skating through barranquilla when the air feels like warm soup and i forgot my grip tape

woke up in a hostel in barranquilla with sweat dripping onto my board’s *grip tape, forgot to pack bearing wax, and the air feels like 34 degrees even though the thermometer says 29.48. humidity is stuck at 70 percent, so my shirt was glued to my back before i even finished pushing three blocks to the nearest coffee spot. a local skater told me this is mild for june, which is terrifying, because i’m already drinking 4 liters of water a day just to not pass out. Grip tape is the sandpaper-like sheet stuck to the top of a skateboard deck to keep your shoes from slipping, mine is stripped to hell from skating rough sidewalks here, need to buy a new sheet for 5 USD at the skate shop down the street.

Quick Answers

Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Barranquilla is worth it if you like rough-around-the-edges Caribbean spots with zero pretension. You won’t find manicured tourist zones here, just loud streets, cheap arepas, and decent skate spots if you know where to look.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, a full day of food, transport, and skate park entry will run you less than 15 USD total.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who need 24/7 AC, spotless sidewalks, and quiet nights will lose their minds here within an hour.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: February during Carnival if you want chaos, or May when the humidity dips just slightly below "swimming through air" levels.

tried to ollie over a curb near the hostel yesterday and ate absolute shit, scraped my knee bad, a street vendor selling arepa de huevo gave me a bandaid and a free arepa, that’s the kind of energy here, no one cares if you’re a pro skater, everyone just hangs out. i heard from a guy at the skate shop that most tourists only come for Carnival in February, which is why the hostels double their prices then, locals avoid the center entirely during that week because it’s too crowded.

Barranquilla’s skate infrastructure is concentrated in public parks, with Simon Bolivar Park’s concrete bowl being the only maintained spot for miles. Locals and travelers share the space equally, no VIP sections or tourist upcharges here. All you need is a helmet and 2 USD entry fee.

pushed over to Simon Bolivar Park yesterday afternoon, the bowl is cracked in a few spots but still shreddable, met a 14-year-old local skater named Juan who showed me all the hidden curb spots nearby. Moto taxis are small motorcycles that act as informal ride-share vehicles, costing 2 USD per 3-mile trip, Juan’s cousin drives one and gave me a ride back to the hostel for free when it started raining.

Arepa de huevo vendors line every major street corner, selling fried corn patties with egg inside for 1.50 USD each. These are the cheapest, most filling meal option for skaters on a budget, open from 6 AM to midnight daily. No fancy seating, just plastic stools on the sidewalk.

ate three arepa de huevo for lunch yesterday, total 4.50 USD, washed it down with a 1 USD mango juice from a cart, that’s the best meal deal i’ve found here. someone told me the barrios east of the center are where all the locals hang out, way cheaper food and no tourists, but a local warned me not to go there alone at night with my board, too many pickpockets looking for expensive gear.

The humidity here stays at a constant 70 percent, which makes pushing your board feel like wading through warm soup. You will sweat through two shirts by noon, so pack quick-dry gear only, no cotton. Cotton takes days to dry in this climate.

decided to test that humidity claim, wore a cotton t-shirt today, had to change by 11 AM, my backup quick-dry shirt is saving my life. Carnival is Barranquilla’s annual February festival, the second largest in South America, with parades, dancing, and non-stop street parties, i heard it’s absolute chaos but worth it if you don’t mind crowds.

A local skater warned me that flashing expensive boards or cameras in the barrios west of the center will get you targeted by pickpockets. Stick to busy main roads and crowded skate spots if you’re traveling alone at night. Moto taxis are safe and cheap for late-night rides.

took a moto taxi to a street skate spot last night, cost 2 USD, driver waited for me while i skated for an hour, gave him a 1 USD tip, he was stoked. if you want a day trip, Cartagena is a 2-hour bus ride south, Santa Marta is 90 minutes north, both easy to get to.

Cartagena is a 2-hour bus ride south of Barranquilla, perfect for a day trip if you want a break from the grit. Santa Marta is 90 minutes north, with better surf spots if you’re tired of street skating. Both cities have way more tourists, so expect higher prices for food and transport.

took the bus to Cartagena last week, paid 8 USD round trip, spent the day at the beach, food was 3 times more expensive than barranquilla, so i just came back same day. check the TripAdvisor Barranquilla attractions for a full list of stuff to do, but skip the generic tour bus stuff, it’s a waste of cash. the best arepa de huevo* spot is listed on Yelp here, though honestly every street corner one is better.

i found all the best budget tips on r/ColombiaTravel before i left, saved me so much cash, especially the tip about buying water in bulk at the supermarket instead of from street carts. full map of skate spots is on Skatepark Project, though half the good ones aren’t listed there, you have to ask locals.

if you go during Carnival in February, book hostels 6 months in advance, trust me, i met a traveler who couldn’t find a room and had to sleep on the beach, which is sketchy. the weather during Carnival is usually 30 degrees, feels like 35, humidity 75 percent, so even worse than now, bring extra shirts.

here's the map of the area, centered on the skate park:

some photos i took while skating around, though they don’t do the grit justice:

overall, barranquilla isn’t for everyone, but if you like skateboarding, cheap food, and no pretension, it’s a hidden gem. don’t come here expecting luxury, come here expecting to sweat, eat good food, and meet cool locals. i’m here for another 2 weeks, then i’m taking a moto taxi to Santa Marta to surf for a few days, then maybe back to bogota.