Abstract La Guajira upwelling system has shown a moderate cooling (∼−0.05°C dec −1 ) over the period 1982–2014 for the months with strong upwelling (JFM). This contrasts with the general warming observed for most of the Caribbean region (∼0.25°C dec −1 ) over the same period. Cooling is in good agreement with the upwelling increase (∼0.04 m 2 s −1 dec −1 ) observed in the region during winter months, although the position of the peaks in upwelling and SST trends does not coincide exactly due to the presence of the Caribbean Coastal Undercurrent.