The Carnival Museum in Barranquilla
If you want to know everything about Barranquilla‘s carnival, its traditions and costumes, a visit to the Carnival Museum should not be missed during a trip to Barranquilla.
Barranquilla’s carnival is Colombia’s largest cultural and folkloric festival and has been designated a cultural heritage site. To preserve the atmosphere of the carnival 365 days a year, the Museo del Carnaval de Barranquilla was built in 2019. The carnival museum is located in the traditional neighborhood of Barrio Abajo (near El Prado), in the heart of Barranquilla.
The Carnival Museum is modern and interactive and consists of 4 different exhibits. There is a certain route to follow and it starts in the Sala Carnavales del Mundo.
Here you will take a journey through carnival celebrations in 16 different countries and find information about the rituals of Barranquilla’s carnival.
In this hall you can see masks, musical instruments and other attributes of the carnival.
After this, walk to the Sala de las Reinas, on the second floor.
On display here are the beautiful dresses of some 40 carnival queens crowned between 1918 and 2019.
The Sala Expresiones del Carnaval de Barranquilla is all about the expressions of carnival in music, dance and costumes.
A video is played of the carnival parade, where, as a visitor, you feel as if you have entered the audience.
Videos of authentic dances, such as the Mapalé , and a traditional Quillero (old-fashioned record player) are on display.
One of the typical costumes of the carnival in Barranquilla, is the Marimonda.
This expression is very well known in Barranquilla: “ It’s not so much about the Marimonda costume, but the jumps you have to make” .
Marimonda is a popular name on the Caribbean coast for a monkey, jumping is part of the deal when you wear the Marimonda costume!
According to the legend, a man from Barranquilla did not have enough money to buy his costume, so he got the idea of wearing a jacket with a tie and an old pair of pants that he wore backwards. Part of the costume was a mask that he made from a bag with 3 holes. This the origin of the Marimonda costume! The mask has a long nose and the “pea pea,” a whistle with a funny sound.
Finally, you will enter the Sala Batalla de Flores, with photographs and objects from the main parade of Barranquilla’s carnival, the batalla de flores.
During this parade with colorful floats and-not to mention-the queen of the carnival, there is lots of live music and folk dancing.
ColombiaMyWay information and tips
Entrance fee
Adults: 14,000 COP
Children (under 12): 8,000 COP
Seniors (60+): 8,000 COP
Opening hours
The museum operates with hourly entry slots, accommodating up to 50 visitors per hour. You can enter on the hour, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The museum is strict about this and you will not be admitted at a quarter past the hour: you will have to wait until the next hour. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Location
The Museo del Carnaval is located in the Barrio Abajo district at Carrera 54 #49B-39, Barranquilla. Click on the link for the location in Google Maps
Tip #1:
Combine your visit to the Carnival Museum with a visit to the El Prado district
While you’re there, you can visit the iconic hotel El Prado. If you want to learn more about the history and architecture of El Prado, you can join a guided tour of El Prado. Also interesting is a tour in the Barrio Abajo neighborhood. This neighborhood has recently been declared a cultural heritage and the district is being revitalized. It is a traditional neighborhood with colorful houses and murals. It is more fun (and safer) to visit this neighborhood with a local or with a guide. If you go with a guide, you can immediately meet artists and performers of Barranquilla’s carnival.
Tip #2
Have lunch at Pescayé
Pescayé is an authentic seafood restaurant, with establishments in el Prado and Barrio Abajo. (Cra 59 # 70-13 esquina, barrio del Prado / Cra 52 # 46-49 esquina, Barrio Abajo.)
Tip #3
Book a highlights of Barranquilla tour, which includes the carnival museum. This can be a good option if you have very limited time in Barranquilla.
Check out our travel guide Barranquilla for more information and tips on fun things to do, transportation and more. Click on the links for more information about our roundtrip along the north coast of Colombia, with information about Minca and Santa Marta.