear
The dry season from December to April coincides with the Caribbean trade wind season. The winds are consistent from the north-east, which keeps the sea surface on the leeward side of the island (the western and southern shores) calm and clear. Rocky Cay and La Piscinita are both on the leeward side and are at their best in this period. Johnny Cay, on the north side of the main island, is more exposed and the crossing can be rough in strong trade wind periods, but a calm morning window is usually available.
The water clarity in the dry season is at its peak. The trade winds suppress the mixing of offshore sediment into the coastal water and the coral reef's natural filtration is at its most effective. The Sea of Seven Colors is most vivid in this period.
May to November: Wetter but Not Impossible
The wet season brings more frequent afternoon rain and larger Atlantic swells. The boat crossings are less reliable and the Rocky Cay sandbar spends more time submerged as the tide pattern shifts. Photography is not impossible in the wet season but requires more weather flexibility. The upside of the wet season is fewer tourists: San Andrés in July and August, at the peak of the Colombian holiday season, can be crowded; visiting in October gives the island at its quietest.
January as the Best Single Month
January gives the best combination of conditions: fully in the dry season, before the peak Colombian holiday traffic of December has wound down, with long daylight hours and the clearest water of the year. February and March are equally good. December is reliable but the pre-Christmas Colombian holiday travel creates more crowd pressure on the island's beaches and boats.
Destination Wedding Photographer
Vancouver · Medellín · Worldwide
