The carnival begins with the 'Batalla de Flores' - the Battle of Flowers - a parade where the city's queen rides on a float and petals are thrown through the air. From that moment on, Barranquilla belongs to music and movement for four whole days. Over a million people come to watch.
Hundreds of dance groups perform in the parades, each one representing a different tradition from Colombia's cultural mix. There are cumbia groups, mapalé (a very fast African-rooted dance), congo (dances with elaborate animal-shaped headdresses) and many more. Each group spends a whole year preparing their costumes.
The costumes are astonishing. Some groups wear enormous papier-mâché masks of animals, political figures or fantastical creatures. Others dress as animals of the forest - jaguars, parrots, monkeys - with hand-made feather headdresses and painted faces. Children participate in their own mini-parades.
The final day of carnival is called the 'Entierro de Joselito' - the Burial of Joselito. Joselito is a fictional character who represents the spirit of carnival. His symbolic 'burial' at the end of the four days means carnival is over - until next year, when he will be 'resurrected' again.