Barranquilla: Colombia’s Golden Gate
“Puerta de Oro” on the Caribbean coast
Largest port in Colombia
Barranquilla is with 1.2 million inhabitants, the 4th largest city in Colombia. The city on the Caribbean coast is located on the Magdalena River and has Colombia’s largest port. Due to its strategic location, Barranquilla is also known as the Puerta de Oro (Golden Gate).
2nd Largest Carnival in the World
Most people know Barranquilla for its carnival, the largest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro. Barranquilla does not have the tourist attractions of Cartagena, or the beaches of Santa Marta, yet the city has enough to do to keep you entertained for a few days. For example, there are excellent restaurants and lively bars and interesting museums. In 2020, Barranquilla won the World Travel Award for best new cultural destination in South America. If you are not in Barranquilla during Carnival, at least visit the carnival museum to get into the carnival atmosphere!
Shopping city for every budget
The modern shopping malls in Barranquilla, are generally a lot kinder to your wallet than the more touristy cities like Cartagena (and Medellín and Bogotá).
Read all about Barranquilla here. Plan your trip, book the best accommodations and check out the best things to do.
Where to stay
Barranquilla is one of the 3 largest cities in Colombia. It is no surprise that you can find a wide range of accommodations there. Which accommodation to choose depends on your plans during your visit and also on the safety factor.
Here are our recommended neighborhoods and accommodations:
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# To Colombia tips
Tip #1
Planning to shop in Barranquilla? Then stay overnight at the Movich Buro 51 Barranquilla . Shopping center Viva Centro Comercial is just around the corner, so the perfect location for your shopping trip! If you want to shop in Buenavista, then Hotel Dann Carlton is the ideal hotel, just across the road.
Tip #2
Want to taste the atmosphere of yesteryear in Barranquilla? Book an overnight stay in hotel El Prado, Latin America’s first luxury hotel. Also nice for a drink and to look around the hotel.
Tip #3
Fun side trips from Barranquilla include Bocas de Ceniza, where the Magdalena River meets the Caribbean Sea and Puerto Colombia, where the first immigrants in Colombia set foot.
Tip #4
If you are traveling from the Caribbean and want to explore Colombia’s north coast, Barranquilla can be a convenient “hub.” With about 2h you are in Santa Marta, with 2.5h in Cartagena and Tayrona national park is a drive of about 3h. Among others, there are direct flights to Barranquilla from Curaçao and Aruba with EZ air. Check here the round trip we made along the north coast of Colombia, from Barranquilla to Santa Marta.
