Avianca Just Launched a New Daily Nonstop Flight From Fort Lauderdale to This Caribbean City in Colombia

The wide brown ribbon of the Magdalena River meets the Caribbean near Barranquilla, where waterfront promenades, neighborhood restaurants and one of the region’s great carnival traditions give Colombia’s fourth-largest city an identity all its own.

Drive north and the city opens toward Puerto Colombia, its beaches and its famous overwater pier. Stay closer to the center and you find a destination shaped by Caribbean music, immigration, industry and food — from fried fish and coconut rice to arepas de huevo and icy glasses of corozo juice.

Now Barranquilla has a new daily connection with South Florida.

Avianca has launched year-round nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Barranquilla, adding another direct route between the United States and Colombia’s Caribbean region.

The new flight began July 15 and operates every day, giving South Florida travelers a new option for reaching a city increasingly known beyond its annual Carnival celebrations.

The New Fort Lauderdale-Barranquilla Flight

The southbound flight, Avianca Flight 229, departs Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 10:10 p.m. and arrives at Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla at 12:05 a.m. the following day.

The return flight, Avianca Flight 228, leaves Barranquilla at 4:25 p.m. and arrives in Fort Lauderdale at 8:20 p.m.

The route operates daily and year-round, a significant addition for a market traditionally served through connections in Bogotá, Panama City or other regional hubs.

“Fort Lauderdale is a strategic gateway within Avianca’s U.S. network, and these new routes directly respond to the growing demand for convenient, point-to-point travel between South Florida and Colombia,” said Rolando Damas, Avianca’s sales director for North America.

While Avianca simultaneously launched a Fort Lauderdale-Cali route, Barranquilla is the Caribbean story: a direct link between South Florida and one of the most important cities on Colombia’s northern coast.

A Caribbean City With a Different Energy

Barranquilla is less than two hours from Cartagena by car, but the two destinations offer very different experiences.

Cartagena draws visitors with its fortified historic center, colonial architecture and resort development. Barranquilla is larger, more commercial and more closely tied to the daily rhythms of Colombia’s Caribbean region.

The city has long served as one of Colombia’s major ports and business centers. Its position near the mouth of the Magdalena River helped make it a gateway for immigrants arriving from Europe and the Middle East, influences still visible in local architecture, neighborhoods and restaurants.

Barranquilla’s cultural profile is led by Carnaval de Barranquilla, the enormous annual festival recognized by UNESCO for its music, dance, costumes and traditions. The celebration fills the city with cumbia, marimonda masks, elaborate parades and performances rooted in African, Indigenous and European heritage.

Carnival may be the city’s biggest international draw, but Barranquilla has been building a broader tourism identity.

The Gran Malecón, a riverfront park along the Magdalena, has become one of the city’s central gathering places, with restaurants, public spaces, playgrounds and views across the river. Nearby, Caimán del Río brings together local food concepts in a large dining hall overlooking the water.

The Museo del Carnaval offers a deeper introduction to the festival’s costumes, characters and history, while the Museo Mapuka explores the archaeology and Indigenous cultures of Colombia’s Caribbean region.

A Gateway to Puerto Colombia

The new route also puts travelers close to Puerto Colombia, the seaside municipality north of Barranquilla.

Puerto Colombia was once one of the country’s principal maritime gateways, welcoming immigrants and cargo through its famous pier. A rebuilt version of the pier now extends into the Caribbean and has become one of the area’s signature attractions.

The municipality is also known for beaches including Pradomar, Salgar and Sabanilla, along with casual seafood restaurants and beach clubs.

Just inland, Castillo de Salgar occupies a dramatic position above the sea in a former Spanish fort. The site has become a popular stop for visitors exploring the coastal corridor between Barranquilla and Cartagena.

The result is a trip with several possibilities: a business visit centered in Barranquilla, a cultural trip built around Carnival, or a city-and-beach itinerary pairing the city with Puerto Colombia.

A Growing Avianca Network in Fort Lauderdale

Barranquilla becomes the fourth Colombian destination served by Avianca from Fort Lauderdale, joining Bogotá, Medellín and Cali.

The airline also added a second daily Fort Lauderdale-Bogotá flight June 1, doubling its service on the route.

Fort Lauderdale has become an important gateway for Colombian communities across Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, while also offering an alternative to Miami International Airport for travelers throughout South Florida.

Avianca currently operates more than 400 weekly flights from 14 cities in the United States. The carrier transported more than 4.9 million passengers between the United States and its network in 2025, an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous year.

Passengers on the Barranquilla route can choose between economy and Business Class Americas, Avianca’s premium product on international flights within the region.

The business-class service includes priority check-in, additional baggage, enhanced LifeMiles earning and eligible lounge entry. Onboard seating is located in the first three rows, with additional room and recline.

What the Route Means for Barranquilla

Daily service gives Barranquilla a stronger link with one of the largest Colombian communities in the United States.

The route is likely to serve a mix of visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic, business travel and leisure trips, particularly during Carnival and major holiday periods.

It also gives travelers another way to build a wider Colombian Caribbean itinerary. You can begin in Barranquilla, spend time along the beaches of Puerto Colombia and continue east toward Santa Marta or west toward Cartagena.

Barranquilla has often been treated as a place to pass through on the way to another destination. A daily nonstop flight from Fort Lauderdale gives the city a better opportunity to become the trip itself.