Santa Marta

[Kutler]

Unless he is a gay, sex hustler, I wouldn't call him a jinetero... Just sayin' it's not correct for a pimp or a street hustler.

Incorrect. In Cuba a jinetero is a hustler. This is my best description of the fellow based on my experience.

https://www.cubagrouptour.com/inform...ros/index.html

[John Clayton]

T... a jinatero also Venezuelan who speaks good English can be found in the area, he may be able...

Unless he is a gay, sex hustler, I wouldn't call him a jinetero. I mean, "jinetera" (female jockey) is the correct term in some countries (for a girl who rides your dick). Just sayin' it's not correct for a pimp or a street hustler.

[Kutler]

There are Sw's mostly Venezuelanas in the Parque, they congregate towards the south end across from the Marley bar which is also a great place to watch the street entertainers as well.

The prices are very reasonable, a jinatero also Venezuelan who speaks good English can be found in the area, he may be able to broker a deal as the vennies don't speak English.

1 hour hotels in the vicinity vary from 10 k to 25 k. A repeat chica and I found the hotel the night before was 20 K was now 25 K. She thought I might bail as that was half her rate.

Old's Bar Disco Show. Never saw this place, is possible it's an old name for Club Bananas.

The bus from Rodadero costs 1900 k. Take it to the Exito and walk north 3 blocks to the Parque. Have taken the bus back as late as 10 PM from the malecon (waterfront). Bus placard displays in large letters Gaira which is the community south of Rodadaro Taxi is 12 K but less interesting.

Never picked anybody up from the Malecon, but have been told not to go far a walk towards the beach out of the light for concern of robbery late at night.

There is a group of decent restaurants catering to north american tastes and a pretty good ceviche bar at the Marina. West end of the Malecon.

Rodadaro is the first decent public beach I found in Colombia, you can stay out very late without fear of being annoyed or worse. Water temp in Sept was 80 degrees. March was far less warm.

[Barkey]

First off, anyone who doesn't eat street food in Latin America misses half the experience. The key is the old truck driver's addage- always eat where there are lots of trucks parked. As a rule, if a stand has brisk business it tells you that the food is probably good, and be.) it's also pretty fresh, as the more volume, the more product, the less likelihood of getting something on the edge of being a science project. Someone earlier mentioned probiotics; as the doctor said, eating a thing of yogurt when you think you're got something bad isn't going to help. What you should do is spend a number of weeks / months before your visit building the health of your gut flora and fauna. Spend a few months eating yogurt, acedopholis milk, and anything else that will build up your gut biome. Look it up online, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchee are another good source of bacteria. A healthy level of good bacteria and other critters in your gut helps fight off minor infections. Of course, if you get some salmonella from uncooked chicken, you're going to get sick no matter what. Like all other things, don't be a dar papaya. If you bite into something and it's not cooked or not quite right, DON'T EAT IT. Most people in the tropics and hot climates use outdoor kitchens and carts because it's too hot to cook indoors. Some of the best food you can get in Colombia- especially the fruits, are on street carts. I can't wait to find the little golden salted potatoes and salchichas, the little stubby white sausages. If there's a crowd around the cart, chances are it's because they're not only good, but relatively safe.

Just like with the chicas, YMMV. The few times I've been in Colombia, if me or my "chica del dia" didn't cook in my apartment, I've eaten only in popular restaurants. Never had a problem. A couple of weeks ago I visited Cali for the first time. Did a lot of walking and visited tourist areas. We found a nice little place near San Antonia and had some great empenadas and some other banana "thing". A little later near a artesian park (forget the name) tried some really good looking deep fried, battered potato slices from a food cart. Really tasty.

Unfortunately a few hours later the problems started and ruined my short visit to Cali. Wound up eating only Lomotil for the next two days. Yikes. I learned my lesson about street food.

Afterwards in Santa Marta we ate only cooked in meals (love fresh arepas) or food from the restaurant row near Parque de Novios or in a nice Centro Comercial somewhere near Rodadero.

I guess I'm just not that adventurous when it comes to food. Why take a chance and ruin my vacation. I'd rather take a chance with the chicas, not the food.

Barkey.

[MiamiSammy]

Well said. In Medicine, one size does not fit all. Many times, Doctors find the medicine which will work for YOU, by trial and error.
Probiotics do help a lot of people. But this discussion was about Parasites, not bacterial infections.

I learnt a few things in this thread. Good info which the consummate traveler can use.

BKKguru

Probiotics are just what the word suggests- they aid in building up the bioflora and fauna in your gut, often depleted by our overuse of antibiotics. Think of them as "prebiotics"- in order for them to do you any good you have to consume them well in advance of your trip so your gut bacteria is robust and healthy. Eating some yogurt when you think you got food poisoning won't help a whit.

[MiamiSammy]

Just a little perspective on all the stories of illnesses in Sta Marta.

I stayed there 2 months. I ate at many different restaurants; I never stopped to consider if the food was washed with potable water etc. I made myself a couple of cups of coffee using unpotable tap water and a microwave every day. I did not get sick once. However, I did wake up w a hangover a few times. .

Luck might have played a little part, but also if you are going to eat animal products, the chances are much higher that you will get sick, considering the very frequent black outs. I am vegan so I never run that risk. Just the low chance that there may be trace faeces from meat eater food on my veggies. F*ckn bast*DS! .

So it's not all doom and gloom. Some of us survived without illness.

You've got a false sense of security. You're far more likely to get sick from vegetables than animal products, and it's not from animal products touching your veggies. They use far less synthetic fertilizers and far more good old fashioned [CodeWord116] of all kind. The chances of you getting e. Coli, norovirus, or another food borne illness is far greater because you are neither washing or fully cooking your veggies. You can probably attribute your strong constitution to the fact you have a healthy level of gut bacteria that does battle for you.

For the record, have you been to the Krishna restaurant off Botero Plaza in Medellin? Probably one of the best and cheapest meals I've had in Medellin, and all vegetarian.

[MiamiSammy]

First off, anyone who doesn't eat street food in Latin America misses half the experience. The key is the old truck driver's addage- always eat where there are lots of trucks parked. As a rule, if a stand has brisk business it tells you that the food is probably good, and be.) it's also pretty fresh, as the more volume, the more product, the less likelihood of getting something on the edge of being a science project. Someone earlier mentioned probiotics; as the doctor said, eating a thing of yogurt when you think you're got something bad isn't going to help. What you should do is spend a number of weeks / months before your visit building the health of your gut flora and fauna. Spend a few months eating yogurt, acedopholis milk, and anything else that will build up your gut biome. Look it up online, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchee are another good source of bacteria. A healthy level of good bacteria and other critters in your gut helps fight off minor infections. Of course, if you get some salmonella from uncooked chicken, you're going to get sick no matter what. Like all other things, don't be a dar papaya. If you bite into something and it's not cooked or not quite right, DON'T EAT IT. Most people in the tropics and hot climates use outdoor kitchens and carts because it's too hot to cook indoors. Some of the best food you can get in Colombia- especially the fruits, are on street carts. I can't wait to find the little golden salted potatoes and salchichas, the little stubby white sausages. If there's a crowd around the cart, chances are it's because they're not only good, but relatively safe.

[World Travel 69]

Let us know of any changes, please.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?h...240200558&z=13

[Orgasmico]

Generally, I think the quality of food available in Centro Historico is excellent. Loads of great restaurants in a very small area. All walkable.

My hotel gave me a list of restaurants they recommended. In addition, you always have resources like Tripadvisor reviews. With today's transparency, it seems pretty easy to find decent places to eat in tourist destinations.

[JustTK]

I ate some great food in SM! You're more brave than me, as I don't eat off the street.

Generally, I think the quality of food available in Centro Historico is excellent. Loads of great restaurants in a very small area. All walkable.

[JustTK]

Just a little perspective on all the stories of illnesses in Sta Marta.

I stayed there 2 months. I ate at many different restaurants; I never stopped to consider if the food was washed with potable water etc. I made myself a couple of cups of coffee using unpotable tap water and a microwave every day. I did not get sick once. However, I did wake up w a hangover a few times. .

Luck might have played a little part, but also if you are going to eat animal products, the chances are much higher that you will get sick, considering the very frequent black outs. I am vegan so I never run that risk. Just the low chance that there may be trace faeces from meat eater food on my veggies. F*ckn bast*DS! .

So it's not all doom and gloom. Some of us survived without illness.

[Orgasmico]

Me. Fuck was I sick. Had to call one of the emergency medical services to come to my apartment. They were there in 30 minutes and hooked me up with an intravenous solution. They knew right away what it was that got me. Shrimp cocktail from one of the street vendors. It tooks 3-4 days to get somewhat back to normal.

I ate some great food in SM! You're more brave than me, as I don't eat off the street.

[PirateMorgan]

Me. Fuck was I sick. Had to call one of the emergency medical services to come to my apartment. They were there in 30 minutes and hooked me up with an intravenous solution. They knew right away what it was that got me. Shrimp cocktail from one of the street vendors. It tooks 3-4 days to get somewhat back to normal. I have had no other problems with getting sick here in S. M. Nor my girlfriend.

[JustTK]

If your looking for nice sand beaches, etc. In Santa Marta they aren't so great, better to go to Rodaleo and take the ferry to a nearby by beach I forgot the name of it. Plenty of places to chill and have a beer along the Malecon in Santa Marta and along the beach in Rodaleo. However, it is hot there and the water is not clear and inviting like in the Dominican Republic. So if your looking for spectacular beaches you should go there. Even at Parque Tyrona there are some nice beaches but it's a pain to get there and expensive to enter as a foreigner. However, if you like seafood, and hopefully don't get sick, Santa Marta has the DR beat hands down in this regards.

And there are sme super beaches on the other side of Sta Marta too. In Pqe Tayrona. And some other smaller and more ordinary ones around Taganga.

[Surfer500]

Well said. In Medicine, one size does not fit all. Many times, Doctors find the medicine which will work for YOU, by trial and error.
Probiotics do help a lot of people. But this discussion was about Parasites, not bacterial infections.

I learnt a few things in this thread. Good info which the consummate traveler can use.

~BKKguru

I started this thread and I never envisioned such a discussion would ensue. Regardless of whether the thread was about parasites, some of the symptoms of a bacterial infection can be similar to parasites, therefore it's good for all of us to get educated on the different things we can come down with while travelling in this region.

I went to the Doctor last Thursday and was diagnosed with parasites based solely on my symptoms. I took the medicines on Thursday and Friday, and guess what all symptoms disappeared by the weekend.