Nitrogen losses by volatilization occurred in coffee plantations in productive stage under full sunlight exposure were evaluated at two experimental stations of Cenicafe (Central Station Naranjal and Experimental Substation Paraguaicito) with soils derived from volcanic ashes and located in the Colombian central coffee region. Using semi-open static collectors, volatilized nitrogen was measured on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and 20 after a superficial urea application. Nitrogen losses varied over time and have a considerable increase on the second day when the maximum values were registered (8.6% in Naranjal and 9.3% in Paraguaicito). During the first 5 days accumulated nitrogen losses presented averages of 22.8% in Naranjal and 27.2% in Paraguaicito. At the end of the evaluation period, the total losses percentages of nitrogen were 30.4% in Naranjal and 34.8% in Paraguaicito. The behavior of accumulated nitrogen losses through time was explained by the mathematical model “simple exponent with three parameters” (r 2 >0.996). The differences registered between localities, especially during the first 5 days, were associated with some soil properties such as texture and CEC and with climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation.