Agree the taxi fare before you get in
- Barranquilla, Colombia
- Posted on
About this trap
Barranquilla taxis have traditionally run without a meter, and a smart-meter system announced in 2025 had not been confirmed in service when this was written. Ask the price before you board and repeat the destination so there is no argument on arrival. Visitor reports say fares rise at night, on rainy days and during Carnival. Ask your hotel what a normal fare to your destination is.
Where
Agree the taxi fare before you get inTaxis across Barranquilla
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Barranquilla
13 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.BF TrapSleepBook Carnival lodging early: hotels pass 90 percent full
Barranquilla, ColombiaDuring Carnival 2026 hotel occupancy passed 90 percent with peaks at 100 percent, and the city received more than 820,000 visitors, who stayed 3.5 nights on average. Rooms near the parade route go first, so reserve as soon as your dates are fixed and prefer rooms with free cancellation. Keep El Prado or Alto Prado in…
TipMusic & NightlifeDance classic salsa at La Troja, a heritage record bar
Barranquilla, ColombiaLa Troja, on the corner of Carrera 44 and Calle 74, is a salsa institution named cultural and musical heritage of Barranquilla and known for a collection of more than 10,000 vinyl records. The sound is classic salsa, Fania favourites included, and young local musicians also get space there. Check its social media for…
BW TipShopBuy iraca palm crafts straight from Usiacurí weavers
Barranquilla, ColombiaUsiacurí, about 40 minutes from Barranquilla on the La Cordialidad road, weaves iraca palm into bags, baskets, fans and coasters. Many artisans work at home and you can watch them weave, and the shops opposite the Julio Flórez museum sell finished pieces. Combine it with the church and the museum for a half day. Ask…
CG TipShopCarve a Carnival mask at a workshop in Galapa
Barranquilla, ColombiaGalapa, about 15 km from Barranquilla, is known as the home of the wooden masks you see at Carnival, such as the torito, tiger and congo. At the family workshop Congo Real you can join Artesano por un día, learning the wood, carving and painting, and make your own mask to take home. Tours from the city also include…
TipPhotography & ViewsWalk the mural alleys of El Prado for photos
Barranquilla, ColombiaThe callejones of El Prado now form an open-air mural gallery on the neighbourhood's history, free to see and close to the old mansions. Walk the alleys in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and the heat is lower. Ask a Local Friend or the staff at your hotel which alleys are newest, as the…
TipArt & CultureBook a visit to La Cueva, the Grupo de Barranquilla's bar
Barranquilla, ColombiaLa Cueva is the old tertulia bar where García Márquez and the Grupo de Barranquilla gathered, declared national cultural heritage in 2002. Since 2025 it works as a cultural centre rather than a regular restaurant, with concerts, book launches and guided museum visits, and it serves the public by reservation only…
TipArt & CultureLook up inside the Catedral María Reina on Plaza de la Paz
Barranquilla, ColombiaThe cathedral on Plaza de la Paz opened to the public in 1980 and rewards a short visit even if you are not religious. Look up for the tall stained-glass windows, then at the two gold-leaf glass mosaics behind the altar and the 16-ton bronze Cristo Libertador by Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. Go on a quiet morning, dress…
VU TipArt & CultureVisit Mapuka, the Karib peoples museum at Uninorte
Barranquilla, ColombiaMuseo Mapuka is the archaeological museum of the Karib peoples, inside the Universidad del Norte campus on the north edge of the city. It shows ceramics, stone tools and metalwork from the Colombian Caribbean, with short explanations on each case and original pieces beside replicas. Its last published schedule had…
Know Barranquilla well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.