Aug 30, 2023

Exploring Barranquilla: 7 Must-Do Activities for an Unforgettable Experience

Known to be the hometown of the singer Shakira, Barranquilla is the 4th biggest city of Colombia. It's also known for its Carnival, which is one of the largest in the world. It's not a very touristy city, so there isn't tons of things to do, but it does have its gems. I would say it's worth stopping by a few days if you are doing a tour of Colombia, know people there, or to go for Carnival.

1. Carnival Museum

Carnival is a very important part of Barranquilla. It's part of their history and culture. It makes who they are as a city. The Carnival Museum, is a nice way to learn more about that history and see a display of the evolution of the different costumes and the queen's dresses. It's also the one of the few museums still open in the city, most of the other ones are temporarily closed, as they are waiting for more budget to reinvest.

2. Malecon

The Malecón is a boardwalk along the Magdalena river. You can find restaurants and shops, but it's mostly a pathway where you can take a walk or ride a bike.

3. Monument Ventana al Mundo

Monumento Ventana al Mundo, is an art landmark that represent the meaning of the Magdalena river for the city, and how it boosted their economy and made Barranquilla a seaport city. It's located in a middle of a roundabout, but there is parking on the side and people that help you cross over for a few bucks.

4. The 3 connected Malls

You can spend an afternoon shopping at the Buenavista Centro Commercial, which is linked by tunnels to two other malls. It's pretty big and you can find a variety of stores and restaurants, as well as a movie theater and gym.

5. Enjoy the restaurants and bars

Barranquilla as great restaurants and bars to offer. Some of my favorites include:

6. Spend a day at the Beach

Barranquilla is not known for beaches, but they do have some like Playas de Miramar. You can go to a beach club like Kilymandiaro, and enjoy some food/drinks and music.

7. Take a day trip to surrounding cities

You can go to Cartagena or Santa Marta for a day or two to discover a different sight of Colombia. Cartagena (3rd biggest city) is a lot more touristy, and has a beautiful old town that you can walk around, with great foods and nightlife.

Good to know & tips...

There are a few other things you can do, that I didn't get the chance to, like go see the Paseo Bolívar, the Zoo, or the museum Mapuka
Make sure to check the weather that works for you before you go.

✈️ When to go	November to May are supposed to be the best weather wise. August and September are pretty humid as it's rain season February is Carnival (dates can vary)
🏨 Where to stay	The historical center, El Prado, is a good and safe neighborhood to stay in. I stayed at the Faranda Collection hotel and had a great stay.
🧳 What to pack	Don't bring anything valuable, or any obvious jewelry. Pack light clothes for the heat and humidity, but bring a little jacket for when you're inside as they put a lot of AC.
🚖 Getting around	Uber is available there, if not you can call a registered Taxi as it's not a walking city.
💡Things to know	It's not a very touristy city, so you might get some curious stares (I did) when you are around the city. Make sure you know some Spanish because not a lot of people know English.