Barranquilla, the capital of the Atlántico department, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers a wide variety of attractions as a tourist destination for all tastes. From its rich history and culture to its beautiful beaches, Barranquilla is a destination you can’t miss.

If you are planning a trip to Barranquilla, here is a 3-day itinerary that will allow you to see the best of the city:

Day 1

• Morning: Visit the Prado neighborhood, and enjoy a walk through this historic neighborhood, admiring its republican architecture. Don’t miss the opportunity to try local delicacies at area restaurants.
• Afternoon: Take a walk along the Gran Malecón de Barranquilla, a tourist complex located on the banks of the Magdalena River. It is one of the most visited places in the city. It is the ideal space for families looking to enjoy an outdoor experience and in direct contact with the natural riches of the environment. It includes a green corridor, a children’s park, cycle routes and a varied gastronomic offer.
• Evening: Enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Barranquilla’s many restaurants. Some of the most popular restaurants are Kinto Elemento, Storia D’Amore, Varadero, El Celler, Pepe Anca, Miura, and Manuel, which is considered one of the best restaurants in Latin America (ranked number 77 according to Forbes Magazine).

Day 2

• Morning: Visit el Castillo de Salgar, a fortress built in the 16th century to protect the city from pirate attacks. The castle is located about 20 kilometers from Barranquilla.

• Afternoon: Take a tour on the Rio Bus, a boat built with 32 tons of steel, and with a height of 4.5 meters and a width of 16.1 meters, baptized ‘Karakalí’ (Great River of the Caimanes, as the Caribbean people called it ), and which was built to connect Barranquilla with its metropolitan area and its riverside municipalities. Currently you can take it from the Gran Muelle del Malecón. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and will cost around $6,000 COP per person.
• Evening: Attend a folkloric dance show at the Puerta de Oro Event Center. The event center is located near the Malecón de Barranquilla. The show schedule varies depending on the date. Ticket prices vary depending on the show.

Day 3

• Morning: Visit the Beaches of Isla Salamanca Park, a natural park that is home to a wide variety of ecosystems, including mangroves, swamps and beaches. The beaches are located about 25 kilometers from Barranquilla. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Afternoon: Visit the Puerto Colombia Pier and the Ventana de Los Sueños, which is the largest lighthouse in Colombia. Both are located in the municipality of Puerto Colombia, 30 minutes from the city of Barranquilla. The entry is completely free.

 

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  Ventana de Los Sueños, el Faro más grande de Colombia

 

This itinerary will allow you to see the best of Barranquilla in a limited time. However, if you have more time, you can add other attractions to your itinerary, such as:

• The Ciénaga de Mallorquín Ecopark, a natural park that is home to a wide variety of ecosystems, including mangroves, swamps and beaches. Here, you can take a 360° virtual tour of the Ciénaga de Mallorquín Ecopark.
• La Ventana del Mundo is a public monument built at the end of 2018 to coincide with the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games, which the city hosted. It is located in a roundabout in the Circunvalar industrial corridor, near its intersection with Vía 40.

• La Catedral Metropolitana María Reina, is a cathedral church of Catholic worship dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen. It is a modernist style building whose construction took 27 years and was designed by the Italian architect Angiolo Mazzoni del Grande (better known as Ángelo Mason de Grande). The building has 4,274 m² of constructed area, 92 m long, 38 m high at the highest part; 38 meters in the widest part since the temple has a bell-shaped plan that narrows in the apse of the presbytery and has capacity for 4,000 seated people.
• La Intendencia Fluvial de Barranquilla is a public building located on the banks of the Tablaza or Las Compañías channel, a branch of the Magdalena River in Barranquilla, Colombia, where the offices of the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism are housed. This building is considered a cultural icon of Barranquilla.

Barranquilla and the Atlantic are a tourist destination that offers something for everyone. With its rich history, culture and natural beauty, this region is a place you can’t miss.