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Instead of staying at a hotel ....
For those interested in going to Rodadero, I would rent an apartment instead of a hotel. You have to picture a beachfront in your mind, and running alongside the beachfront is a 2 lane street. On one side you obviously have the beach, and on the other is apartment building after apartment building with apartments for rent. The renting of apartments is big business in Rodadero. I would just arrive in Rodadero and go straight to the beachfront area. You will find many touts with rental information for you, or you can go to the front desk of these apartment buildings and ask about availability. This might sound crazy not booking in advance, but this way you will have an opportunity to view an apartment before renting it, and you will be able to negotiate yourself a great deal.
Apartments not only give you the feel of a home, you will also not have to worry about extra guest fees, and you will find for the most part they are cheaper than any hotel. A warning to anyone who is interested in apartments. If you want to get one in the middle of the action, and still want to get some sleep, do not get one facing the beach. This boardwalk area is a party until 6 in the morning. Your ears will be filled with drums beating, symbols being slammed together, and drunks yelling and carrying on all night long.
My time in Rodadero was spent in the summer months, but I have been told at this time of the year things are quite abit more exciting with an abundance of people. There are many day trips for you to do if you are staying in the Rodadero area, so it provides you many options. I find it much more beautiful than Cartagena, but the nightlife other than what was going on at the beach was basically non-existant. I will be back to enjoy Rodadero, Tagonga, and Parque Tayrona in the very near future.
For anyone considering going to Rodadero, there are many van shuttles that go back and forth between Rodadero, Barranquilla, and Cartagena daily. It is approximately a 2 hour ride from Barranquilla if I remember right. You can also fly into Santa Marta. Santa Marta to Rodadero is about a 15 minute taxi ride.
Rodadero is also a great place to take a chica if you happen to meet someone you really like in Barranquilla or Cartagena. They would be very excited take you up on your offer to go. Attached is some pics of the beauty of the Rodadero, Tagonga, Parque Tayrona area.
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It will be no inconvienence whatsoever!
It is far and away best to find your apartment when you get there. I know the feeling you are having not having something in place as I felt the same way on my first trip there, but you will understand once you get there that it is no inconvienence whatsoever.
Have your transport, be it a taxi or a van take you to the main beach area in Rodadero. You will find people all over holding signs e.c.t. for condo rentals, or you will see condos lined up one after another facing the beach area. Just go into any of them and ask at the front desk about availability. This way you will get to see your apartment first hand before renting it, and you will be able to negotiate the price. I paid for a beautiful beachfront, ocean view, very large 2 bedroom apartment that had a upstairs and downstairs, $50.00 dollars a night with all the amentities. The building was called Karey, and I think that is how it was spelled. You will be able to see it very easily if you are on the beach boardwalk, as the balconies are blue.
I am not sure you want to get one facing the beach because at night they party on the boardwalk and beach ALL NIGHT LONG, as in 5 or 6 in the morning, so if you are a light sleeper forget about getting a good nights sleep.
I know Juan Ventura has apartments in Rodadero for rent, but he wants way to much for them. You will find alot of vacancy in the condos, so the way I described to you is the way to go. You will love the Rodadero/Santa Marta area because there is so much to do during the day. A definite is to go to Parque Tayrona, but you might want to invite a girl to go with you. At night if you like the bar scene go to the city of Santa Marta. Alot of girls to be had in the stripclubs for a fraction of the price you will find in Cartagena. Rodadero nightlife to be honest with you sucks. Santa Marta is only a 10 minute taxi ride away. One last recommendation to you is to go to a restaurant/disco called Burukuka and order the fillet mignon. It is also very reasonably priced and super delicious. Vics Picks introduced to this place. You can see this restaurant from the beach because it sits high upon a rock overlooking the ocean by itself. All taxi drivers know where it is.
I will be returning to Rodadero/Santa Marta the end of March arriving from my first stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I think this area is one of the most beautiful areas in Colombia and I have always enjoyed myself there, and I sure you will to!
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Answering your questions and more.....
Hello Hilltopper,
I am going to post this here instead of sending it to you through a p.m because I feel many others can gain some use of the information I am about to give to you, especially so, since so little is ever posted on this thread.
(Getting to Santa Marta/Rodadero from the airport in Cartagena)
Walk out of the airport and walk straight ahead about one block and you are in Barrio Crespo, and on main street, which is calle 70. At the corner take a right and you will see all the transport companies offices lined up along the street. It really does not matter what one you use as I have used many of them and the service is always the same. A company called Puerta a Puerta is one of them. I have also used Invertours del caribe on many occasions. [url]www.invertours.com[/url] and they were excellent. The most popular company probably is Marsol. [url]http://transportesmarsolsa.com/home.html[/url] The ride is approximately 4 hours and the cost is about $25.00 dollars U.S. It is not a bad ride at all.
As far as when to go, leaving in the afternoon at 2pm has it pros and cons. You will not get to Rodadero/Santa Marta until approximately 6:30, but the positive of that is at that time you really are not going to be missing out on the beach, and really anything else, so it is a good time to find an apartment/condo, and get settled in before heading out to checkout the girls in Santa Marta for the night.
Here is the directions to the condo I have always stayed at. Edificio Karey. Calle 9 Con Primera. This building has blue balconies and sits directly in front of the spot where all the action takes place on the board walk which runs along side of the beach. In the condo I stayed in, it did not offer internet, but I was able to pick up a signal from somewhere else. There is internet cafes all over, and the one directly across the street from Edificio Karey was really nice. It also offers international and domestic calling.
On the other hand if you stay in Laguito and can get to sleep at a reasonable hour, which is never possible for me, because I party my nights away until 5 in the morning, you can call the transport upon your arrival and schedule them to pick you up as early as 7am and be in Rodadero/Santa Marta by 11-11:30. If you are able to get up early in the morning, I would probably go this route.
If you decide to go to see areas outside of Rodadero which I highly recommend, I would make a trip to Playa Cristal which is located in Parque Tayrona. The beach is excellent as well as the ocean waters. It is also a great place to go snorkeling. In any of the beaches in Parque Tayrona you will not be hassled with beach vendors, as they are very limited, and all the beaches are spectacular IMHO. You can get to Parque Tayrona several ways. You can take a bus directly from Rodadero, as vendors will be offering you this tour every time you turn around, or you can take a taxi to Taganga, which is a small fishing village. The taxi ride will cost you about $5.-$6.00 dollars U.S, and then take a launcha from there. This is what I would recommend to you as it is a lot faster and the boat ride is really enjoyable, evidenced by the pics I posted awhile back on this thread. I also have a contact for you to call if you want to use a launcha. He is a great guy and the boat is nice. It's about $10.00 dollars U.S per person, then the entry into Parque Tayrona will cost you about another $10.00 dollars. (1 time fee) If you are bringing a girl with you it is only about $2. to $3.00 dollars for her since she will be a Colombiana.
As far as places not to go, do not waste your time going to see the aquarium. If I can be of further help to you let me know. By going to Rodadero, and going to see the places that Parque Tayrona offers, you are going to be experiencing paradise!
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Update on Flamingos and Bananas, y un poco mas
Flamingos is known for its "linda chicas" and garners a higher price than Bananas. I visited both places in the last two days, and clearly the hotter looking chicas are in Flamingos, but the house minimum is 80 mil pesos por todos. There are some stunning women there.
Bananas has lower quality, but at 50 mil. Flamingo is in Rodadero, Bananas is in Santa Marta. 4 mil taxi ride from Rodadero to either, negotiate before taking the taxi.
TLN at Flamingos is 200 mil for the chica and 70 mil for the house but this can be quickly negotiated downwards. I don't do TLN myself, and asked prices only at Flamingos.
Another option is Los Angeles, (Rodadero), a newer bar with very attractive chicas, but I can't quote prices because I only went "window shopping".
According to the taxistas, Babylonia in Santa Marta is a step down from Bananas, but even more economical.
There are not any street walkers on Rodadero beach, at least that I have seen in the last two nights. There are street walkers after 10 in Santa Marta on Carrera 1 and side Calles, but the quality seemed poor and I can't attest to the prices. Most areas appear secure, but be careful late if the streets are empty.
The diving in Santa Marta cannot be called good, this is my second trip and both times the visibility equaled Capurgana and the Islas de Rosario. For pure diving in Colombia, San Andres or Providencia is best, having been only to the former. I can't attest to the mongering in those islands, but others on this board have referred to locations there. I would take a chica with me to San Andres, and will semana santa.