Events
Rhythms, Flavors, and Warmth: A Symphony of Barranquilla’s Cultural Feast
Navigating Barranquilla’s Many Facets, Amid Carnival Festivities, Culinary Adventures, and the Inherent Warmth of its Locals.
February 9th – 11th, 2024
Experiencing the enchanting rhythms of Barranquilla, Colombia, began with a seamless flight from the lively city of Miami aboard Avianca Airlines. The journey was not just a mere transportation from point A to B; it was a prelude to the vibrant symphony of Colombian hospitality that awaited me.
Avianca’s gate agents and flight attendants performed their roles with an almost choreographed finesse, transforming a routine flight into an aerial ballet of service and friendliness. The warm welcome extended beyond the clouds, as I touched down in Barranquilla, greeted not just by the solid ground, but also by the fantastic taste of Aguila beer (my new favorite) and the pulsating beats of local music – an auditory embrace that set the tone for my Colombian adventure.
My accommodation at the Holiday Inn unfolded like a grand overture to my stay. This wasn’t your typical Holiday Inn; it was a majestic sanctuary where comfort and opulence danced together. The breakfast buffet was a symphony of flavors, and the rooftop pool, was the perfect stage for the sun to bid its daily adieu.
Lunch at Varadero was a culinary sanctuary, an exploration of seafood wonders that tantalized my taste buds and left my senses in awe. Each dish was a carefully composed sonnet of flavors, from the fall-off-the-bone braised beef to the other-worldly octopus (another new favorite) and the immaculately cooked salmon.
As the afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, I reclined by the rooftop pool, a witness to a visual sonnet painted in hues of orange and pink. The sky, a canvas, and Barranquilla’s skyline, the masterpiece.
The evening beckoned with an Arab-themed dinner, a poetic fusion of flavors. While the overall experience may have been a gentle serenade, the hearty kabobs and juicy vegetables were a welcomed spectacle. Wrapping up the day, the dessert, an almond sprinkled ice cream served as a sweet finale.
Day 2 heralded a new movement in the symphony of my Barranquilla escapade. An early-morning gym session was the prelude to a massive breakfast buffet that seemed to have everything from local favorites to classic breakfast foods. While the meal was a great start to the day, the journey to the Carnival venue really is where things were set in motion. The melodic expedition took me through several streets adorned with carnival revelers decked out in meticulously crafted costumes along with plenty of accessories.
After navigating through the crowd, we found our way to the Avianca Grandstand, securing front-row seats for the carnival parade. It truly was a spectacular composition. As it unfolded before my eyes, I realized this was not just a parade; it was a living, breathing melody of colors and sounds. Each float and each participant harmoniously united in an exuberant celebration of Colombian culture. To put it in American terms, imagine your local holiday parade, but taken to an extremely high level of seriousness, with triple the participants and impressive floats featuring stunning designs. As each float passed along with their own band or DJ, the excitement in the crowd escalated, reaching a fever pitch when the Queen made her grand entrance.
Amidst the carnival’s exuberance, a touching moment unfolded at a local grocery store. In my quest for relief from heartburn, a chance encounter with a fellow shopper named James turned into a generous act of kindness. Not speaking the native language, one would think it’d be too much of a struggle to get what you needed to get or where you needed to go, but as the gentleman showed me, there’s just an undeniable warmth from the Barranquillan people.
Next, was dinner at Manuel Restaurante, an Italian-themed restaurant where guests are taken on a culinary journey. Breads and butters, raw fish in light olive oil, fish tacos with a golden drizzle, and the pièce de résistance – ravioli in the transcendental Parmesan sauce were all featured. Considering I’ve been all around the world, having spent several weeks in Italy twice, Manuel’s Parmesan sauce is the absolute greatest sauce I’ve ever tasted in my life!!! Hands down, it’s not even a competition! Manuel’s is the best restaurant in Colombia.
As I boarded my flight home on Avianca Airlines and said goodbye to Barranquilla, the echoes of this Colombian adventure continued to reverberate, leaving me eagerly anticipating the encore of my return.
Adding to the allure, Avianca proudly announces its status as the official airline of the Barranquilla Carnival, a UNESCO-declared Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity over two decades ago. In a concerted effort to facilitate attendance at this renowned event, Avianca offered an impressive 88,000 seats to and from the capital of Atlántico between February 5th and 17th. With 18 daily direct flights, the airline ensures convenient travel options for carnival enthusiasts, spanning from the pre-carnival days to the weekend following the grand finale.
“It is very important to participate in the Barranquilla Carnival, one of the largest celebrations in the Caribbean and the country. We are official sponsors of this festival that celebrates the traditions of Colombia, and it’s no coincidence: this was the city where we were born 104 years ago, and today, more than a century later, it continues to be a key location for our company, its employees, and, of course, for connectivity. From Barranquilla, we provide direct connections to Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Miami with an offering of more than 130 weekly frequencies”, commented María Carolina Cortés, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Avianca.
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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.
August 20, 2026
Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.
South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.
The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.
On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.
Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection
Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.
Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.
The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.
We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.
Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.
It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.
Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami
There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.
In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.
A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.
Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.
Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.
The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.
Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall
Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.
The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.
Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.
Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar
Fashion is only part of the experience.
For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.
Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.
The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.
Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.
The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.
A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home
For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.
Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.
Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.
And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.
After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.
Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.
Check out the collection HERE
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