About
Barranquilla is a major port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, the capital of the Atlántico department. It sits on the banks of the Magdalena River, not far from where that great waterway reaches the sea, and it has long served as one of the country's principal gateways for trade and travel. Visitors may know it by several names, among them Curramba la Bella, the Golden Gate of Colombia and simply Curramba.
What draws visitors
The city is best known for its Carnival, which is counted among the largest in Latin America. Streets fill with music, dance and costume, and the festivities give Barranquilla a lively character that many travellers come specifically to experience. It is also the birthplace of the singer Shakira, a connection that often comes up in conversation and that some visitors use as a starting point for exploring the city.
Planning a visit
- Timing: Carnival is the high point of the year, so anyone who wants the full atmosphere should plan around it, and expect busier streets and accommodation at that time.
- Setting: As a Caribbean port, the city offers a coastal and riverside setting that differs from the highland cities of the interior.
- Getting around: Barranquilla works well as a base from which to explore the wider Atlántico area and the rest of the Caribbean coast.
Whether it suits you depends on what you are looking for: a city defined by its festival culture, its port life and its music, set on one of Colombia's most distinctive coastlines.