Cartagena Reports

[Member #4258]

Aside from concuring with the guys who think this is a bad idea, I'm wondering why you want to do this? Are you are interested in checking things out along the way, as a classic motor tourist?

So, if your just trying to get to Caracas take a plane.

Thanks guys,

I guess it's no route 66. I had met some Venezuelan ladies in Curacao and they invited me to Caracas. I'd better fly. I hear even the airport is dangerous in Caracas!
Hoser

[Black Page]

Vector's statement was a little over the top, but your rose-colored glasses don't do any favors, either.

Taxis aren't dangerous in the tourist zone in Cartagena. But, when you try to expand that to all of Colombia, you are wrong. A friend was kidnapped by a taxista coming in from Rionegro in Medellín. Why do you suppose that natives call for taxis outside of the tourist zone? Why was I warned by Colombian friends about city buses being robbed in Cartagena recently? Why did my Paisa novia warn me to be careful at any ATM?
The FARC has been weakened, but they are far from gone. And you have the remnants of the AUC reorganizing. And then there are the gangs.
Natives know what to look for, we do not except maybe for Tung. The vast majority of readers here do not have Tung's experience. They ought to continue to be very careful. And avoiding bus travel between cities is prudent.

Tom, I think your post is very balanced and I agree with you.
Rose-colored glasses may be dangerous. I was actually speaking about taxies in cities, not outside.
Besides that, you are right. Most readers here are not so experienced as Tung. Therefore, I invite everyone to be not naif when travelling abroad (that is, places where you are not used to).
I believe that the most dangerous places I visited in my last 5 years were not in Colombia but in USA (e.g., East St. Louis, crossed by car at night. I would NEVER go there on foot! Not to mention many areas in Washington DC, etc. etc.), but shit happens, so better be too prudent than sorry.

[Black Page]

Did you not read my post about the taxies from the airport?Not to worry.

http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...&postcount=361

Yes, I read it. But I think that maybe you misunderstood my reply post to that tourist?
I wrote that if you pay 70k COP for a taxi in CTG, then the driver fooled you.
(I was talking to the guy off from the cruise boot)
I know how much a taxi costs in CTG: 5k for short rides like Bocagrande-Centro.

BP, right do not take any taxi off the street.
Read what we did. No problem.

I spent overall more or less 20-25 days in 4 times I went to Colombia (visited Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena). Overall, during my stays, I maybe took 50-100 taxies from the street, day and night (till 4am or so). (I am estimating about 2-3-4 taxi rides per day)
I never had a problem, except some overcharge (or attempt to overcharge me), neither anyone of people I knew had problems.

I don't say it is impossible to be robbed. I just say it must be not so common as it seems reading some posts here.

[Jelly Donut]

What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser

Aside from concuring with the guys who think this is a bad idea, I'm wondering why you want to do this? Are you are interested in checking things out along the way, as a classic motor tourist?

You could rent a car and check out many places along the Colombian coast, with more safety than would have been possible, say, just a few years ago. However, there are some problematic places along the way and if you are traveling alone with little knowledge of Spanish, you are taking on some significant additional risk. If you break down in Cienga, it's not the same thing as breaking down in Santa Marta.

There are some great people and safe places to hang out between Cartagena and Rioacha, and I know at least one operator who could tour you around La Guajira, some of the Colombian coast is fantastic and worth checking out before it becomes over developed - there are streches of beaches on the far side of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - just really wonderful natural stuff. But there are a lot of armed and desperate people out there.

Risky. And more so toward the border.

If I had to drive, I guess I'd try to befriend vacationing Venezuelans in Cartagena and head back across the border with them. Not sure if you could work that social engineering; esp. without Spanish. But, really, that's not much of a plan.

So, if your just trying to get to Caracas take a plane.

Here's a report which covers a different part of Colombia, but gives you a sense of what parts of the country can be like; be mindful that unlike this dude you don't speak much Spanish and it sounds like you can't "implement the pakman".....

"That one-second of eye-contact refined my take on Colombia"
http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...398#post740398

[Dodger Bulldog]

Sorry to say LDV is the only place where you can meet a chica and do not have to worry toooo much about your things.

If you meet one on the beach go to a short time hotel. Such as the one near the Hotel Playa. See the List. Updates coming shortly.

In my experience, I saw pretty much the same chicas working the beach during the day that I saw in LDV at night.

[John Gault]

What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser

Sounds like a death wish.

[Ricker]

What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser

Man that's a long drive, and irregardless of Colombia, Venezuela is not exactly the friendliest and safest place to be driving, especially for a non-espanol speaking, obvious gringo, driving thru the no man's land between Maracaibo and Caracas.

Venezuela, the government, isn't exactly gringo friendly like Colombia.

I've had my share of trouble with unfriendly officials there.

Good luck.

[Tom 33]

What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser

Slim and none. And I think that Slim just left.

[Member #4258]

What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser

[Mule69]

The truth is you should never become complacent,even in Laguito.I use caution in Cartagena and have never had a problem....Medellin was a different story my 3 friends were robbed at gunpoint last April in Poblado in broad daylight.I stayed behind that day as they walked to Olevida mall and were robbed by a guy on the back of a moto.Just because it has not happened yet do not believe that Colombia is now a safe place, at the least certain areas are very dangerous.Tom33 lives there and his advice is well taken.What happened at the Medellin Mansion should tell you that tourists are targets and someday you might be unlucky.It can happen anywhere,anytime!

Vector's statement was a little over the top, but your rose-colored glasses don't do any favors, either.

Taxis aren't dangerous in the tourist zone in Cartagena. But, when you try to expand that to all of Colombia, you are wrong. A friend was kidnapped by a taxista coming in from Rionegro in Medellín. Why do you suppose that natives call for taxis outside of the tourist zone? Why was I warned by Colombian friends about city buses being robbed in Cartagena recently? Why did my Paisa novia warn me to be careful at any ATM?

The FARC has been weakened, but they are far from gone. And you have the remnants of the AUC reorganizing. And then there are the gangs.

Natives know what to look for, we do not except maybe for Tung. The vast majority of readers here do not have Tung's experience. They ought to continue to be very careful. And avoiding bus travel between cities is prudent.

[Tom 33]

ROFL!

Yes, true, and when you are in the CTG airport, do not take a taxi (they may kidnap you!), but hire a private car from the tourist agency booking well ahead! And do not stay in a hotel in El Centro, neither go there day or night, but stay at Hilton, just walk only daytime in Bocagrande, and do not go to any other club than LDV!
It's guaranteed you will have a good time and a good taste of real Cartagena...

Seriously speaking, what you write is not only disrespectful towards Colombia, but shows also little knowledge of facts. Read the post of Tungurahua about safety issues in Colombia, or just try to have some local friends. Normal people takes buses and nobody is kidnapped. The route between Bog and Ctg is a normal route, also very interesting for a tourist. FARC and bandits are in the remote jungle.

PS: however, I dont recommend 22 hours of bus! Take a flight! :-)

Vector's statement was a little over the top, but your rose-colored glasses don't do any favors, either.

Taxis aren't dangerous in the tourist zone in Cartagena. But, when you try to expand that to all of Colombia, you are wrong. A friend was kidnapped by a taxista coming in from Rionegro in Medellín. Why do you suppose that natives call for taxis outside of the tourist zone? Why was I warned by Colombian friends about city buses being robbed in Cartagena recently? Why did my Paisa novia warn me to be careful at any ATM?

The FARC has been weakened, but they are far from gone. And you have the remnants of the AUC reorganizing. And then there are the gangs.

Natives know what to look for, we do not except maybe for Tung. The vast majority of readers here do not have Tung's experience. They ought to continue to be very careful. And avoiding bus travel between cities is prudent.

[World Travel 69]

Did you not read my post about the taxies from the airport?

Not to worry.

BP, right do not take any taxi off the street.

Read what we did. No problem.

http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...&postcount=361

ROFL!

Yes, true, and when you are in the CTG airport, do not take a taxi (they may kidnap you!), but hire a private car from the tourist agency booking well ahead! And do not stay in a hotel in El Centro, neither go there day or night, but stay at Hilton, just walk only daytime in Bocagrande, and do not go to any other club than LDV!
It's guaranteed you will have a good time and a good taste of real Cartagena...

Seriously speaking, what you write is not only disrespectful towards Colombia, but shows also little knowledge of facts. Read the post of Tungurahua about safety issues in Colombia, or just try to have some local friends. Normal people takes buses and nobody is kidnapped. The route between Bog and Ctg is a normal route, also very interesting for a tourist. FARC and bandits are in the remote jungle.

PS: however, I dont recommend 22 hours of bus! Take a flight! :-)

[Black Page]

Umm unless you want to get abducted by the FARC, I would advise against traveling any other way than plane when going from city to city in Columbia.

ROFL!

Yes, true, and when you are in the CTG airport, do not take a taxi (they may kidnap you!), but hire a private car from the tourist agency booking well ahead! And do not stay in a hotel in El Centro, neither go there day or night, but stay at Hilton, just walk only daytime in Bocagrande, and do not go to any other club than LDV!
It's guaranteed you will have a good time and a good taste of real Cartagena...

Seriously speaking, what you write is not only disrespectful towards Colombia, but shows also little knowledge of facts. Read the post of Tungurahua about safety issues in Colombia, or just try to have some local friends. Normal people takes buses and nobody is kidnapped. The route between Bog and Ctg is a normal route, also very interesting for a tourist. FARC and bandits are in the remote jungle.

PS: however, I dont recommend 22 hours of bus! Take a flight! :-)

[Player2]

Hi Guys,

Thank you every body for making my first trip to Colombia (CTG) wonderful.

I will be making more posts in the up coming days.

I want you to be careful on one thing in LDV, make sure when you accept 150 that means pesos not US $$.Most of the girls were more than fine but one girl, she was from baranquilla, usually wears shocking color satin cloth clothes and sits at the end near ladies rest room, she accepted 80k pesos for 1 hour and after the deed she said it was US $ 80.00. I ended up her giving a little more pesos (no big deal) but she is getting a bad reputation. Her real first name starts with D and last name with M, I checked her ID.

Again THANK YOU ALL for making my trip nice.

Player2

P.S: I did ended up at the beach with Tony. Just use common sense around him.

[Admin]

Greetings Everyone,

Forum Members wishing to criticize other Members for not following what they consider to be safe sex procedures may do so only in the Safe Sex Thread. Members may not comment upon, criticize or confront other members on this subject in the general discussion threads. Any such "safe sex complaints" posted in the general discussion threads will be deleted without comment. However...

In addition, Members may not repeatedly post or otherwise taunt other Members regarding their refusal to follow safe sex procedures. Specifically, references to having sex without a condom may be made only by incidental reference and shall not be the focus of any report. Such "safe sex taunting" reports will be deleted without comment.

In other words, I don't want to hear anymore about the subject except in the Safe Sex Thread.

If you want to criticize another member for not following what you consider to be safe sex practices, then send him a PM.

Actually, I've been considering this for quite some time because I believe that it does no good to criticize members for not following what other members may consider to be safe sex practices for the following reasons:

1. It's a disincentive for members to contribute.
2. It never serves to change any one's behavior.
3. It almost always leads to arguments.
4. It provides a "cover" for Serial Antagonists to provoke other members.

Accordingly, I have moved the previous "safe sex complaints" to the Safe Sex Thread.

To address the usual arguments:

1. If a guy wants to engage in sex without using a condom, that's his risk and his business.

2. If a girl wants to engage in sex without using a condom, that's her risk and her business.

3. If YOU want to protect yourself from either or both of the aforementioned parties, then YOU should use a condom for sex all the time and thus YOU will be protected from the allegedly unsafe sex practices of the other parties.

Thanks,

Jackson