BARRANQUILLA
Barranquilla, the Golden Gate of Colombia
Barranquilla, located in the Department of Atlántico in northern Colombia and South America, on the western bank of the Magdalena River and 15 kilometers from its mouth in the Caribbean Sea, is the birthplace of important manifestations of the country’s culture and folk tradition.
The climate of the city of Barranquilla is tropical, corresponding to vegetation typical of dry conditions and with an average temperature of 27°C.
Barranquilla doesn’t have seasons, but it has two periods throughout the year: From December to May, there is a dry season. This period coincides with the northern hemisphere winter, during which the northeast trade winds blow, providing a pleasantly cool environment. The rainy season extends from April to November, interrupted by a dry period between June and July, when the southeast trade winds arrive and it is known as the “Little Summer of Saint John” (Veranillo de San Juan). The average annual rainfall is 821 mm.
History of Barranquilla
Barranquilla is synonymous with development, art, cultural promotion, and vitality; a city that owes its name to its geographical location, the same location that from its beginnings gave it the potential to become Colombia’s port city, the Golden Gate, through which development entered the country and that made it the capital of the Caribbean Region. 211 years ago, the capital of the department of Atlántico was elevated to the category of a town, and this is the reason why the city does not celebrate a founding as most cities in the country do, a fact that is due to the way it was born and developed.
Despite this, Barranquilla is a city rich in history. It was one of the cities that contributed most to Colombia’s independence struggle and, from the late 18th century, projected itself with much greater strength and potential towards the future compared to other towns in the region. At that time, the capital of Atlántico became a captaincy due to its geographical position on the banks of the Magdalena River and very close to its mouth, which determined its multicultural character.
When it emerged in the 17th century, it was “a place of the free,” that is, a town where people of all races could live to exchange goods and services. In that era of slavery, there were many white and indigenous peoples.
Today, the city boasts one of the best cuisines in the country thanks to this mixture of races. In Barranquilla, you can find fusions between Caribbean, European, African, and Arab cuisine, captivating both locals and foreigners who visit the city.
Folklore is also an essential part of Barranquilla: dances with origins dating back more than 500 years have taken root in the city, along with sound fusions created with instruments from America, Europe, and Africa, which blend together to evoke ancestral sounds and generate new rhythms and genres. The Barranquilla Carnival is the main stage for these traditions to endure over time.
Declared the American Capital of Culture in 2013 by the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals, with the aim of promoting cultural capital cities internationally, Barranquilla is the birthplace of the most deeply rooted cultural expressions and manifestations of the Colombian Caribbean. Its music, traditional and contemporary dances, gastronomy, customs, people, and historical sites make this city a magical place full of riches to discover.
Barranquilla, the Golden Gate of Colombia
Infrastructure
Connectivity
