Barranquilla

Department: Atlántico Population: 1.8 million Altitude: Sea Level Climate: Hot (average temp. 28ºC)

Barranquilla is by far the biggest city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. It is an important port and economic centre, but offers little to the tourist. Barranquilla is equidistant between Cartagena and Santa Marta and as such many travellers get a fleeting glimse of the city out of their bus window as they skim round the outskitrs as they travel between the two tourist hot spots.

Unless you have a specific reason to visit Barranquilla (the city's fantastic carnival held in January is one of them!) then it's probably best to give it a miss However, should you find yourself with a day or two to kill there are places of some interest dotted throughout the city.

More coming soon...

Sport

Barranquilla's professional football team is Atletico Junior nicknamed Los Tiburones (the sharks). It is one of Colombia's traditionally big clubs and has won five championships, the last of which was in 2004 after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Atletico Nacional. Atletico Junior play their home matches at the Estadio Metropolitano, the largest stadium in Colombia with a capacity of 60,000 spectators.