What to do
in Barranquilla

The second largest carnival in the world is famous in Colombia and far beyond. In 2003, the carnival of Barranquilla became recognized by Unesco as a World Cultural Heritage Site. During Carnival, most of the rest of life in Barranquilla shuts down. Many businesses are closed and it revolves around carnival for 4 days. The streets are transformed into 1 big street party for locals and tourists, with live bands, parades and traditional Colombian music and dance (including Cumbia, Merengue, Mapalé, Salsa) “Quien lo vive, es quien lo goza“; is the slogan of the Carnival of Barranquilla or: Live it and enjoy it……and enjoy it the Barranquilleros can enjoy it like the best! Look here for more information about carnival in Barranquilla and hotels near the carnival route.

El Prado (Viejo Prado) is the cultural heart of Barranquilla and one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. It is a centrally located, green district with parks, such as Parque Santander. There are still many colonial buildings, which were inhabited by Jewish, Arab, German and Italian immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. The atmosphere of yesteryear is still noticeable in the wide streets with tall trees and interesting architecture, which lend themselves well to a walk or a guided tour. In the old quarter are several universities and beautiful white houses with large gardens. Hotel El Pradois an iconic hotel that was built in the 1930s. The hotel is located on spacious fenced-off grounds on the busy 54th avenue road and is recognizable by its many palm trees. El Prado is also home to the white church Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción. While in El Prado, be sure to make a lunch stop at Pescayé, one of the city’s best (and affordable) seafood restaurants.

A visit to the Malecón is great to combine with a photo shoot at Aleta del Tiburón and/or Ventana al Mundo. At Ventana al Mundo, you can read the history of Barranquilla on the inside of the monument. The Aleta del Tiburon is a tribute to the soccer club Junior de Barranquilla. Insider’s Tip: At the monuments there are guys who (for a small fee) will take pictures of you with your phone. They are very good at it and take beautiful pictures. I didn’t feel comfortable handing over my phone, but a Colombian travel companion did. The (unofficial) photographer did not charge a flat fee for this. My travel companion gave him COP10,000.

If you’re not in Barranquilla during carnival, you can still soak up the carnival atmosphere at the Museo del Carnaval. The exhibition is a journey through the history of the different carnival celebrations, the costumes and lots of music of course, including videos of the carnival parade, the Mapale dance and much more. Furthermore, you can see the beautiful clothes worn by the carnival queens over the years, Entrance costs only COP10,000/€2.50 per person. You can enter on the whole hour, from 9am to 4pm. At 5 p.m. the museum closes. They are strict about this and you will not be admitted at a quarter past, you will have to wait until the next hour. The museum is closed on Mondays. The Museo del Carnaval is located in the Barrio Abajo neighborhood, a cultural heritage. A visit to the Carnival Museum can be combined well with a guided walk through the neighborhood. Barrio Abajo is a traditional neighborhood with colorful houses and murals. The guide will introduce you to artists and performers behind Barranquilla’s carnival.

Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino from the 17th century is the focal point of the Centro histórico, on Paseo Bolivar, Barranquilla’s main road. Here you will also find several official buildings such as de Alcaldía (town hall). In El Centro you can see the daily life of the city. There are many street food vendors and restaurants for a traditional meal and there is a lot of commerce, you can really get anything. Centro is also crowded and chaotic and there is a lot of poverty. We therefore recommend avoiding the center at night and watching your belongings carefully. If you want to see the center with a guide, you can book a city tour, which combines a visit to the center with other highlights of Barranquilla.

Puerto Colombia is 20km from Barranquilla, a drive of about 30 minutes. The city is famous for its long pier, which was once the longest pier in the world. It also has a beautiful square, which was completely renovated after the Corona epidemic. The square is a meeting place where families gather, stroll the pier and enjoy the sunset. In the history of Colombia, Puerto Colombia has an important significance because it is here that the first immigrants set foot. Eye-catchers of the square are the statues depicting former immigrants. In the old train station are information boards about the history of Puerto Colombia and also listed here are some of the names of the families who emigrated to Colombia from America, Syria, Curaçao and Germany, among others. Along the way, you can also visit the Salgar Castle.