Barranquilla's Carnival is Colombia's most important folklore celebration and one of the biggest carnivals in the world. The carnival has traditions dating back to the 19th century. For four days, normal activities in Barranquilla are suspended as the city celebrates with street dances, musical parades, and masquerade parades. Some traditional dances performed include the Spanish paloteo, African congo, and indigenous mico y micas dances.

1. BARRANQUILLA,
THE BEST CITY

2. Barranquilla's Carnival
is Colombia's most
important folklore
celebration, and one of the
biggest carnival in the
world. The carnival has
traditions that date back to
the 19th century. Forty days
before Holy Week,
Barranquilla decks itself out
to receive national and
foreign tourists, and join
together with the city's
inhabitants to enjoy four
days of intense festivities.
During the carnival
Barranquilla's normal
activities are paralyzed
because the city gets busy
with street dances, musical
and masquerade parades.

3. Barranquilla's Carnival
includes dances like the
Spanish paloteo, African
congo and indigenous mico
y micas. Many styles of
Colombian music are also
performed, most
prominently cumbia, and
instruments include drums
and wind ensembles. The
Carnival of Barranquilla was
proclaimed Cultural
Masterpiece of the Nation
by Colombia's National
Congress in 2002.

4. Sancocho de
Bocachico: Typical
Dish of Barranquilla
One of the most popular
dishes on both the Atlantic
and the Pacific coasts is
sancocho de pescado, a
traditional soup (stew)
made with fish. The fish is
usually cooked whole. The
dish is prepared in a large
pot and cooked together
with large pieces of
plantain, potato, yucca,
cilantro and vegetables of
the region.

5. Puerto Colombia -
a small town...
Puerto Colombia - a small
town just 15 km away from
b/quilla. it's a really really
nice place. nothing
architectually beautiful
(besides the berth, which
was the longest in s-
america at some point and
is really nice and cool even
now), but the atmosphere is
amazing. and the sunset
from the long-long berth. to
get there, just take any
puerto colombia bus from
the 46st street, across the
street from SAO and
McDonalds. 1000 $ ($ is
also a sign for colombian
pesos... but it's like 0.5
US$) and you are there.