Barranquilla

Traditionally, visitors to the city arrive by plane. The “Ernesto Cortissoz” airport is located on the city’s extreme south side. Taxis to the city center normally cost between $8 and $12 USD.

There are international direct flights to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Panama City. Nonstop domestic flights arrive from Bogota, Medelln, and Cali.

Car rental services at airports may be obtained from overseas through two major companies: Hertz and National Car Rental.

Buses also run near the station and will take you into the city for $0.55 or less, with the downside of a substantially less pleasant journey.

Barranquilla can also serve as a connecting point to other cities on Colombia’s northern coast, if the passenger does not already have a flying connection to another city in Colombia. Long-distance bus tickets (in US dollars) to select cities are as follows:

• Cartagena – $12
• Maicao – $13
• Santa Marta $13
• Medellín $20
• Maracaibo – $26
• Caracas – $44

Because the bus terminal is fairly distant from the city center, and because buses departing from there are often sluggish and stop at every hamlet, it may be a good idea to travel by bus companies that have direct links to Cartagena, Bogotá, or Santa Marta from the city center. Berlinastur [web] is one among these, with hourly departures to Cartagena or Santa Marta, 16COP, and a terminal at Calle 96 and Carrera 46. To reach there by tram, take Alimentador A-71 or A-94, or ask people on the street for one of the many “unofficial” colectivos.

Cochetur provides air-conditioned van transportation between Cartagena, Baranquilla, and Santa Marta. The cost per person is around 25,000 pesos, and the travel time to any of the other cities is approximately 2 hours.

Moving around Barranquilla is mostly determined by the traveler’s budget, language obstacles, and adventurous attitude.

Renting a car is an alternative for travelers on a more comfortable budget, with an economy vehicle costing roughly 150.000 pesos per day (about 75 USD) and fuel costing around 8.000 pesos (4 USD) per gallon. However, driving in Barranquilla might be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the area or the variations in traffic during rush hour. Rent a car services can be arranged from abroad or upon arrival at the hotel, if necessary.

Taking a cab is by far the greatest choice for a first-time visitor. The minimum fare is now 5.000 pesos as of January 2011. (2.60 USD). They may be somewhat more expensive at night, on Sundays, during national holidays, or during rush hour. Taxis in Barranquilla do not have meters; the fare is determined by the driver based on distance, journey duration, and day vs. night. You will never be charged more than 16.000 pesos for an in-town excursion (8.5 USD).

Buses are another alternative for people with a sense of adventure. In this scenario, conversing with the driver may not be essential, but knowing someone in town will undoubtedly be beneficial when determining the best route. Bus prices are roughly 0.80 USD each journey, with some buses charging a bit more if they have air conditioning (not all of them are). Be aware that buses do not wait until you are seated before moving, and when getting off, they frequently restart before both your feet are on the ground. They also begin and end suddenly, so hold on.

Mototaxis are an illegal mode of transportation that has gained popularity in the last three years. These are motorbikes that charge substantially less than a traditional cab to carry you practically anywhere, but this mode of transportation is fraught with personal safety dangers due to these drivers’ recklessness.

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Barranquilla has its famed “Carnaval de Barranquilla” (carnival of Barranquilla) every year towards the end of February or early March (forty days before Ash Wednesday), a four-day-long festival in which the genuine partying energy of the city is unleashed. All across town, parades, dances, concerts, and other cultural events take place.

Barranquilla also has the magnificent and historic Teatro Amira de la Rosa, the ancient Customs building-Edificio de la Aduana-which acts as a library and a museum, the Museum of Gold, and many more wonderful locations to explore. There are also several art deco structures dating from the late 1930s through the 1950s. (See Gustavo Garcia’s book Barranquilla-Ciudad Art Deco.)

Another interesting spot to visit is “Bocas de Ceniza,” which is located where the Magdalena River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

• Museo del Caribe, Calle 36 No. 46-66,  +57 5 372 0581. 9AM-5PM. A great collection of the history of Barranquilla and the Caribbean. Modern displays featuring immigration, native cultures, ecology, food and else. A special chamber dedicated to author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Closed: first Monday of the month (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). COP 10.000. 

Museo Romántico (Romantic Museum) is housed in a Republican townhouse in the El Prado neighborhood and displays artefacts from the city’s past. From the Carnival Queens to a reproduction of the ancient Abello ridge on the Paseo de Bolvar, to the typewriter on which Gabriel Garca Márquez wrote his first novel, La Hojarasca, costumes may be seen. There are also Simón Bolvar letters, pictures, albums, newspaper collections, and other objects that document the city’s history. The Museo del Caribe (Caribbean Museum) is located in the Parque Cultural del Caribe. The Museo Antropológico y Etnológico (Anthropological and Ethnological Museum) is situated in the Universidad del Atlántico’s Faculty of Fine Arts. It displays a vast collection of artifacts from the region’s indigenous civilizations. It also functions as a newspaper library, reading room, and exhibition space. The Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art), founded in 1996, houses an outstanding collection of works by many of the twentieth century’s most notable painters. Works from prominent authors such as Fernando Botero, Alejandro Obregón, Enrique Grau, and Luis Caballero are included in the anthology. It is intended to be moved to the Parque Cultural del Caribe.

The Museo Aeronáutico (Aeronautical Museum) is located at the Naval Officers’ School ARC and was created in 1989 to commemorate the early twentieth-century commercial aviation boom in Barranquilla. Museo del Atlántico (Museum of the Atlantic) is a new regional museum that spans over 4,000 square meters and is housed in the old offices of the Government of the Atlántico Department. The Fundación Carnaval de Barranquilla, in collaboration with the Parque Cultural del Caribe and the Museo del Caribe, opened the Museo del Carnaval (Carnival Museum) on April 7, 2011. It is housed in the Casa del Carnaval in the district of Abajo.

Barranquilla is a big, complicated city. Daytime activities mostly consist of shopping and eating, while nightlife is lively all year, with most pubs and nightclubs open from Thursdays through Sundays. If you want to dance, some of the best places to go in town include Trucupey Latin Disco, AguaHelada, MoMa, and Frogg Leggs.

For a more casual atmosphere, consider Luna Negra, Beba Genobeba, Old Times (an 80’s throwback pub), and various “estancos”: On weekends, they are essentially liquor stores with or without tables where music is performed. People frequently congregate in these locations to drink while listening to music from the venue or from their own automobile audio systems (in Barranquilla sound restrictions are quite lenient). There are also wonderful restaurants in the “Washington” district, such as Naia and Mix, where tourists may enjoy an exquisite, trendy night.

Some areas are renowned as “puntos frescos” or “mundo de la cerveza” (world of beer), and you should be able to get beer almost any day of the week. There are also tiny shops (convenience stores all over the city).

If you are fortunate enough to visit during Carnival, you will find yourself in a setting where everyone is ready to party for full days without stopping.

Take the “Chiva,” an old-fashioned bus packed with people, music, and dancing! The bus will take you to a few great discos in Bquilla. On Saturday nights, usually.

• Go bowling at: Titos Bolo Club, Carrera 51B No. 94-110. Titos Bolo Club is a classic bowling place where you have to write down your own score. Price is 27.000 pesos per hour and lane + shoe rent. 
• Drive Gokart at Xtreme Karts – Carrefour Prado, Carrera 56 No. 75-155. 10AM-10:30PM. Here you can drive gokart in the basement of the supermarket Carrefour in Altos Del Prado. It’s a lot of fun to race with your friends. Price is 9.000 pesos for 6 minutes.

In town, you may eat both local and foreign food. Arroz with coco and sancocho de guandul (a soup composed of pigeon peas or “guandules” and meat), bocachico frito (fried fish from the Magdalena river), sancocho, and fritos (fried snacks), such as arepas and empanadas, are local favorites. If you want to taste some local cuisine, here are some suggestions:

• Mag Mondongo
• Narcobollo
• La mano Costena
• El Tremendo Guandul
• El portal del Marisco (seafood).
• El corral del Marisco (seafood).

Try “Las Flores” in the nearby “Bocas de Ceniza.” Near the Magdalena River, there are several seafood restaurants. Excellent food and atmosphere.

All of the places mentioned above serve traditional meals at extremely reasonable pricing.

Other options for a more international meal include:

• Doña Linda (Arabic food)
• El Arabe Gourmet (Lebanese food)
• Pepe Anca (steak)
• Pepe Anca (try their pepper steak. pricey but worth it)
• La bonga del sinu (steak)
• El Merendero (steak)
• Cafe de la Casa (Colombian gourmet sandwiches, salads, drinks with outdoor lounge area)
• Bora Bora (Thai)
• La vera cucina italiana (Italian)
• Nena Lela (Italian)
• La Caprichosa (Pizza) Very good pizzas. You can order by pieces (very huge pieces) for only USD 1.50, and it will be enough to keep your stomach up.

Aguila is the local beer, and it is also the cheapest. Club Colombia, on the other hand, is a Colombian beer with excellent flavor and quality that is somewhat more costly.

International beer is readily accessible, with Heineken being the most popular brand.

Rum, in a variety of national and foreign brands, is the preferred alcohol among residents. Another popular drink to try is Aguardiente (an anise-flavored liquor made from sugar cane). Aguardiente literally translates to “scorching water,” and it lives up to its name. Scotch, which is slightly more costly, is also enjoyed by the elite; the favoured brand is Old Parr.

Almost every sort of booze is accessible, with whiskey, vodka, and tequila being the most common.

There are several retail malls including national and international brands. Buenavista and Villa Country, both located to the north, are the two largest. El Nico is a less expensive option with plenty of “Sales.”

The junction of 72 Street and 46 Avenue is the spot to go for handcrafted items. There are booths offering cheaper artisan work and a store called “Artesanas de Colombia” where you may get more certified, but more costly, gifts. You may also get them in the downtown area at a reduced price, but they are typically of inferior quality. True and original artesanias may also be found in surrounding towns such as Usiacur, many of which are worth seeing.

The city offers a lot of cultural activity all year, but the most recognized is the Carnival of Barranquilla, which is one of Colombia’s most famous events. It is a multicultural festival that celebrates cultural customs from the nineteenth century. It is conducted yearly, generally in February or early March, over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday—Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The National Congress of Colombia designated it as “Cultural Patrimony of the Nation” in 2001, and UNESCO designated it as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2003. The city is home to a wide range of manifestations like as traditional dances, music, games, folklore, myths, and superstitions, among others, many of which climax around Carnival.

Art displays, exhibitions, literary workshops, lectures philosophy, plays, poetry workshops, dances, exhibitions, concerts, and festivals such as the Festival de Orquestas beneath the Carnival and Barranquijazz are held in Barranquilla. Since 1957, it has hosted the Concert of the Month to promote classical music.

In addition to the Carnival of Barranquilla and related activities, some of the city’s most important cultural events include: Barranquijazz, a jazz festival that brings together major international jazz figures, held in September at the Amira de la Rosa Theatre, among other places, Carnaval de las Artes, a cultural event that brings together intellectuals, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists of national and international renown, Feria Artesanal y Folclóric Salón de Artistas Costeos, an art festival hosted yearly by the Chamber of Commerce of Barranquilla, and the Miche Rock Festival, supported by the Barranquilla District Department of Culture and the Departmental Secretariat of Culture.