Late sun turns the wide Magdalena silver along the Gran Malecón, and the colorful towers of the Ventana al Mundo glow against a huge Caribbean sky. Color is serious business here. Each year before Lent, Carnival fills the streets for four days with long-nosed marimonda masks and cumbia dancers.
Away from the water, El Prado's 1920s mansions line broad avenues, and Barrio Abajo, the old heart of carnival culture, keeps its traditions close. It is hot all year, but from December to March trade winds cool the days and rain mostly holds off. A Local Friend knows when to head out early to beat the midday heat and when to linger on the promenade as the evening breeze arrives.
