This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Puerto Colombia is a town in the Atlantico district of Colombia near Barranquilla. It is only one hour from Cartagena and fifteen minutes from Barranquilla. Hence the name, Puerto Colombia was the first port on the Caribbean coast and enjoyed success as a thriving port city until the newer city of Barranquilla took over. Today, Puerto Colombia is a beautiful historical city with colonial-style buildings, although the port has been renovated and is on track to again being the largest port in Colombia.
To get here, you need to take a bus from Barranquilla to the centre of Puerto Colombia. The hostels in town are only a short walk from the bus stop in the middle of town. Because of its proximity to Barranquilla, Puerto Colombia might be a great place to stay if you prefer a smaller, quieter, quainter town. Hostels here are spacious and clean with a welcoming staff. They can help arrange tours to some of the local attractions or give you information about local transport. The word for hostel in Spanish is “hostal,” so you’ll have no problems finding one!
Puerto Colombia is famous for its pier, which extends several hundred metres into the Caribbean, and for its rapid decline. The city blew up with industry during the early 1900s and even had a railway built to serve traffic to and from Barranquilla. When Barranquilla built a canal through the Bocas de Ceniza, officials restricted trade from Puerto Colombia and finally banned it. The port fell into a rapid decline and In 2009, the pier collapsed during a storm, but efforts have been made to restore it, although as in most South American cities, its happening slowly.
The beaches of Puerto Colombia are popular with locals and tourists. Barranquilla doesn’t have beach access, so expect to see quite a few locals out at PC on the weekends with their family. Other attractions include Salgar Castle, mangroves, and Sabanilla.
Written by local expertz for Puerto Colombia
Jakob Lombardi
