The Barranquilla Carnival is one of the most emblematic festivals in Colombia and one of the most important in the world.
This four-day celebration takes place in the city of Barranquilla, located on the country’s Caribbean coast.
The Barranquilla Carnival attracts thousands of visitors every year and is an opportunity to enjoy Colombia’s culture, music, gastronomy, and joy.
The history of the Barranquilla Carnival
Dates back to the 19th century, when people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds gathered to celebrate before Lent.
The festival evolved over time and became an annual celebration that includes parades, music, dance, costumes, and lots of fun.
Today, the Barranquilla Carnival is an event that brings together people of all ages, social classes, and ethnic backgrounds, and is the second most important carnival in Latin America after the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro.
Events of the Barranquilla Carnival
The Barranquilla Carnival officially begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday and extends until the following Tuesday.
The first day of the celebration presents one of the largest and most important parades: the Battle of Flowers, which consists of a parade of floats, groups of dancers, and costumes.
All of this is presided over by the Carnival Queen, who dances and throws flowers to the spectators, while accompanied by a court of princes and princesses.
The parade covers around 5 kilometers along one of the main streets of the city. Let’s talk about the days of Carnival:
Saturday of Carnival: The Battle of Flowers parade is the most important event of the day. Floats, comparsas, and costumes parade along VÃa 40 and compete for first place in the best comparsa category.
Sunday of Carnival: The Great Comparsas Parade, where comparsas and costumes compete in several categories. There are also other events such as the Carnival Queen contest.
Monday of Carnival: It is a quieter day compared to the first two. The children’s parade and some comparsas take place, and there are also cultural and musical events.
Tuesday of Carnival: It is the last day of Carnival and the burial of Joselito is celebrated, a tradition that symbolizes the end of Carnival.
During the burial, participants dress in mourning and say goodbye to the fictitious character of Joselito, who represents the spirit of Carnival.
There is also a big concert at the Romelio MartÃnez Stadium to close the party.
The Colombian Caribbean coast is full of important aspects such as music, traditional rhythms, cuisine, and typical sweets.
Other tourist destinations in Colombia
In addition, there are numerous tourist destinations that you can enjoy after the Carnival.
Some of the most memorable destinations on the coast are:
These culturally rich destinations will complement your visit to the Caribbean Coast.
If you don’t know how to get to Tayrona Park, you can hire the services of Expotur, which include packages that will allow you to visit some of the best beaches in Colombia, such as Cabo San Juan del GuÃa
And if you decide, you can also go to the northernmost point of the country: Punta Gallinas, where you can see the combination of the desert and the blue sea that surrounds this area, see noctilucas, and experience the way of life of the Wayuu natives who offer their rancherias where you can create the best memories that our country can offer.
