Barranquilla Reports

[Surfer]

Beavis: Rodadero is FAR from "the best beach" in Colombia (though I have not been there). By all accounts the beavches in Tayronna Park are WAY nicer than Rodadero. I also think San Andres & Provedencia have better beaches (and i HAVE been there). Rodadero looks good compared to Cartagena or Barranquilla beaches, I agree, but best in Colombia is a stretch.

[Hoof Hunter]

Vallenato - LOL!!! I won't have any breathing space to sample La Troja. I do prefer the local spots over the tourist upscale spots when I travel. The novia ain't trying to go there.

Anyway, she's picking me up from the airport, and taking me back. As I said before, I'm locked in for my time in BAQ. Not a bad thing, I'm actually looking forward to it. If I can get a 2 hour pass from her, I'll go check it out with my boys and her cousins (my pistol-totin' security detail), but not participating. LOL!

Is Liliana in the leather place? Or La Troja? If I meet her, I'll give regards from Puerto Rock.

Also, thanks for the shopping info. I'll look for those shops next Fri. I do have a question regarding shopping. Where is best (cheapest) to buy authetic football jerseys? I saw some in Exito, some in Sao (Olympia), and a few in the street (but they didn't look very authentic). Where would you suggest?

Also, you have any info on that castle spot in Puerto Colombo, near Kilimanjaro's? Is it worth a visit? We're planning on catching a chiva on Fri. nite, but I may decide to stick with La Quinta or Frogg Leggs, and skip the Puerto Colombo run. Just asking. Already did Kilimanjaro's, very nice, just too damn far.

Beavis - Thanks for the info on Santa Marta. Still up in the air on whether to go to Cartagena or Santa Marta from Barranquilla. It will be an overnight trip, meaning leaving BAQ after b-fast and returning the next morning. She really wants to see Isla Rosario, as she's never been. I just want to take some cool pics and hit a beach.

I tried to find info on Hotel Rodadero, but unable to locate online. Do you have a # or anything? Or one for Edificio San Carlos? Just need somewhere decent to crash for a night. if we decide to head that way, it would be good to have a #.

[Beavis]

I spent 2 weeks in Santa Marta July and August. Had a blast, enough single women but was with the novia. Rodadero is the finest beach in Colombia. A good hotel is Hotel Rodadero 90K per night for 2 people including breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want an apartment there are many but most are so-so. A good one is the Edificio San Carlos near the east end of the beach. The manager Carlos speaks decent English if that is needed. Santa Marta average costs are about half of Cartagena.

[Vallenato]

Hoof Hunter,

What da hell a gringo knowing about La Troja? ;-) Yes, I am very familar with it! If you are walking up the street and the stadium is on the left, La Troja is on the right up a little side alley! A lot of hustlers and thieves are there night and day, just hangn out. There is a auto shop where they do some repairs and some other things there!

Anyway, depending on how you look and blend in, you may have fun there! But be careful-watch your drinks! Walk around the corner to the Olimpica on the corner and buy some condoms first. Across from the Olimpica is a shop where they sell leather briefcases and shoes (great prices) tell Lilianna her "Boricua" says "hola". I can't get out much this trip.

Hoof Hunter you surprise me--BTW, don't buy anything from the vendors outside the stadium, you'll get a better price in the Macardo en el centro such as a Alejandro Duran hat!

Boy, what do you know about Vallenato? :-)

Vallenato El Negrito Lindo

[Hoof Hunter]

Headed back down to BAQ next week for the weekend.

Probably spending all my time with my chica there. Mister Solo is very correct, Colombianas are very possessive, and my chica is such with my time. Probably won't be able to sneak away, but i'm not pressed either.

Will probably hit CTG or Santa Marta (El Rodadero) one day next wkd. My chica confirmed that Sundays at the beach at El Rodadero, there are many normal girls there, and it's pretty safe in that area of Santa Marta. She did advise that there is a guerilla presence in Santa Marta as well.

Anyone ever been to La Troja, near the stadium? Supposedly, it's a local bar of hookers, killers, thieves, drug dudes, and normal folks who mind their business and just get drunk, sing vallenato, and dance. Oh yeah, the occasional fight occurs. I'm not really interested in going, just asking.

Also heard that there's a nightclub/restaurant in Puerto Colombo inside a castle or something similar. I don't know the name, but it's near Kilimanjaro. Anyone know it, or have experience there?

[Vallenato]

Any of you mongers (only kool ones) in B/quilla now? I'm here with the family, but can get passes at time, hollar if you wanna hang a little!

Vallenato aka El Negrito Lindo

[Rob Hay]

Barranquilla might be my favorite place for non pro hunting. I went last year around Carnival timeI have used a a few of the dating services and hooked up with some major hotties in the process. I posted my picture and ad up with the agencies and got alot of responses.

I stayed at 2 hotels

Hotel Princess- they called the girls every couple hours to see what was up. That got annoying after a while

Hotel Royal- a much better place and girls could stay overnight

I had alot of great glocal guides helping me during the trip which is very helpful

Disco-
Tropical Cocktails- played some hip hop,trance, not a bad place to score non pros also, La Quinta, La Marca?? they are all on the same block!

The big mall in the north I'm don't remmeber the name but everything was dirt cheap and pretty decent quality.

Lucitania- I dont know if its still open but its pretty nice. Very little English spoken though

Actually writing this is making me a big nostalgic. I might just want to go back pretty soon.

Really alot of hotties, but watch out for the heat down there its a killer, I wouldnt recommend going right about now

[Nyc Expat]

H.H.
Nice report about BAQ. My comments regarding recent adventure east of Santa Marta and recent postings of dangers is found in "other areas" of this thread.

[Hoof Hunter]

Just came back from BAQ for the 1st time. It's hot as hell, but it's fairly safe there. I experienced nothing negative, except a non-functioning Banco Popular ATM. I was with my regular lady, so no mongering, but I can provide my experience.

Women
There are many available sexy women in this city. They are all shades, colors, sizes, and all have beautiful butts. They were all very friendly and warm, some flirtacious. All interested in meeting my friends.

It's ridiculous. It's like they've almost given up on the dudes there, preferring to wait for Captain American to come save them. I saw about 5 marraige agencies there alone. My lady had signed up for a few, and gone on dates, but never really amounted to much. She says there are many girls in the same situation who resort to this.

I would recommend BAQ as a spot to go check out prospective wives, if that's what you want, or flings with regular chicks, if that's what you want. Just be clear with them, and you'll probably not have any problems. They love to party.

I did not get the chance to visit the local houses of pleasure. I was locked in with my lady for the weekend. She did point out a couple of places where our preferred ladies of pleasure frequent, but I could not make out the names from the taxi.

There were a few areas of streetwalkers in the Prado area. Be careful, as I saw a TV or two mixed in with the girls.

Exchange Rate/ATM
Right at around $2600 COP to $1 USD. Best rates offered at ATMs. Airport has several. There are casa de cambios in the airport as well, but offered lower than market rates.

In Prado area, there are Banco Populars (max amt. per trans. - $300,000 COP) & Citibanks (max. amt per trans - $200,000 COOP) that accept VISA/MasterCard. Most supermercados and stores accept VISA.

Hotel
Stayed in the El Prado area at the Hotel Majestic for approx. $30/night plus taxes. Nice, Moorish-styled hotel. Decently-sized rooms, complete with A/C, hot water, nice-king-size bed, cable TV, refrig, small dining area. Guest friendly. Nice swimming pool on grounds, used by local families on Sundays. Church service in hotel conf. room, if you're interested. Great restaurant in lobby as well, breakfast is included in your rate.

In walking distant to supermercado Olympia (or Sao as it's known locally) which is great place to check out the local hotties. Hotel is also within walking distance to a couple of universities, including Simon Bolivar. Definitely worth checking out for the share talent alone. I saw about 3 internet cafes near the hotel. Taxi rides everywhere was within 7,000 pesos, mostly less than that.

Nightclubs
Went to Kilimanjaro outside of town on the coast. Very romantic outdoor environment directly on the coast, literally. Decent selection of music, some American, but mostly merengue, salsa, vallenato, and then there was reggaeton. You haven't lived until you see Colombianas dance to reggaeton. Even better is when they are dancing with you. Saw a few groups of single ladies there. There were some stunners in the groups. The chivas (party bus) made their way here and dumped groups of people here for an hour at a time. I had enough sweating, and we cabbed it back to town.

Hit up La Quinta & Frogg Leggs before deciding to have a final drink in Luna Negra. La Quinta & Frogg Leggs are your standard nightclubs that play some American music, and are loaded with very sexy available women, but you must get there early or have a reservation. These places are full by 12 at nite. There were many other local-type places that I stopped in, but the names escape me. On Saturday, we did about 8-10 stops that nite.

Shopping Malls
Buena Vista is the top-notch upscale choice here. Veyr similar to any in your home towns here, except the talent level is blazing. Older, kept women to younger, curious women. As I walked through the mall, there were many eyes on me. They knew I was visiting, the chicks sizing me up, my chica locking me down.

Dark/light/morena, you name it. The women dominate the views here. There are shopping deals to be had, if you need a sidebar from sex. Some of the girls in the stores can probably be talked into meeting you later for dinner or a drink, depends on your skills. Has a cinema inside as well as a foodcourt that is convenient for lady-watching and flirting.

There's also Centro Commercial which is an outdoor-type shopping mall. And there are a few others.

Taxis
Grab the yellow cabs. Most trips are within $3,000-7,000 COP. My trip to Kilimanjaro was $10,000 COP each way. I grabbed taxis from the airport, from my hotel, in the street on my own, everywhere. Nothing crazy to report, except they drive like madmen.

Security
At no point did I feel in harm's way in BAQ. From what I was told, there were petty thieves (pickpockets), but not any FARC nor paramilitary were in Barranquilla. The closest of any reported such existence of that type of danger would be Santa Marta.

We walked the streets day and night in the fairly secure Prado area. We were in the South area (where she humbles resides) during the day and part of the nights. I never felt threatened or in harm's way. I was told that things can get pretty bad in the South and Centro, but not out of hand. Just petty robbery, so leave the valuables at the hotel, if you decide to venture that way.

I know FARC & the paramilitary issues exist in Colombia, but I would suggest just speaking to the local people who completely insist you are safe there. They feel it's a slap in the face for people to think that badly of their country.

Bogota is Bogota. Every capital draws some bad seeds. There are kidnappings in BOG. Just be smart. For the most part, the other major cities (Cartagena, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga) are clear of the danger issues. There is armed security everywhere, especially in the tourist areas.


Wrap-up
In essence, if you speak decent Spanish, you can get laid here, if you are smart about it, and for free. There are many sexy women that dominate the areas we visited. They were all interested in speaking more. Some tried their limited English on me. I sensed that they were willing to try a lot more on me as well. A sense also picked up by my chica.

I'll be headed back to BAQ next month. I'd recommend you try it out for yourself. Hope this helps someone.

[Dom Wolf]

Thanks Mister Solo,

Anyone else used Peter Solano.

Info would be helpful.

[Dom Wolf]

Has anyone used Peter Solano for real in Colombia? I would like to hear from a board member with several reports please. Members we all respect. That has not let use down in the past.

I know Colombia is dangerous and I have to go (work related), I would like to go out at night with someone trusted by members of this board.

This Peter Solano may be on the up and up, but I have seen his post on other boards, same M.O., with the same pictures.

Just need some background before I use him or not. Could not get members from the other board to vouch for him there, maybe someone here?

Thank You

[Peter Solano]

Why spend $1000 plus Dollars on a single`s tour if for a couple of hundred I can run an ad in the paper for you and help you get the woman you really want. PRIVATE EMAIL me for details.

Peter

[Leif Erickson]

I use to refer to the U.S. State Department web site when traveling overseas, but the site is so ridiculously dramatic I don't use it anymore. You can be paralyzed by fear or you can have an adventure. Anyone have any thoughts on the companies offering singles tours to Columbia? TLC, Latin Connection, etc.

Thanks

[Peter Solano]

Come to the sea of beautiful women in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Peter

[Peter Solano]

Here is one for you, Ferolga.

Peter