Things to Do in Barranquilla

By Lorraine Caputo

Barranquilla is a city that is frequently dismissed by travelers as just a big port. The only real reason to come here, they feel, is only for Carnaval. This metropolis, however, does harbor many attractions, from a zoo to a planetarium and many historical and art museums. If you are a train buff, check out the small museum at the old Aduana building and board the Tren Ecoturístico de las Flores to the mouth of the Río Magdalena. The city has some impressive architecture, such as the Teatro Amira de la Rosa, Iglesia de San Nicolás (the original cathedral) and the Moorish-inspired El Prado neighborhood. Nor must we forget beaches like those at Puerto Colombia or villages like Tubará.