Carnaval de Barranquilla 2020: Second Largest Carnival in the World 3/11/20, 2 29 PM Carnaval de Barranquilla 2020: Second Largest Carnival in the World Jeff Aug 14, 2019
Carnaval de Barranquilla (Carnival of Barranquilla) in Colombia is the second largest carnival in the world, surpassed only by Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 2020, Barranquillaʼs carnival will be held on February 22 to February 25, 2020. If you happen to be in Colombia during this time itʼs considered by many to be a must-see event.
Barranquillaʼs Carnival slogan is “quien lo vive, es quien lo goza“ – “those who live it are those who enjoy it.” The city of Barranquilla is located on
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Colombiaʼs Caribbean coast. And its citizens are given a special four-day holiday to celebrate their carnival.
So, most of Barranquilla shuts down during the four days of carnival. Enjoy the huge party in Barranquilla but read the insider tips in this guide before you go. Note the above photos from Carnival are courtesy of Carnaval de Barranquilla.
Furthermore, if you are interested in seeing how living Barranquilla compares to Medellín, see our Medellín vs Barranquilla comparison.
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq History of Carnival in Barranquilla
Not much is known about exactly how and why carnival in Barranquilla began. The carnival reportedly originates from a combination of pagan ceremonies, catholic beliefs and ethnic diversity. Barranquilla is a location where European, African, and indigenous peoples and cultures converged.
So, carnival is a blending of various cultures and local traditions and permeates many aspects of the carnival, particularly the dances and musical genres. Carnival in Barranquilla was at first considered a holiday for slaves, and it grew over the years to be a major celebration of the region.
The first notable date in the Carnivalʼs history is 1888, when a figure known as King Momo emerged as a main character of Barranquillaʼs Carnival.
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King Momo is known as the son of the dream and of the night and presided over parties of the insane, which are celebrated in pueblos and cities. Momo became known as the “protector” of all those who indulged in merrymaking and the scandal of vice and excess.
In 1903, the first Battle of Flowers parade was held. And in 1918, the first Carnival Queen was elected.
In 2002, Carnival in Barranquilla was declared a Colombian National Culture Heritage. And in 2003, Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The king and queen of Carnaval de Barranquilla 2019, photo courtesy of Carnaval de Barranquilla Carnaval de Barranquilla 2020 Schedule of Events
Barranquillaʼs Carnival official dates are on the four days before Ash
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Wednesday, which falls on February 26 in 2020. So, for 2020 carnival in Barranquilla falls on Saturday, February 22 to Tuesday, February 25.
But the Carnaval de Barranquilla 2020 events actually start before the official carnival start date of February 22. For example, one of the early events is La Guacherna, which is a parade that is considered one of the most important pre-carnival events.
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Childrenʼs parade 2015, photo by Yves Picq
Other early events include Desfile del Carnaval de Los Niños (Childrenʼs carnival parade) February 16 and the Coronación Reina del Carnaval (Coronation of the Queen of Carnival) on February 20, which happen before February 22.
The following are the main Barranquilla Carnival 2020 events:
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Barranquilla carnival, photo courtesy of Carnaval de Barranquilla
February 22, 2020 – Batalla de Flores (Battle of Flowers) – 1 pm on Via 40. This parade takes place on the opening Saturday of carnival. Battle of Flowers is a six-hour parade headed by the Carnival Queen and consists of elaborate floats, brilliantly decorated costumes, folkloric groups and other dancing groups.
Floats are equipped with loudspeakers with some earsplitting music. Youʼll also see some parody acts of many famous celebrities and politicians, typically including the President of Colombia and many others.
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Great Parade of Tradition and Folklore, photo courtesy of Carnaval de Barranquilla
February 23, 2020 – Gran parada de Tradición y Folclore (Great Parade of Tradition and Folklore) – 1 pm on Via 40. This is another lengthy parade commonly called the “Great Parade” that includes traditional folkloric groups, cumbia groups and dancing groups with no floats. Each year well over 300 dancing groups participate in this parade.
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Great Fantasy Parade, photo by El Heraldo
February 24, 2020 – Gran parada de Comparsas (Great Parade of Groups) – 1 pm on Via 40. This parade is typically a more stylish and international version of the Great Parade. This has also been known as the “Great Fantasy Parade”.
This parade typically features more innovative choreographic mixtures, which range from the most traditional to the international by blending salsa, samba, reggaetón and electronic music with other local ones such as cumbia, mapalé and porro.
February 25, 2020 – Desfile Joselito se va con las Cenizas (Parade of Joselito Leaves With the Ashes) – in the afternoon and typically is at Carrera 54 with Calle 58. The last day of carnival is marked by the death of
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“Joselito”. The burial of Joselito is carried out to symbolize the end of carnival. The “Joselito” character is meant to symbolize the joy of carnival. Thousands take to the streets with Joselitos, which are transported on coffins or stretchers.
Also, more information about Barranquillaʼs carnival is found on the Carnival de Barranquilla website.
Seven Insider Tips for Carnaval de Barranquilla
1. Donʼt wait to the last minute to make travel reservations. Occupancy is typically over 95 percent in Barranquilla for hotels, hostels and furnished apartment rentals during this time. Also, prices are much higher than the normal off-peak-season pricing. In addition, hotels and hostels are not the only option.
Locals try to earn some extra money during this time by renting out rooms. But be careful of renting rooms as some homes in Barranquilla donʼt have air-conditioning. So, make sure a place has air-conditioning. Usually you can find some places available on Airbnb and Couchsurfing, even when booking relatively late.
2. Get tickets and go to the parades early. With so many people along the parade routes it can be difficult to find a good place to watch unless you have a ticket to one the box bleacher seats with the boxes known as palcos.
If you have tickets to the bleacher seats keep in mind there is no designating seating. The bleacher seats are first come, first serve and reportedly can be overbooked. So, go early to make sure you get a good seat. The back rows tend to fill up first as they are normally in the shade.
Some of the hotels in Barranquilla will still have tickets available for sale
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even up to the day before carnival starts. Also, there will be sales of tickets on the street. But watch out for fake tickets.
There are some public places along the parade route where you can rent plastic chairs or stand for free. But in my experience, the bleachers are much better places to watch the parades as they can have some shade.
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by photo by Yves Picq
3. Watch out for thieves. With all the tourists in Barranquilla, thieves are active in the city. Keep in mind that you are a tourist in a foreign city, which can make you a target. Take care not to flash your cellphones, cameras, jewelry or money around. And see our detailed Barranquilla security and safety tips.
4. Use sunscreen and insect repellant. It is very hot in Barranquilla with a daily high temperature that ranges from 88.3 to 91.8 °F (31.3 to 33.2 °C) and sometimes itʼs even hotter. Also, it doesnʼt rain very often.
So, use sunscreen, hats and sunglasses and stay hydrated. In addition, Aedes aegypi mosquitos and other types of bugs can be a problem in Barranquilla. So, insect repellant is recommended.
5. Expect to get messy. Itʼs quite hot in Barranquilla. So, youʼll likely be sweating. And along the parade routes itʼs quite possible you will get sprayed with espuma (foam) and doused in flour. And foreigners can be prime targets. So, donʼt wear something nice.
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6. Get dressed up. They sell brightly colored accessories and costumes throughout Barranquilla. So, you can get dressed up like the other carnival revelers to fit in. And pretty much nothing is off-limits.
7. Donʼt go just to the parades. The parades on the main route, Via 40, are great but it can be pricy to get a good seat. In addition, on some other streets like Calle 70 and Calle 84 you can find street parties that start before sunset and go on until the next morning.
For additional suggestions and tips, see Stephanieʼs article about 13 things she learned during her first Carnival in Barranquilla in 2018.
How to Buy Tickets for the 2020 Carnaval de Barranquilla (Barranquilla Carnival)
Tickets are on sale for the 2020 Carnival de Barranquilla. For 2020, tickets for Carnival de Barranquilla are found for sale on Tuboletaʼs website.
Tickets for box bleacher seats (Palcos) on Via 40 for the 2020 Barranquilla carnival are priced at 360,000 pesos for 2020 including a booking fee. There are also mini-box seats (Minipalcos) on Via 40 on sale for 90,000 pesos including a booking fee.
Carnaval de Barranquilla Photos
Here are some additional photos from Carnival de Barranquilla in 2015 taken by Yves Picq showing several of the elaborate and colorful costumes worn by several women.
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq
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Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq Barranquillaʼs Carnival vs Rio de Janeiroʼs Carnival?
Perhaps the biggest draw of Barranquillaʼa Carnival over Rio de Janeiroʼs Carnival is the fact that, unlike carnival in the Brazilian city, in Colombia, you will be one of relatively few foreign tourists. https://medellinguru.com/carnaval-de-barranquilla/ Page 19 of 25 Carnaval de Barranquilla 2020: Second Largest Carnival in the World 3/11/20, 2 29 PM
The lack of hordes of foreigner tourists in Barranquilla means that you are far more likely to meet locals and enjoy a more authentic Carnival experience in Barranquilla than in Rio de Janeiro.
Also, itʼs a much shorter (and cheaper) flight from the U.S. to Barranquilla than to Rio de Janeiro. In addition, hotels and other lodging options will be much cheaper in Barranquilla compared to the prices in Rio de Janeiro.
Furthermore, Barranquillaʼs carnival is much less well known. So, if you fancy heading somewhere less-known, then choose Barranquilla over Rio de Janeiro.
Top Things to See and Do in Colombia
On the Medellin Guru website, we have been looking at some of the most beautiful places in Colombia in a series of top things to see and do in Colombia. This is due to many readers asking about several of these things to do in Colombia.
We have looked at 20 of the top things to see and do in Colombia, in alphabetical order:
k. Caño Cristales – the most beautiful river in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful river in the world by some people. m. Carnival in Barranquilla – the second largest carnival in the world. n. Cartagena – Oozing history, romance and sun-drenched beaches, the allure of historical Cartagena is hard to resist. o. Ciudad Perdida – the site of an ancient city in Colombia that is older than Machu Picchu in Peru. p. Colombiaʼs Pacific coast – often overlooked by tourists visiting Colombia but offering untamed nature and undiscovered beauty that is off the beaten path for most foreign tourists.
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q. Desierto de la Tatacoa – the second largest arid zone in Colombia is Tatacoa Desert, which has surreal desert landscapes and some of the best stargazing in Colombia. s. Guatapé – a picturesque pueblo near Medellín known for its huge rock and lake. And itʼs likely the most visited pueblo in Colombia by foreigners. t. La Guajira Peninsula – one of the most visually stunning places in South America, which is located on the northern tip of Colombia where the desert meets the sea. u. Las Lajas Sanctuary – the most beautiful church in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful church in the world. kv. Medellínʼs Christmas lights – Medellínʼs annual world-class Christmas lights known as Alumbrados Navideños. kk. Medellínʼs Feria de Las Flores – Medellínʼs world-famous flower festival each year. km. Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados – a popular national park in Colombia located in the heart of the Colombian coffee region. kn. Parque Tayrona – known for its beautiful beaches and the worldʼs highest coastal mountain range. ko. Popayán – a colonial gem in Colombia best known for its white buildings and churches, itʼs a city off the beaten path for foreign tourists but is definitely worth visiting. kp. Rio Claro Nature Reserve – located about three hours from Medellín, Rio Claro is the perfect place to unplug from hectic daily life and enjoy a picturesque crystal-clear river, canyon and tropical rainforest. kq. Salento and the Cocora Valley – Salento is a picturesque pueblo in Colombiaʼs coffee region and the nearby Cocora Valley is one of the most striking landscapes found in Colombia. ks. San Agustín Archaeological Park – the largest group of pre-Columbian monuments and megalithic statues in South America and is a UNESCO
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World Heritage Site. kt. San Andrés – Colombiaʼs Caribbean island which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve featuring many beaches, islets and coral reefs that are filled with flora and fauna. ku. San Gil – Colombiaʼs adventure capital that is full of things to do including white water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, hiking and much more. mv. San Jose del Guaviare – a hidden gem and eco-tourism location off the beaten path and offering wildlife watching, jungle trekking and delving into Colombiaʼs prehistoric past.
Also, we included Carnival in Barranquilla in our list of the top 20 tourist attractions in Colombia.
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View of Ernesto Cortissoz International airport in Barranquilla from the air, photo by jorgegomez117 How to Get to Barranquilla for Carnival
Barranquilla is a port city along the Caribbean coast in Colombia. Most foreign tourists who travel to Barranquilla for Carnival travel by air.
So, we have a separate detailed guide to the Barranquilla Airport – Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport.
Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla currently has flights from 9 different airlines with direct flights to and from 11 different destinations. Also, Easyfly is adding a flight to Curaçao in January 2020 and Spirit is adding a flight to Fort Lauderdale in April 2020.
k. Albatros Airlines – Caracas m. American Airlines – Miami n. Aruba Airlines – Aruba o. Avianca – Bogotá, Medellín, Miami p. Copa Airlines – Panama City q. Easyfly– Bucaramanga, Monteria, Valledupar s. EzAir – Curaçao (begins January 14, 2020) t. LATAM – Bogotá, Medellín u. Spirit – Fort Lauderdale (begins on April 23, 2020) kv. VivaAir – Bogotá, Medellín kk. Wingo – San Andrés
In addition, there is an alternate airport to look at when traveling to Barranquilla, which is Cartagenaʼs Rafael Núñez Airport (CTG). Cartagena is located only about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Barranquilla.
Cartagenaʼs airport has more international direct flight destinations
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available including Atlanta, New York-JFK, Orlando and Amsterdam.
Carnaval de Barranquilla 2015, photo by Yves Picq The Bottom Line: Carnaval de Barranquilla (Barranquillaʼs Carnival)
I have been to Carnaval de Barranquilla twice in the past and itʼs definitely worth going to. Donʼt worry about getting messy, itʼs part of the fun. And itʼs a massive party worth experiencing at least once.
If you are planning to go to Carnival in Barranquilla in 2020, itʼs not to early to plan since itʼs better to make your lodging and airline reservations early for this very popular event.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the largest and best-known carnival.
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Barranquillaʼs version of carnival isnʼt as well-known but it adds a nice Caribbean twist and wonʼt have as many foreigner tourists.
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Editors note: updated on October 27, 2018 by completely revising this article that was originally published in January 2018 for the 2018 carnival with new information about the 2019 Carnaval de Barranquilla (Barranquilla Carnival).
Editors note: updated on August 14, 2019 to completely revise this article for the 2020 Carnaval de Barranquilla (Barranquilla Carnival).
Editors note: updated on December 29, 2019 to add flight options from the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla.
Editors note: updated on January 9, 2020 with information about how to buy tickets for the 2020 Carnival in Barranquilla
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