Barranquilla's Carnival – Top Things to Do
Barranquilla has been known as the “Golden Gate of Colombia” for decades and noted for the world’s second-largest carnival proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. For those interested in visiting the Carnival celebrated in Barranquilla, Colombia, with a two-three day trip, this is a quick guide to help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Marimonda by Michele Mariana is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Attend the Official Carnival Concert
Walk Inaugural Parade
Saturday is officially Carnival’s first day and it begins with the best parade, the Battle of Flowers, that is filled with dance groups, floats, show business people, costumes, etc. For the parade you have two options:Spectator
Be ready to be at 11:30 am in the balcony you previously bought and don’t forget to bring food. The parade begins at 12:00 pm and the best plan is to wait for the parade, drink alcohol, dance, be with friends, eat, and enjoy the show, the dancing groups, the colors, and the music.Parading
I think this is the best option if you want to have a full carnival experience. You can participate in a “comparsa” or dancing group, paying the ticket to walk down in the parade. The price usually includes the credentials to participate in the parade, kits with group’s identifiers, water, and alcohol. For some dancing groups you have to wear the same costume and for others like “Disfrázate como Quieras”, you can dress up as you wish. You don’t need to practice any choreography, you only need to sign up and take all your energy to walk down, dance, make a joyful noise with your group and the spectators, and get drunk for approximately three and a half hours or until your body holds out. If you have always wonder what it feels like to parading in a carnival, this is your option.
Photo by Ignacio Ramírez Torrado is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Party at Alternative Verbena
Sunday is Carnival’s second day and its parade is called “Great Parade of Tradition“, which is full of dancing groups that spread out the tradition celebrated since its creation in the nineteenth century. However, after a hectic Saturday, I would advise you to rest a little, have some breakfast or eat in one of the typical places of Barranquilla and save energy for the next night party, the “Berbetronika“. This party enjoyed by foreigners is an alternative space within the Carnival that seeks to combine the experience and tradition of the old street verbena with vibrant sounds of electronic music. The guests will live a complete experience beyond the concert, and in other editions, groups like Bomba Estereo have performed. Great Parade of Tradition (Gran Parada de Tradición) Location: Via 40 Berbetronika Location: Hotel el PradoWhere to buy tickets
You can buy tickets for Friday’s concert and carnival’s parades online through the tuboleta website or at any of the authorized outlets found throughout the country. You can search for authorized outlets on the website. For Saturday’s concert, you can buy tickets easily at the ticketshop website and Berbetronika’s tickets are available at the colboletos website.Where to eat Colombian Coastal Food
- Palenque
- Cucayo
- Varadero
- Narcobollo
- La Tiendecita
What to visit:
- La Cueva, a restaurant that, for more than 60 years, was the meeting place for philosophers and intellectuals. It was Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s favorite place in Barranquilla.
- Malecón León Caridi of the Avenida del Río, a tourist pier designed as a public, colorful and recreational place.
- The Romantic Museum, a historic museum that displays history and antiques of the 18th-century former villa as well as the history of King Momo and Carnival Queens and artists.
- The Caribbean Museum, the regional and interactive museum that presents the cultural manifestations and the historical memory of its inhabitants.