Colombia has always been a bucket-list destination for me. So, when I took a year off to travel the world, I spent thirty days there. I planned my trip so I could attend the world-famous carnival in Colombia. The street parties, parades, culture, history, vibrant colours, and an event so significant to the Colombian people made it a must. This was a party that I had waited my whole life to experience, and I wasn’t about to miss it while exploring the country. In this blog, I share my experience and tips for attending the world’s second-largest carnival as a tourist.
Barranquilla Carnival 2026 Dates
The Barranquilla Carnival for 2026 takes place February 14th – 17th.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of them at no extra cost to you.
Taking the Bus to Barranquilla
I traveled from Cartagena to Barranquilla, arriving in Cartagena after sailing across the Caribbean from Panama. For this journey, I took a local bus, which took about 3 hours and cost around $10 CAD. I was able to buy my ticket upon arriving at the bus station. During carnival weekend, buses run constantly, so getting a ticket wasn’t a problem.
The bus was packed, and be prepared to be the only gringo with no English. If you haven’t been on a Colombian bus, they do sell snacks, which was a fun experience. To get to the bus station in Cartagena, I took a taxi, which was a bit nerve-racking leaving the tourist area.
Colombia taxi tip: When taking a taxi in Colombia, put your phone away when stopped at red lights. Stealing iPhones is a popular extracurricular activity in Colombia, especially in lower-income areas.
Learn how I sailed from Panama to Colombia with Blue Sailing. Check out my blog, Sailing from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands.
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Getting From the Barranquilla Bus Station to The City Center
Be prepared: once you arrive at the main bus depot in Barranquilla, a large crowd is waiting for taxis. I didn’t know what to do next, but after about an hour, I found a cab. The ride to my hostel took roughly 30 minutes, and the vehicle was quite comfortable. The driver was overly friendly, constantly asking me for my music preference, which he had cranked. It was carnival weekend in Colombia, after all. I ended up paying $20 for the cab; I’m not sure if this was due to the luxury taxi, the fact that it was carnival weekend, or gringo pricing. I believe it should normally cost about $5-$10 for a cab.
There are city buses that go to the city center as well, but I didn’t know where my hostel was located or what I was doing, so I decided on a taxi. Maybe you’re more adventurous than I was. Honestly, I just wanted to get to my hostel at this point.
Where to stay for Barranquilla Carnival Weekend
The Colombian carnival is a celebration, so why not stay right in the heart of it? If this sounds like you, the best neighbourhoods to stay in are Alto Prado and El Prado. Both areas put you close to the main carnival activities. You’ll be close to the parties and the parade route, providing an authentic experience of the carnival vibe and excitement.
I stayed far away from these areas, but only because I waited too long to book my accommodations and had to settle for what was available. I ended up in a less-than-desirable hostel, away from the action. It wasn’t the safest neighbourhood, but I had a bed and met some great people during my stay. I would share a link to my hostel, but not surprisingly, it is no longer in business. I can’t imagine they did much business when the carnival wasn’t happening.
Book Your Accommodations Well in Advance For Colombia carnival Weekend
Don’t make the same mistake I did, so book your accommodations early. I know, as backpackers, we like to travel spontaneously, but I’m telling you: reserve as far in advance as possible. If you know you’ll be attending the Barranquilla Carnival in six months, book now. The best spots fill up quickly, so plan ahead.
I recommend checking out Hostelworld to see what’s still available for the Barranquilla Carnival 2026.
How do I plan while travelling long-term on the fly? Check out my blog, My Long-Term Solo Travel Planning Methodology
Visiting Barranquilla – The City’s Vibe
Barranquilla isn’t exactly on the Colombian backpackers’ trail. In reality, it is often overlooked by tourists and backpackers. It has a reputation as a dangerous, unfriendly city to tourists. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The locals I met were very friendly and excellent hosts. I met people in bars who bought me drinks, locals at the parade pouring me shots, strangers teaching me how to salsa, and groups of young adults taking the opportunity to practice their English with me. We even made some new friends who partied the night away with us.
The people are happy and welcoming, the vibe is lively and vibrant, and I generally felt safe wherever I went. Don’t overlook Barranquilla, regardless of what you’ve heard, especially during carnival weekend.
Barranquilla International Celebrities: On a side note, Sofia Vergara and Shakira are both natives of Barranquilla, and they both have statues in the historic district. I didn’t visit the statues, but I do love both of these icons.
What to Expect at the Colombia Carnival
Being my first South American carnival, I had no idea what to expect. While traveling through Colombia, when I discussed the Barranquilla carnival with locals, they were so excited for me, with many not even having attended themselves. It was clear that this was a huge celebration and an important event for Colombians.
During carnival weekend, the city is taken over by celebrations. At least for that weekend, Barranquilla becomes a place where Colombian culture and pride shine. The streets are crowded, parties are everywhere, parade watchers line the roads, and people dance in the streets. Bars can be hard to get into due to the crowds, but that’s okay since the best parties happen outside. If you enjoy history, culture, nightlife, delicious food, and maybe the most fun and lively parade you’ll ever witness, you’ll have the time of your life.
The Carnival’s Importance to Colombians
UNESCO recognizes the Carnaval de Barranquilla as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The carnival celebrates Colombian pride through its rich culture, diversity, history, and heritage. The parades honour the country’s diversity by blending African, Indigenous, and European influences that together shape Colombia’s identity. The carnival’s significance to Colombians is clear not only in Barranquilla but throughout the entire country.
What to Wear at The Carnival in Colombia
The overall theme of the Colombia Carnival is colour. Vibrant colours that you could see from space if you catch my drift. My outfit included a short-sleeved button-down, a fedora in the colours of the Colombian flag, shorts, and walking sandals. The shirt looked like someone mixed up a bunch of vibrant colours, put them all in a blender, and voila, I had my Colombia Carnival shirt. Whenever I told locals I was heading to the carnival in Barranquilla, they said this was what I had to do. Of course, for women, the same rules apply—add some colour to your outfit, maybe some accessories, and you’ll be good to go.
I attracted a lot of attention from locals at the carnival, as I might have been a bit over-the-top. But it was a thumbs up; this gringo gets it attention. I received many compliments from locals on my attire.
Colombia Carnival outfit tip: If you’re traveling through Colombia, drop into a clothing store and tell them you’re heading to the carnival, and they’ll know exactly what to do. This is all I did in Cartagena, and I was ready for my first Colombian Carnival.
Things to Do During Barranquilla Carnival
So, what does an itinerary for the carnival in Colombia look like? I spent two full days and evenings attending events, participating in various activities, enjoying parades, street parties, and having the time of my life in Barranquilla. These were some of my carnival highlights.
Pre-Parade Festivities in the Centro Historico District
Before the parade, which begins in the afternoon, head to the Centro Historico district for some pre-parade festivities. Grab a coffee, have some lunch, enjoy a couple of beers before the parade, and soak up the atmosphere. This puts you just steps away from some prime parade-watching spots, which I will cover shortly. To find this area easily, type Hotel San Francisco into your Google Maps, and you’ll be nearby.
If you want to try and stay at Hotel San Francisco in Barranquilla, I am sharing my affiliate link. Hotel San Francisco affiliate link.
The vibe in the Centro Historico district feels like a tailgate party before a major sporting event. There are barbecues on the streets lined with restaurants, and houses temporarily converted into restaurants for the weekend. You can feel the excitement building for the parade, so find a restaurant and enjoy the moment, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of us.
colombia Carnival Parade Tips
Where to Watch the Battle of Flowers Parade in Barranquilla
The Battle of Flowers, the main carnival parade, travels through the Centro Historico district along Calle 40, or the Via 40 Cumbiodromo, as some locals call it. This area is very close to the pre-parade festivities and the primary location for carnival events.
Purchasing Tickets to Watch the Barranquilla Carnival Parade
Like most parades, you can watch it for free along the route. If that’s your plan, you’d better wake up early and find a spot hours before the parade begins if you expect to see anything. Think Super Bowl championship parades—that’s how popular this event is, especially the main event, the Battle of the Flowers.
I bought a grandstand ticket at the gate for about $7 USD. I might have gotten lucky, as I’ve heard this isn’t usually possible. The safest option to avoid disappointment is to buy your tickets in advance. You can purchase tickets online for all three days for $39 USD through Tuboleta, an event booking website. Here is a link to the Barranquilla Carnival page on the Tuboleta website to buy tickets in advance.
The Colombia Carnival Parade Experience
The experience from the grandstands was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was just as fun watching the Colombians in the stands as it was watching the parade itself. Locals were dancing the whole time as if they were at a Shakira concert. I remember at one point, the stands across the street looked like they might collapse from the sheer number of people dancing and vibing to the parade. Okay, maybe not literally collapse, but you get the idea — it was rocking. The grandstand was great because we had enough room to move around and really enjoy the moment.
Left: The carnival grandstand, Center: A parade participant. To the right: Taking a selfie with the Marimonda, the unofficial carnival mascot.
Try Aguardiente: The “Unofficial” Drink of the Barranquilla Carnival
Locals often have Aguardiente on hand, a Colombian hard liquor and the drink of choice at the carnival. And it’s strong; if you have three shots of Aguardiente at the carnival, you may be calling it an early night! I learned that Colombians love to share their Aguardiente. In the stands, a group was really enjoying introducing the drink to us gringos. And I gladly obliged! If you drink alcohol and are traveling through Colombia, and haven’t tried Aguardiente yet, this is your chance.
Find A Restaurant in The El Prado Neighbourhood
After the parade festivities, you’ll be hungry. Head to the El Prado neighbourhood and choose one of the many restaurants. We just walked into a chicken barbecue restaurant and had no trouble finding a seat. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant, but it was excellent, and we passed many others we could have chosen.
El Porvenir Bars During Colombia Carnival Weekend
The bars after the parade are crazy, but it’s such a fun time. We went to La Troja in El Porvenir, which was clearly one of the hot spots. The streets were overflowing with people who couldn’t get inside. There must have been about a thousand people trying to get into this bar. So I did something I haven’t done in thirty years: we hopped a fence and snuck in through the back door. But we got in, and the bar was hopping!
There were tables that people had reserved, but no one was sitting at them. Everyone was dancing. I was standing at the bar, people-watching, when a local dude approached me and said, “In Colombia, we don’t stand at the bar, we salsa dance.” He then showed me a few steps I could repeat, and I was no longer the only person in the bar not dancing, even while people-watching. I met so many amazing locals at this bar and was even invited to a reserved table for a few drinks, which was an incredible experience. Seriously, the people of Barranquilla are so friendly and welcoming, especially during carnival weekend.
I was standing at the bar, people-watching, when a local dude approached me and said, “In Colombia, we don’t stand at the bar, we salsa dance.” He then showed me a few steps I could repeat, and I was no longer the only person in the bar not dancing, even while people-watching.
Head Over to the El Porvenir Street Party
Before arriving at the Colombia Carnival, I envisioned wild street parties. My dreams came true at the El Porvenir street party. The streets were packed with people, everyone was having a great time, and the energy was electric. People danced in the streets around hot rods with their hoods up, and the car sound systems were booming. To me, it had a Fast and Furious vibe. Finish the night partying Colombian style!
Barranquilla Carnival Safety Tips
There are some safety tips that will help ensure a great experience at the carnival. These tips not only apply to the carnival but also throughout Colombia.
- Beware of pickpockets. I have been pick-pocketed twice in Colombia and had an attempt that I managed to stop in Barranquilla. Wear pants or shorts with tight pockets and consider using a cross-body fanny pack. Be extra cautious when navigating crowds. Pickpockets are out in full force on carnival weekend, so stay alert.
- Protect your iPhone. Theft of iPhones is rampant in Colombia. Don’t flash it around in public like you do at home, and never put it in your back pocket. Instead, keep it tucked down your pants at the front, in your fanny pack, or in your front pocket. I once had an iPhone stolen in Peru, and trust me, it sucks. Don’t let this happen to you.
- Go easy on the Aguardiente. Have fun, but avoid drinking so much that you become vulnerable. Losing your wallet, phone, and other belongings can turn the time of your life into an experience to forget.
This Guide gives you everything you need to know to do the Carnival in Colombia and ensure an epic experience. Have the time of your life, and remember to go easy on the Aguardiente.
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