Barranquilla Travel Guide (With Venezuela Visa Tips)

Days 300-301 of my journey brought me to Barranquilla—a city that defied all expectations. Originally unplanned, I came solely because it offered same-day Venezuela visas and sat conveniently between Cartagena and Santa Marta. But Epiphany holiday closures left me visa-less and forcing an extra day here. Even ChatGPT-curated itineraries failed when key sites like the zoo and churches were shut. 👀 If You Must Visit... 📍 Iglesia de San Nicolás de Tolentino (17th-century church) 📍 Plaza de la Aduana (yellow Spanish-style former trade hub) 📍 Teatro Amira de la Rosa (cultural complex) 📍 Zoológico de Barranquilla (small zoo) 📍 Gran Malecón del Río (waterfront promenade) 📍 Monumento Ventana al Mundo (glass tower viewpoint) ⭐ Real Draw: The Carnaval de Barranquilla (March 1-4, 2025), Latin America’s 2nd-largest carnival. Time your trip for this! ⚠️ Museo del Caribe (indigenous culture/music museum) appears permanently closed—skip it. ⚓ Logistics • Intercity shuttles: Barranquilla Transportes Marsol Office • Getting around: Uber exists but scarce. Hail cabs—they’re cheap and honest. 🏠 Where to Stay • Casa Aluna: Kitchen access, supermarket across the street, 10-min walk to Venezuela embassy. 🪪 Venezuela Visa Reality Check The embassy queue now takes 4-5 days—not due to Chinese demand, but locals applying. Staff kindly redirected me to Bogotá’s embassy. Pro tip: Try your luck here, but have backup plans. #BarranquillaOrBust #VenezuelaVisaHacks