Colombian Caribbean
Discover the Caribbean region of Colombia
A place full of historic cities, paradisiacal beaches, and great culinary diversity.
The Caribbean is one of the most colorful, joyful regions of Colombia. Its beaches, flavors, festivals, music—its people and their stories—make this place one of the most noteworthy tourist destinations in all of Colombia.
Some of the country’s most important cities are found in the Caribbean region: Barranquilla, affectionately dubbed “Curramba La Bella,” where the world-famous Carnival of Baranquilla is celebrated; Santa Marta, known for its cultural and ethnic diversity and the ecological wealth evident in such places as the Tayrona National Natural Park and the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta; and Cartagena, recognized as Colombia’s most romantic getaway thanks to the beauty of its colonial streets, its gorgeous beaches in places like Barú and the Rosario Islands, its historic center, and the iconic Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (a castle whose construction dates back to the 1500s), declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Another of this region’s many attractions is the wide variety of beaches it offers, unique for their crystal-clear water, white sands, and stunning landscapes. When you visit the Colombian coast, don’t forget to visit places like Playa Grande, Bahía Concha, Palomino beach, and Neguanje beach, where you can enjoy the sun, ocean breeze, and warm weather.
The region also offers insight into the culture that made Colombian folk music artists like Rafael Escalona and Carlos Vives truly great. Caribbean cuisine is another key element of the region’s rich cultural diversity; a delicious blend of native Caribbean ingredients and traditional Colombian culinary practices.
Some of the Caribbean region’s most popular local dishes include arroz con coco (coconut rice), ceviche de camarón (shrimp ceviche), sancocho de pescado (fish soup), arepas de huevo (cornmeal dough stuffed with eggs and fried), carimañola (yucca fritters), queso costeño (a type of soft, white, salty cheese), posta cartagenera (a type of braised beef), cayeye (a dish using plantains), and many others.
Come visit the Caribbean region of Colombia. Take time to enjoy the area’s many impressive cultural and natural attractions and embrace the rhythm of a captivating destination full of history.
Discover Cartagena de Indias, a jewel of world heritage
Cartagena is a city that is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, in the northwestern part of the South American continent. If you are wondering where is Cartagena in Colombia, it is located in the north of the country and is the capital of the Bolívar region. The city has several archipelagos and islands around that are paradises for true rest. Among these are Tierra Bomba Island, Múcura Islan, and Barú Island, among others.
Cartagena de Indias is known, brings together the charm of colonial architecture, the excitement of a vivid night life, fascinating cultural festivals, and lush landscapes, to bring you the perfect vacation experience. The city’s beaches beckon, inviting you to unwind and enjoy yourself in the refreshing breeze and warm waters of the sea.
But that’s not all Cartagena has to offer— the city also has excellent cuisine and a thriving hotel and tourist infrastructure.
This fabulous destination holds the secrets of history within its walled city, on its balconies, and in the narrow stone walkways that inspired author Gabriel García Márquez, who was received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.
Framed by its stunning bay, Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautiful, well-preserved cities in the Americas; a treasure that is currently one of the most heavily frequented tourist destinations in Colombia.
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What is there to do in Cartagena de Indias?
During your stay, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to learn about Cartagena’s architectural and cultural heritage, starting with a visit to the city’s historic center. Cartagena’s historic center, whose beauty and cultural importance caused it to be declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1984, is surrounded by miles of ancient walls that form the walled city.
In addition to the hundreds of years of history behind the area’s cobbled streets, you can explore the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a magnificent castle dating back to the 17th century. Also, during this tour, you will be very close to some of the best restaurants in Cartagena.
There are also a number of ancient churches and popular monuments that you can tour, such as the monument dedicated to India Catalina, los Zapatos Viejos, and los Pegasos. Another activity that you can consider if you are wondering what to do in Cartagena is visiting the Naval Museum or the Serrezuela Shopping Center.
On your walks around the city, you’ll be able to enjoy the pleasant weather in Cartagena along with the local music and rhythms that fill the streets and the handicrafts that adorn the local shops. On the other hand, if you are wondering some of the things to do in Cartagena, we encourage you to enjoy a graffiti tour in the Getsemaní neighborhood.
When night falls over the city, the charm of Cartagena’s colonial area is perfect for taking a horse drawn carriage ride, an experience that will take you back in time.
Unique experiences
The city is not just about history, as the city is the scene of a vibrant and important world-class events, there are always things to do in Cartagena.
In addition to Cartagena’s historic influences, the city has a vibrant present reflected, in part, by the important, world-class events it hosts.
One such event is the International Music Festival, or Hay Festival, which is celebrated in January and brings together the main proponents of instrumental music and international literature.
The International Film Festival, an event attended by cinematographers, actors, musicians, and aficionados of the seventh art, is also held yearly in the ‘Heroic City,’ in March. One of the Festival’s main attractions is that it offers free high-quality film showings.
Finally, Cartagena de Indias is also known for being home to Colombia’s National Beauty Contest, which is held in November to select and crown a Miss Colombia.
Without a doubt, all these events are unmissable when looking for what to do in Cartagena.
Activities you won’t want to miss out on
Cartagena is a vibrant city with a plethora of perfect activities for any tourist.
One example of the wide range of activities and attractions that Cartagena de Indias has to offer is the city’s varied cuisine. Visitors who love sampling new, exotic dishes will be thrilled by the best restaurants in Cartagena which may include many local and international eateries. Thanks to Cartagena’s rich ethnic background, local Cartagenero dishes reflect the influence of African, indigenous, and European cuisines.
The city’s access to the Caribbean Sea and the beautiful beaches close to Cartagena provide the perfect place for rest or play in the perpetually pleasant weather. These white sand beaches are ideal for enjoying a cocktail or local dish, sunbathing, relaxing, or participating in water sports.
Cartagena has more than 5 island complexes around it which in turn provide more than 20 beaches to visit and enjoy. The main and best beaches in the Cartagena area are found on the islands of Rosario, Barú, and San Bernardo.
Also, if you’re more comfortable sticking around areas of the city more heavily frequented by tourists, you can visit Bocagrande, which also has a wide range of beaches, hotels, restaurants, commercial centers, and clubs.
Finally, bear in mind that Cartagena is what many would consider a dream destination for celebrating weddings or spending honeymoons. In fact, the city receives many cruises that travel through the Caribbean.
Barranquilla
Celebration and culture in the “Golden Gate” of Colombia
Barranquilla, also known as “la Arenosa” (the Sandy) and “Curramba la Bella” (Curramba the beautiful), is one of Colombia’s major cities, as well as a key tourist destination for locals and foreigners.
This city, where the long journey of the Magdalena River comes to an end, is home to a many great musicians, writers, and painters. It is also the stage of one of the country’s most important celebrations: the Carnival of Barranquilla.
Joy, music, and tradition are so much a part of this Colombian city, down to each of its squares and streets, that every day feels like a real carnival. The charm, warmth, and energy of the people of Barranquilla captivate the city’s visitors. The famed quote from singer Joe Arroyo, “in Barranquilla I’ll stay,” reflects the sentiment of many upon visiting this beautiful city.
Thanks to its favorable geography, Barranquilla, capital of the Atlántico Department, has one of the most important ports in the whole country. Thanks to this famous port, Barranquilla is also known as the “Golden Gate” of Colombia. Barranquilla’s port, in addition to other factors, has allowed it to position itself as a city with high potential for economic and industrial development.
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What is there to do in Barranquilla?
This city offers a wide range of recreational and cultural activities. For example, you can visit the city’s historic center, declared a Place of Cultural Interest in 1999, where you’ll find tourist locations such as the Paseo de Bolívar, one of the most noteworthy avenues in the city, where City Hall, the Church of San Nicolas, the Plaza de San Roque, and multiple commercial buildings are located.
You can also learn more about the culture and art of the city and region in the Caribbean Museum and the Baranquilla Modern Art Museum, which has works from important artists, such as Fernando Botero, Karel Appel, Ángel Loochkartt, Enrique Grau, Alejandro Obregón, Salvador Dalí, and many others.
Other places of interest that you can visit include the Queen Mary Cathedral, a Colombian cultural landmark, and the Castle of San Antonio de Salgar, one of Barranquilla’s most emblematic buildings.
Barranquilla also offers many delicious dishes thanks to its cultural mix with Caribbean influences. So you can enjoy local dishes such as sancocho de guandú con carne salada (pigeon pea soup with salted meat), bollos de yuca (cheese-filled cassava balls), and drinks prepared with fruits like corozo, tamarind, sapote, and loquat.
Unique experiences
The Carnival of Barranquilla isn’t just the most important folk and cultural event in Colombia; it’s also a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, according to Unesco.
The Carnival is a living treasure that is passed down, generation to generation. It is the most authentic expression of the Colombian people, an assembly of colors, races, legends, coastal joy, revelry, and rhythms such as the cumbia, mapalé, garabato, and son.
The Carnival lasts four days, during which you’ll have many unforgettable experiences. The festivities begin days before Ash Wednesday, reaching their peak that Saturday, during the famed Battle of Flowers, a joyful parade filled with colors and beauty.
In addition to this celebration, Barranquilla is the perfect destination for making purchases, and is a port where sailors from around the world dock with their yachts and sailboats.
In the city, you can also visit the legendary Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium, home of Atlético Junior and the Colombia National Team in the World Cup Qualifying matches.
Activities you won’t want to miss out on
If you want to enjoy all the area’s natural beauty, you must visit Bocas de Ceniza, a marvelous place where the Magdalena River meets the Caribbean Sea. This place is definitely photo-worthy.
The Barranquilla Zoo is another interesting place to visit. It has 550 animals of 140 different species, some of which are in danger of extinction, such as the eagle, the condor, the flamingo, the manatee, and the spectacled bear.
The Golden Gate park (el Gran Malecón), which extends about three miles along the west bank of the Magdalena River, is also worth visiting. The area offers a variety of culinary, sports, cultural, and recreational activities.
Recommendations
The average temperature in Barranquilla is 81.3 °F, so we recommend bringing light clothes to beat the heat.
You can use the Integrated Transport System to get around the city. This system uses rapid transit buses that can take you to many different tourist destinations.
Remember that the city has many hotels and apartments available to stay in that are strategically located and perfect for any budget.
Keep in mind that traveling to Barranquilla is very easy thanks to the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, which has many important national and international connections.
‘La Arenosa’ will embrace you with its warm atmosphere and take you on the best experiences the Colombian Caribbean can offer. Barranquilla is a breathtaking entrance to Colombia.
Sincelejo
Bagpipes, clarinets and drums merge with guitars, accordions and other instruments to create lively music in Sincelejo and throughout the department of Sucre. This city, founded on October 4, 1535, reflects in its sounds the rich mixture that occurred between Europe, Africa and America in the Colombian Caribbean. Sincelejo, whose average temperature is 27 ºC, is a starting point to visit mountains, savannas, gulfs and marshes.
What to do in Sincelejo
Travelers can attend Sincelejo the Fiestas of January 20, which highlights the corralejas-Spanish heritage that has bulls as protagonists. It is also possible to get the spontaneous joy of the department of Sucre by living celebrations such as the National Bagpipes Festival, in the municipality of Ovejas; and the Vueltiao National Hat Reign, in Sampués.
Activities you can’t miss
Living the Feasts of January 20 in Sincelejo, touring the Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora El Corchal ‘Mono Hernández’, near San Onofre and visiting the Rosario Islands and San Bernardo are plans that await visitors.
Montería
Livestock Capital of Colombia
Life in Monteria depends on the Sinú River, the river artery that has allowed the entrance of progress and around which this city has grown, which was founded on May 1, 1777. The capital of the department of Córdoba, whose average temperature is of 26 ºC, it receives the travelers between extensive savannas where the main industry of the region flourishes, the cattle ranch. Not far away, 60 km away, is the Caribbean Sea.
What to do in Montería?
Those who arrive in Monteria can walk along the Ronda del Río Sinú and watch the iguanas sunbathe. From this city, where thanks to a cattle fair the importance of cattle for the economy of this area of the Caribbean is perceived, it is easy to visit Lorica, a municipality that is part of the Network of Peoples Heritage of Colombia; Also, attend San Antero for celebrations that revolve around the donkey.
Unique experiences
A visit to Monteria includes a walk along a tree-covered tourist path that runs alongside the Sinú River.
Activities you can’t miss
Walking along the river along the Sinú river is an unmissable plan for those arriving in Monteria. From this city it is possible to visit a theme park where you learn about alligators.
Lorica
The Sinú River is key to understanding the spirit of Lorica. The waterway has given the town life and imbued the town with a joyous, open nature that receives visitors from all over the world. In the mid-nineteenth century, immigrants from France, Belgium, England and America came to this Heritage Village via the Sinú, attracted by the rich natural resources of the region; they were then followed by the Syrians and Lebanese, who contributed to its further development.
Ciénaga
Gabriel García Márquez’s brand of magical realism was inspired partly by Ciénaga, a town in the department of Magdalena, which is part of the Colombian Network of People’s Heritage. Located on the Caribbean Sea, near the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Ciénaga is notable for the diversity of its landscapes and its well-preserved architecture.
What to do in Ciénaga
Ciénaga was an indigenous village when it was catechized by Fray Tomás Ortiz in 1529. Since then it has been instrumental in the development of the Colombian Caribbean, as evidenced in is its historic center, which was declared a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1996. Here you can learn about banana cultivation, bathe in hot springs, and participate in a festival honoring the caimán (a small crocodile).
Unique Experiences
Walk through the historic center of Ciénaga and you’ll notice the town’s splendor, owed in part to the extensive surrounding banana plantations. You can also visit nearby stilt villages in the area.
Can´t-Miss Activities
At Cienaga one can find activities for each person. What will make your trip an unforgettable experience.
Mompox
Life in Mompox is tempered by the gentle breeze off the Magdalena River, Colombia’s main artery. The town, whose historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, grew from what used to be an island vault for the gold and silver plundered by the Spaniards during the colonization of the Americas. Mompox was founded in 1540 and is located about six hours away from Cartagena.
Riohacha
Riohacha, located alongside a desert and at the gateway to the Caribbean Sea, is a port of entry to La Guajira peninsula, the northernmost department of Colombia. This city, situated on the Ranchería River, was founded on August 6, 1545. Those who visit are also witness to the legacy of the indigenous Wayúu people, evident in their colorful blankets and knapsacks, among other handcrafted items.
Valledupar
Valledupar is a unique Colombian Caribbean city –you need only to walk through its streets shaded by mango trees and along the Shore of the Guatapurí River, whose waters descend from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, to understand why. The capital of Cesar, founded on January 6, 1550, is known as the heart of vallenato, a musical rhythm through which popular legends and myths are told.
