Sunset Time in Santa Marta Today
Santa Marta, Colombia
Forecast updated:
Cloud on the horizon does not move the astronomical sunset time — it can hide the sun a few minutes early, but it often produces the most dramatic colors.
Conditions can shift — arrive 30 minutes early for the best experience.
Pair with golden hour or moon visibility for complete planning.
Forecast accuracy is highest within the next 1–3 days.
Sunset & Daylight Patterns Specific to Santa Marta
Santa Marta sits at 11.2° N in the tropical zone. It is autumn there now, and the sun currently spends 12 hours above the horizon each day.
Sunsets are latest in June around the summer solstice and earliest in December. Near the solstices, the sunset time barely shifts day to day; near the equinoxes (March, September), it moves up to 2 minutes per day. Day length barely moves in Santa Marta: 12.8 hours at the longest and 11.5 at the shortest, a swing of well under two hours. Planning here is about rain and cloud timing, not about racing the light.
Golden hour in Santa Marta lasts about 41 minutes today, with civil twilight adding a further 21 minutes of usable blue-hour light after sunset.
The most photogenic sunset conditions in Santa Marta come in January, February, March, when the atmosphere is clearest and high-pressure systems push cloud layers away from the western horizon. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the world's highest coastal mountain range — you can see snow-capped peaks at 5,775m from sea-level beaches just 42km away.
Civil twilight at Santa Marta's latitude lasts approximately 21 minutes after the sun drops below the horizon — this is the "blue hour" window of soft, diffused light that photographers prize above all others. At 11.2°, this window is brief, making precise timing critical — the sky transitions from golden to dark in under half an hour.
City-specific facts for Santa Marta
- •Latitude: 11.2° N — longest days in June, shortest in December
- •Summer daylight: ~12.8h | Winter daylight: ~11.5h — a 1.3-hour annual swing
- •Civil twilight (blue hour) duration: ~21 minutes post-sunset
- •Prime sunset colour months: January, February, March
- •Hemisphere: northern — sunset moves northward in summer, altering composition angles significantly
- •Local season right now: autumn (northern hemisphere)
- •Daylight today: 12 h — annual range 11.5–12.8 h
- •Solar regime today: normal sunrise/sunset cycle
Sun & Moon Times in Santa Marta
Sunset timing in Santa Marta is driven by latitude and season. We apply atmospheric refraction corrections for accuracy within one minute. Golden hour begins roughly 60 minutes before sunset — the most valuable window for photography, outdoor dining, and evening walks.
Sunset in Santa Marta shifts by several minutes each week. Summer evenings are longest, winter sunsets arrive earliest. Cloud cover near the horizon does not change the sunset time itself, though it can hide the sun a few minutes early and often produces the most dramatic color displays.
For the best sunset experience, arrive at your viewing spot 30 minutes before the listed time. Conditions can shift — check again on the day itself.
Sunrise & Sunset Guide for Santa Marta in October
Santa Marta sits beneath the world's highest coastal mountain range, creating a dramatic climate gradient — from tropical beach to glacier in 50km. The dry season brings steady northeast trade winds and clear skies. Tayrona National Park is best visited in low-rain months.
October brings shorter days and earlier sunsets to Santa Marta, with temperatures around 24-32°C. While the days are shorter, they can produce some of the most dramatic sunset displays of the year. Cloud cover, common during this period, creates dynamic skies that scatter sunlight into vivid purples, pinks, and deep oranges that clear-sky months rarely match.
☀️ Daylight & Day Length
Shorter days in October mean you need to plan outdoor activities more carefully around available daylight. Sunrise comes later and sunset arrives earlier, concentrating your outdoor window. However, the lower sun angle means golden hour light lasts longer relative to the day length, and shadows are more dramatic — a hidden advantage for photographers and anyone who appreciates beautiful light.
📋 Planning Around Sunset
With limited daylight during October, start outdoor activities early to maximize your time. Plan indoor alternatives (museums, cafés, galleries) for afternoons when light fades. Evening events will happen after dark — bring warm layers and embrace Santa Marta's atmospheric nighttime charm. Sunset-watching is still rewarding, but dress warmly and check the cloud forecast.
Photography at Sunrise & Sunset
Overcast skies in Santa Marta during October create soft, even lighting all day — perfect for portraits and street photography without harsh shadows. For sunset shots, watch for breaks in the western sky; when the sun drops below the cloud layer, it illuminates clouds from beneath, creating vivid, unpredictable colors. Wet streets and reflections add a unique dimension to evening shots.
Seasonal Sun Patterns in Santa Marta
☀️ Longest Days
January, February, March — these months bring the latest sunsets and longest daylight hours in Santa Marta. Expect extended evenings perfect for outdoor dining, sunset walks, and golden hour photography. The warmest temperatures (26-34°C) coincide with the longest days.
🌙 Shortest Days
September, October, November — earlier sunsets and shorter daylight hours define this period in Santa Marta. Temperatures drop to around 24-32°C. Plan outdoor activities around midday when the sun is highest. The dramatic low-angle light creates stunning photography opportunities despite the shorter window.
📍 Local Weather Insight
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the world's highest coastal mountain range — you can see snow-capped peaks at 5,775m from sea-level beaches just 42km away.
Local Tips for Santa Marta
Tayrona Park closes for maintenance in February — check dates
The Lost City trek requires 4-6 days — avoid rainy season
Minca in the mountains is 10°C cooler than the beach
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When Sunset Viewing Is Not Worth It in Santa Marta
- •Fully overcast skies — thick cloud cover blocks the sun entirely, producing a flat grey horizon with no color variation.
- •Heavy rain or thunderstorms — unsafe conditions and zero visibility of the sun. Check the rain forecast for Santa Marta.
- •Dense smog or haze — obscures the horizon line and reduces color saturation, making sunset appear washed out.
- •West-blocked viewpoints — buildings, mountains, or trees blocking the western horizon will cut off sunset 10–30 minutes early.
What Determines Sunset Time?
Sunset time in Santa Marta is determined by the city's latitude, longitude, and the time of year. During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to take a longer path across the sky, resulting in later sunsets. In winter, the opposite occurs — shorter days mean earlier sunsets. Near the equinoxes (March and September), sunset times change most rapidly, shifting by 2–3 minutes per day. At Santa Marta's latitude, the difference between the earliest and latest sunset can be several hours across the year. Our daily calculations use precise astronomical data to give you the exact sunset time accurate to the minute.
Did you know? Sunset in Santa Marta shifts by up to 3 minutes per day near the equinoxes — timing matters more than you think.
Planning to watch the sunset in Santa Marta?
Local Astronomy Profile · Santa Marta
Tropical latitude (11.2°) — sun passes nearly overhead twice a year.
- Longest day
- 12 h 40 min
- Shortest day
- 11 h 20 min
- Sunset shifts by
- 0.2 min/day on average
- Civil twilight extends
- roughly 25–35 min after sunset
Latest possible sunset of the year (June solstice).
Earliest possible sunset of the year (December solstice).
Average daily sunset drift between the two solstices — peaks near the equinoxes.
Civil twilight is the usable shooting window after the sun is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is sunset in Santa Marta today?
Today's sunset time for Santa Marta is shown above and updates daily. Sunset times shift throughout the year based on Santa Marta's latitude and the Earth's axial tilt. Summer sunsets are later, winter sunsets are earlier.
When is golden hour in Santa Marta?
Golden hour in Santa Marta begins approximately 1 hour before sunset and ends at sunset. The exact timing is displayed above. Morning golden hour starts at sunrise and lasts about 1 hour.
How long is the day in Santa Marta?
Day length in Santa Marta varies by season. Today's exact day length is shown above. At mid-latitudes, this ranges from about 8 hours in winter to 16+ hours in summer.
Is the moon visible tonight in Santa Marta?
Moon visibility depends on the current phase and cloud cover. Tonight's moon phase and illumination percentage for Santa Marta are shown above. A higher illumination percentage means a brighter, more visible moon.
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