Barranquilla travel guide

Getting around

Taxis for trips within town cost US$1.60.

Getting there

Ernesto Cortissoz airport is 10 km from the city. A city bus from the airport to town costs US$0.35 (US$0.40 on Sunday). Only take buses marked ‘centro’, you can catch them 200 m from the airport on the right. A taxi to town costs US$7 (taxis do not have meters, so agree on the fare in advance). The main bus terminal is south of the city near the Circunvalación. Some bus companies have offices around Calle 34 and Carrera 45. If arriving into Barranquilla by boat and shipping your car, allow two days to complete all the paperwork you’ll need to retrieve your car from the port.

Air

The bus to the airport (marked ‘Malambo’) leaves from Cra 44, goes up C 32 to C 38, and then C 30 to the airport.

Daily flights to Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín, Bucaramanga, Montería and Valledupar. International flights to Aruba, Curaçao, Miami and Panama City.

Airline offices

AeroRepública, C 72, No 54-49, local 1 y 2, T3608239.

Bus

To Santa Marta, about 2 hrs, US$3.25, Pullman (less in non-a/c, Coolibertador), also direct to Santa Marta’s Rodadero beach. To Valledupar, 5-6 hrs, US$10. To Montería direct, 7-8 hrs, US$11. To Medellín, 16 hrs, US$40, Pullman. To Bucaramanga, 1130 most days, 9 hrs, US$27 with Copetran (a/c, 1st class). To Bogotá, frequent, 24 hrs, US$45, direct with Copetran. To Caucasia, 8-11 hrs, US$17. To Maicao, every 30 mins from 0100-1200, 6 hrs, S$14.50, Brasilia. To Cartagena, 2 hrs by colectivo US$7, 2½- 3 hrs, US$4.50 with Transportes Cartagena; US$6 with Expreso Brasilia; Brasilia Van Tours minibus, from their downtown offices as well as the bus terminals.

Taxi

Avianca, C 72, No 57-79, T3534691.

To Cartagena, US$15 per person, leaves when full.

Banks

There are a number of banks, inlcuding Bancolombia and Banco de Bogotá. ATMs are also readily available. For currency exchange, El Cairo, C 76, No 48-30, T3606433, and at C 34, No 43-177; Paseo Bolívar, T3799441, TCs, euros, dollars but not sterling, Mon-Fri and Sat 0900-1200.

Embassies and consulates

Germany, C73, Vía 40-270, T3532078; Netherlands, Cra 77B, No 57-141, of 806, T3688387; USA, C 77B, No 57-141, of 511, T3532001 (visas obtainable only in Bogotá); Venezuela, Edif Bancafé, Cra 52, No 69-96, p 3, T3682228, T3682207, 0800-1500, visa issued same day, but you must be there by 0915 with photo and US$30 cash; proof of onward travel may be required.

Internet

Chatnet, Cra 54, No 72-111, local 3.

Post office

Plaza Bolívar.

Security

DAS, C 54, No 41-133, T3717500; Tourist police, Cra 43, No 47-53, T3510415, T340 9903.