Santa Marta

[Blue Touch]

I guess ice doesn't kill parasites unless it is frozen below very low temperature, does it?

That med is used frequently for the parasite Giardia. Its a very common water borne parasite. I have had it a few times. Contaminated water used for washing or in drinks, ice etc. Its not hard to catch if your a explorer of street foods. In my case it was very gaseous diarrhea. Metro takes care of it quickly. You must be careful though because sometimes the symptoms pass quickly and you become a asymptomatic carrier.

[Surfer500]

Did you eat salad or fruits?.

I ate everything including pussy, maybe that's was what caused it.

[GoneFishin]

That med is used frequently for the parasite Giardia. Its a very common water borne parasite. I have had it a few times. Contaminated water used for washing or in drinks, ice etc. Its not hard to catch if your a explorer of street foods. In my case it was very gaseous diarrhea. Metro takes care of it quickly. You must be careful though because sometimes the symptoms pass quickly and you become a asymptomatic carrier.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metronidazole

Worms may need another treatment. However in all cases stool test or two may be required, and also sometimes two different drugs may be prescribed. I took the above, and on occasion other drugs, sometimes up to 2 weeks, no alcohol allowed:) Cuba was the worst.

[Questner]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metronidazole

Worms may need another treatment. However in all cases stool test or two may be required, and also sometimes two different drugs may be prescribed. I took the above, and on occasion other drugs, sometimes up to 2 weeks, no alcohol allowed:) Cuba was the worst.

[BKKguru]

Yesterday I went to a Doctor in Medellin where I live and was informed that I had a parasite infection. The Doc told me that parasite infections were quite common for people who travel to that area. Precautions I took, well staying in a five star Hotel, eating in upper scale eating establishments, drinking only bottled water didn't make any difference. I am not trying to scare anyone off form going there, just letting you know if you get sick while being there are shortly thereafter, don't be surprised.

Thanks for the warning. Its great to know the medicine worked and you are back in action.

It appears the cause of this parasitic infection was food. What type of food were you eating? Was it Seafood every day? Pork etc?
Just trying to determine, what type of food should be AVOIDED while in the coastal areas? This would be very useful to know.

I was prepared and brought in a stool sample for the Doctors visit and I went over a day by day account of my symptoms for the past six days. She said I had two options, she could run the sample, wait for the test results, and then be given the medicine, or immediately walk out with a prescription which cost $ 2.25 USD She said it was a parasite infection and she had seen it hundreds of times!

Treatment consists of two pills one day and another two pills the next day followed by a bland diet for a week.

You did the right thing by taking the prescription immediately.

Since you took the trouble of taking the stool sample, I would have asked the Doctor to go ahead with the Lab test.
(I am assuming it does NOT cost US $100 to do a Lab test, like it does in the USA).
There is a small chance the Lab Report may have provided some additional info.

Thanks again for the warning.

BKKguru

[The Tall Man]

I was prepared and brought in a stool sample for the Doctors visit and I went over a day by day account of my symptoms for the past six days. She said I had two options, she could run the sample, wait for the test results, and then be given the medicine, or immediately walk out with a prescription which cost $ 2.25 USD She said it was a parasite infection and she had seen it hundreds of times!

I further asked her if it could be a bacterial infection, and she said no because I didn't have those symptoms, so by process of elimination what else would it be. Treatment consists of two pills one day and another two pills the next day followed by a bland diet for a week.

If I had went to a Doctor in the USA, they would of been clueless in the sense that they would of had no experience base with this and would of run the laboratory samples not knowing what it was based on the symptoms. And at least a week would go by before I got treated.

Oh boy, I've had that dreaded deal a few times over the years in both Colombia and Brazil.

Now I carry the pills, I bought in Brazil, and if and when I get the symptoms, I kill the problem ASAP.

The doctor in Brazil advised to take a dose every year, weather I feel symptoms or not, to kill whatever may be in the belly, LOL.

Curios. To the both of you what is the name of the prescription drug?

The Tall Man.

[Blue Touch]

Did you eat salad or fruits?

A majority of my friends who visited Colombia became sick because of parasite, bacteria, virus or unknown cause.

Please take care.

Just some information for others to consider while visiting Santa Marta and other coastal areas of Colombia. Last week I arrived on Monday and on Thursday night I came down with what I thought was food poisoning and had chills / fever and vomited and had the runs during the night. Since last Friday I have had bouts of the runs. Yesterday I went to a Doctor in Medellin where I live and was informed that I had a parasite infection. The Doc told me that parasite infections were quite common for people who travel to that area. Precautions I took, well staying in a five star Hotel, eating in upper scale eating establishments, drinking only bottled water didn't make any difference. I am not trying to scare anyone off form going there, just letting you know if you get sick while being there are shortly thereafter, don't be surprised.

[Pilot Pete]

Oh boy, I've had that dreaded deal a few times over the years in both Colombia and Brazil.

Now I carry the pills, I bought in Brazil, and if and when I get the symptoms, I kill the problem ASAP.

The doctor in Brazil advised to take a dose every year, weather I feel symptoms or not, to kill whatever may be in the belly, LOL.

Is the medicine Cipro or something else? I always travel with Cipro and it has worked well to kill the stomach bugs encountered, but I'm not sure if I was suffering from parasites or a bacteria.

[Balboa]

I was prepared and brought in a stool sample for the Doctors visit and I went over a day by day account of my symptoms for the past six days. She said I had two options, she could run the sample, wait for the test results, and then be given the medicine, or immediately walk out with a prescription which cost $ 2.25 USD She said it was a parasite infection and she had seen it hundreds of times!

I further asked her if it could be a bacterial infection, and she said no because I didn't have those symptoms, so by process of elimination what else would it be. Treatment consists of two pills one day and another two pills the next day followed by a bland diet for a week.

If I had went to a Doctor in the USA, they would of been clueless in the sense that they would of had no experience base with this and would of run the laboratory samples not knowing what it was based on the symptoms. And at least a week would go by before I got treated.

Oh boy, I've had that dreaded deal a few times over the years in both Colombia and Brazil.

Now I carry the pills, I bought in Brazil, and if and when I get the symptoms, I kill the problem ASAP.

The doctor in Brazil advised to take a dose every year, weather I feel symptoms or not, to kill whatever may be in the belly, LOL.

[Surfer500]

How did the doctor determine that you had parasites and what did he give you to get rid of them?

I was prepared and brought in a stool sample for the Doctors visit and I went over a day by day account of my symptoms for the past six days. She said I had two options, she could run the sample, wait for the test results, and then be given the medicine, or immediately walk out with a prescription which cost $ 2.25 USD She said it was a parasite infection and she had seen it hundreds of times!

I further asked her if it could be a bacterial infection, and she said no because I didn't have those symptoms, so by process of elimination what else would it be. Treatment consists of two pills one day and another two pills the next day followed by a bland diet for a week.

If I had went to a Doctor in the USA, they would of been clueless in the sense that they would of had no experience base with this and would of run the laboratory samples not knowing what it was based on the symptoms. And at least a week would go by before I got treated.

[Manizales911]

Just some information for others to consider while visiting Santa Marta and other coastal areas of Colombia. Last week I arrived on Monday and on Thursday night I came down with what I thought was food poisoning and had chills / fever and vomited and had the runs during the night. Since last Friday I have had bouts of the runs. Yesterday I went to a Doctor in Medellin where I live and was informed that I had a parasite infection. The Doc told me that parasite infections were quite common for people who travel to that area. Precautions I took, well staying in a five star Hotel, eating in upper scale eating establishments, drinking only bottled water didn't make any difference. I am not trying to scare anyone off form going there, just letting you know if you get sick while being there are shortly thereafter, don't be surprised.

How did the doctor determine that you had parasites and what did he give you to get rid of them?

[Surfer500]

Just some information for others to consider while visiting Santa Marta and other coastal areas of Colombia. Last week I arrived on Monday and on Thursday night I came down with what I thought was food poisoning and had chills / fever and vomited and had the runs during the night. Since last Friday I have had bouts of the runs. Yesterday I went to a Doctor in Medellin where I live and was informed that I had a parasite infection. The Doc told me that parasite infections were quite common for people who travel to that area. Precautions I took, well staying in a five star Hotel, eating in upper scale eating establishments, drinking only bottled water didn't make any difference. I am not trying to scare anyone off form going there, just letting you know if you get sick while being there are shortly thereafter, don't be surprised.

[JustTK]

Santa Marta sounds like a quiet laid back place. Can anyone please recommend some GF hotels or apartments.

There are several cheap hostael type hotels that Surfer mentioned one block back from the main beach road (called Cra 2/2 a). These are very cheap - 50/60. 000 per night. I stayed in some exellent studio apartments directly in Pqe de LOS Novios. COP 120.000 - look them up on Airbnb. There are also some aptos in Cra 2 which are chica friendly. In the apto building Casa Del Rio. At the moment, I stay in Calle 11 in a house that has 4 bedrooms and a small pool. COP 130.000. Its called Salamander or Sofabed on booking.com. Its like a private home. No hassle at all.

[Gezpen]

Santa Marta sounds like a quiet laid back place. Can anyone please recommend some GF hotels or apartments.

[Surfer500]

Just got back from Santa Marta and want to thank JustTK for hanging out with me for a few days and showing me around. I felt very safe in town walking around including at night, more so than in Medellin. I was impressed with the variety and quality of restaurants all centrally located in and around Parque de Novios. If you like seafood, this is the Colombian town to go to besides Cartagena. I went into two bars with JustTK, one was a daytime bar next door to Bananas which didn't have much in it and one evening we went into Bananas which reminded me very much of Adelitas Bar in Tijuana, Mexico. Lots of chunky size girls, a few slim cute ones, and a DJ playing music with a bunch of locals drinking beers while gawking at the Chicas who walked around strutting their asses in your face.

As far as where to stay I had two rooms. One at the AC Marriot, a brand new Hotel located behind the Police Station at the beginning of the Malecon. Great rooms, ocean views, and an Olympic size pool and rooftop deck. About $ 80 US a night and an excellent location. Was it girl friendly, I don't know as I never took anyone there, but I suppose it is if you book a double room and the Chica isn't too skanky looking with a Cedula. Lots of business people and people on Hoilday there.

As far as my other room, I found a Hotel one block from Parque de Novios almost directly across the street from the two bars I mentioned at 55,000 Pesos a night with AC which was girl friendly. I basically checked out three Hotels in this area and befriended the manager of the one I stayed in and basically told him I would be bringing some girlfriends in which they had no problem with.

As far as finding girls. Well this is a great town to monger in if you like the street scene. The three locations I liked and I know JustTK knows of more, was Parque Bolivar, the Malecon, and Parque de Novios. Around sunset everyday lots of Chicas will show up along the beach road / Malecon and in the evening will be concentrated across from the Malecon in front of a few side walk cafes just a block from Parque Bolivar and will be sitting / standing along the Malecon on the other side of the Boulevard. During the daytime you will find Chicas in Parque Bolivar but of poor quality. Lots of Venies in and around Parque Bolivar and the first asking price for the ones I talked to with was 50,000 K. Lots of the Chicas in town were very aggressive, especially in and around Parque de Novios. This area of town is very different than the Parque Bolivar area being the main tourist area with performers etc. And the prices of the Chicas are higher as this is where most of the tourists hung out. Much different than Parque Bolivar with the Chicas a better dressed and looking for clients along with higher end pricing. In this area if your a single male you will get a lot of eye contact and girls coming up to you offering massages, smiling, etc.

I liked my stay in Santa Marta, however it is hot during the day with most activity taking place at night.