Barranquilla Services

Information
The Barranquilla tourism office is in the Parque Cultural del Caribe (Calle 36 46-66, Tel.: 5-372-0581 / 372-0582, E-mail: comunicaciones@culturacaribe.org, Web: www.culturacaribe.org). The Comité Mixto de Promoción del Atlántico, in the Antiguo Edificio de la Aduana, has excellent free maps and brochures of Barranquilla and Atlántico Department (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m., Vía 40 36-135, Tel.: 5-330-3300 / 330-3701, URL: www.comixto.com). Both these centers are located in a rather doubtful neighborhood; it is best to arrive by taxi. A further website to visit for tourist information is www.barranquilla.gov.co.

Other useful addresses are:
DAS (immigration) (Monday-Friday 8-11:30 a.m., 2-5:30 p.m. Calle 54, 41-133. Tel.: 5-371-7500)
Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (Calle 36, 45-101. Tel.: 5-341-1683)

Two dozen countries have consuls in Barranquilla. Below are just a few; check the end of the telephone directory’s white pages for others.
Brazil (Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m., 2:30-5 p.m. Carrera 58, 85-215. Tel.: 5-357- 0356)
Panamá (Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-noon, 2-4 p.m. Carrera 57, 72-25, oficina 207-208. Tel.: 5-360-1870)
UK (Carrera 44, 45-57, piso 2. Tel.: 5-340-6936)
US (Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-noon. Calle 77B, 57-141, office 511. Tel.: 5-353-2182)
Venezuela (Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Carrera 52, 69-96. Tel.: 5-358-0048 / 358-2832)

European countries with representation are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland and Rumania.

Money
All banks have their main offices in Barrio El Prado, with branches and ATMs throughout the city. In EL Prado, they are found along Calle 70, between Carreras 52 and 54; in the downtown area (centro), on Paseo Bolívar (Calle 34). Some of the major banks are:
Banco AV Villas (Carrera 51, 75-215)
Banco Citibank Colombia (Calle 74, 53-13)
Banco de Bogotá (Carrera 46, 44-89)
Banco GNB Sudameris (Calle 76 56-71)—pay DAS visa extension fee here
Banco Santander (Calle 74 55-67)
Bancolombia (Carrera 44 37-19)—changes American Express travelers cheques

Along Calle 76, between Carreras 47 and 49, are a number of exchange houses. One centrally located is El Cairo, changing U.S. dollars, Euros and Bolívares Fuertes, as well as other currencies; only the El Prado branch cashes travelers cheques (Open 24 hours. Centro: Paseo Bolívar/Calle 34 43-117, Tel.: 5-379-9441, E-mail: cairointerms@hotmail.com. El Prado: Calle 76 48-30, Tel.: 5-368-1707).


Western Union / Giros y Finanzas has eight branches in Barranquilla; check the telephone directory’s yellow pages under Giros for the nearest one. MoneyGram / Cambiamos has four branches; consult the white pages under Cambiamos.

Keeping in Touch
The mass of phone stands and shops in Barranquilla has all but done away with the major phone couriers’ service offices. Some on Carrera 41, between Calles 39 and 40, have international calls at the bargain prices. You can find internets anywhere in the city. Skype is common. Correos de Colombia has branches downtown (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Calle 40, 44-93, unsigned) and in El Prado (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Carrera 53, 70-180).

Medical
The major hospitals serving Barranquilla are:
Hospital Universidad del Norte (Calle 30, Autopista al Aeropuerto, next to Parque Muvdi, Ciudad Rotario. Tel.: 5-371-5555)
Hospital Universitario Cari E.S.E. (Calle 57, 23-100. Tel.: 5-330-9000)
Hospital Universitario Metropolitano (Carrera 42F, 75B-18. Tel.: 5-356-5109)

Pharmacies are widespread throughout the metropolis.

Camera
Several camera supply stores are located along Paseo Bolívar (Calle 34), between Carreras 39 and 44. For repairs, try Foto Hora (Carrera 53, 72-39. Tel.: 5-358-7390), Lukkan Reparaciones (Carrera 53, 68-119. Tel.: 5-368-3201) or Serge Gámez Walberto (Carrera 61, 68-76. Tel.: 5-344-4737).

Religion
Non-Catholic Christian churches are present in Barranquilla, including a dozen Baptist and Presbyterian. For mass times and faith listings, see the end of the white pages and the yellow pages under “Iglesias” in the phone book.

Non- Christian faiths also have practicing communities in this city:
Sinagoga Bet-El (Calle 87, 42H-46, Los Nogales. Tel.: 5-359-1949)
Comunidad Budista (Carrera 50, 80-273. Tel.: 5-356-1982)
Asamblea Espiritual de los Bahais (Calle 50C, 3-91. Tel.: 5-363-7927)
There are two mosques: one Sunni, the other Shi’ite.