Colombia is a country of contrasts. It is home to an impressive plurality of landscapes and the most varied territories and ecosystems are combined: only here could the density of the Amazon jungle coexist in harmony with the breadth of the Llanos, and the frost of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes with the warmth and freshness of the Caribbean Sea.

As with its nature, the cities of Colombia can also become very different from each other, no matter how close they are. Such is the case of Cartagena and Barranquilla, two of the great jewels of the Colombian Caribbean. Although the distance between the two is less than two hours, each one of them offers a series of plans and experiences so unique and their own, that it is worth learning about them separately.
The first one is Cartagena, a city rich in history. It has beautiful and well-preserved colonial architecture, which includes the wall that surrounds the historic center, the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría, among others. In addition, the city has a large number of museums, art galleries and theaters that offer an unparalleled cultural experience.

Located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, in "la Heroica" its visitors can also enjoy beautiful beaches and natural landscapes. Thanks to this privileged location, the region is famous for its water activities, such as diving, surfing and sport fishing.

This mix between the colonial and the natural makes Cartagena the ideal destination for all those seeking ecotourism and historical experiences. You can visit its colonial churches and in less than half an hour be sailing through the mangroves of the swamp, or explore the tunnels and passageways of the Castillo de San Felipe and then take kitesurfing lessons on the beach.

Now let's talk about Barranquilla. Unlike Cartagena, which is close to celebrating half a millennium of foundation, the capital of the department of Atlántico is a relatively young city. Its origin does not go back to the Spanish colony but to the beginnings of the nascent Republic of Colombia.
When the first industrial revolution occurred in the mid-XNUMXth century, the country saw the need to boost its internal trade routes and, in this way, be able to open up to the outside. This is how the Magdalena River, which had already been a key element during the colony, began to be used as a way to transport massive loads and a route for cargo steamships. And it was there, at its mouth, where Barranquilla began to grow.
It is not, then, a product of chance that it was precisely in this city that the oldest commercial airline on the continent, Avianca, was founded, or Cerveza Águila, which today is the flagship product of Bavaria, the second largest brewery on the continent.

Barranquilla was, and continues to be, the spearhead of Colombia's industrial and commercial development. Currently, the city has inaugurated El Gran Malecón del Río, a tourist, recreational and commercial complex on the banks of the Magdalena. The Malecón is completely public access, and has an ideal pedestrian promenade for walking or riding a bicycle, skateboard, or any means of sports transportation; also with more than a dozen outdoor restaurants and bars; and now, at the end of its 12 kilometers of extension, the Puerta de Oro Events Center has been inaugurated, with which it seeks to further project Barranquilla as one of the great business centers of Colombia.

Visiting the Colombian Caribbean and not going through Cartagena is like not having been. But, in the same way, the experience would not be complete without having passed through Barranquilla. The plans and activities that each one of them has to offer complement and reinforce each other.
For this reason, in the Spanish school Nueva Lengua We organize trips to Barranquilla for our students departing from Cartagena, and we offer weekend total immersion courses in which both cities are known in depth.

Get to know and live the Colombian Caribbean through a total experience that combines the best of the historical and natural heritage with the modernity and freshness of the great metropolises. Only Nueva Lengua can give you this and much more while you learn Spanish with immersive cultural activities.
Check the plans in the Caribbean that we have for you, or write to us at info@nuevalengua.com for more information on how to get to know Cartagena and Barranquilla while learning Spanish.