Medellin Reports

[Septimius]

I find taxis very reasonably priced in Medellin and use them. Some years ago I tried the metro and bought a civica card which you can top up but I found that I was not getting the value for what I paid and was actually paying more per trip than what I paid for a single way ticket. Now there are always long lines of locals buying single tickets; I suspect the reason.

I'm on the same boat with the taxis and Uber. On my next trip I'll definitely give the metro a shot just for the experience. And like others have posted on here, avoid rush hour if possible. Whether it's the Metro or Taxis, you're going to be wasting much time commuting. I learned this the hard way a few times. Especially when inviting a chica over around that time.

[Knowledge]

It makes senses there would be a discount with the civica. Most metro systems do it that way. Honestly, I've never checked. It's not a big difference but it can add up over the years.

I just read thru it.

[Surfer500]

I just read thru it.

It's amazing that there are members who are of the belief that a Civica costs more to use the Metro than buying single tickets. With out even reading what is contained in the article, it is a no brainier that the Civica saves you money. How do I know this, because the majority of the riders, including myself, use a Civica card.

I suppose for someone who hasn't ridden the Metro recently, they would not be aware of all the riders using them. If the Civica card actually cost more money to use than the Metro single tickets, nobody would use it, and it wouldn't exist.

[Nounce]

Others have already responded with some good details, but here is an article I found that really helped.

https://medellinguru.com/metro/

I just read thru it.

The 2019 standard Medelln Metro fare with a Civica card is 2,255 pesos ($0.69), which is up from 2,125 pesos in 2018 and up from 2,000 pesos in 2017.

The standard fare in 2019 if you dont have a Civica card is 2,550 pesos ($0.79), which is up from 2,400 pesos in 2018.

So, you save 295 pesos (11.6 percent) per standard trip with a Civica card. As a result of using a Civica card I estimate I save over $60 USD per year with lower fares.

[Knowledge]

Abydos was very popular with gringos going back 10 to 15 years. It had the same owner as Loutron, which also got its share of gringos in those days. These days of course there are more everywhere, even Veracruz.

I have never seen a gringo in Pamela's. I have seen at least one in most other casas I've been to. Ten years ago and before I never saw a gringo in a casa, not even New Life.

[Knowledge]

I think you are right on both points. The civica card is a great deal if you transfer lines and use buses. Even if you don't, although the per ride cost is a bit more than single tickets, it is worthwhile because you avoid the crazy long ticket lines at rush hour.

Medellin taxis are an amazing value. They aren't very comfortable but 10 k to 20 k gets you between most any two points within the city limits. The Metro is a better bet during rush hour traffic. At peak times you sometimes have to wait for a train or two to pass before you can get on and it is sardine can city but you pass by all the traffic jams. I stick to uber unless I'm in a hurry and I don't have time to wait for uber to show up. In those situations it's much quicker to grab a taxi.

I find taxis very reasonably priced in Medellin and use them. Some years ago I tried the metro and bought a civica card which you can top up but I found that I was not getting the value for what I paid and was actually paying more per trip than what I paid for a single way ticket. Now there are always long lines of locals buying single tickets; I suspect the reason.

[Knowledge]

Based on your questions, I recommend you avoid New Life. All the others are about equal in terms of gringo population. Aiffe tends to get a little of the gringo overflow because it is so close to New Life. If you are BX then you will be alright. Centro will remind you of Hunts Point at 1 am Circa 1989.

Hey guys,

First trip to Colombia soon, been mongering in Europe (and the USA hehe) several times.

I speak fluent Spanish, grew up in the bronx, not worried about the streets, I can conduct myself.

*My question is, which casitas / clubs have the least amount of gringos? (preferably none).

I plan on being in centro in the am, escort pages at night, and clubs / casas in the afternoon. I would dread seeing a bunch of gringo tourists in the waiting room or strip club bars.

[Surfer500]

I find taxis very reasonably priced in Medellin and use them. Some years ago I tried the metro and bought a civica card which you can top up but I found that I was not getting the value for what I paid and was actually paying more per trip than what I paid for a single way ticket. Now there are always long lines of locals buying single tickets; I suspect the reason.

This doesn't make any sense, it's always the same price for a ride whether you have a single ticket or Civica for a ride, always. And with a Civica transfers to the bus lines are included. So your information is inaccurate. And as far as the long lines of people buying tickets, it's not because a single ticket is cheaper than a Civica. The reality is that the majority of the riders on the Metro have Civica cards so, 1) they do not have to wait in lines to buy individual tickets, and 2) enjoy the cost savings associated with the inclusion of the bus lines at no cost by using a Civica.

One of the posters identified a link to an article on the Metro which will help everyone have a better understanding of the Metro system, the fares, and the Civica, etc.

[Surfer500]

The street girls can go into bars. The girls you see standing around in the bars are freelancers and they can move from bar to bar, also the girls standing in front of ST hotels. It works the same way like with SW. You should have seen some SW on the street perpendicular to Cr 16. There is at least one street adjacent to Santa Fe that is full of them.

This is good information, I just didn't like Bogota, to hard to get around, super crowded and congested, and the Santa Fe scene just didn't do it for me.

However I did notice one Bar that advertised, or I should say the "barker" in front of the bar proclaimed that all the girls working inside were Paisa's from Medellin.

It was almost as though he was selling a brand of meat, kinda like Angus Certified steak, and I suppose he was!

[JjBee62]

I find taxis very reasonably priced in Medellin and use them. Some years ago I tried the metro and bought a civica card which you can top up but I found that I was not getting the value for what I paid and was actually paying more per trip than what I paid for a single way ticket. Now there are always long lines of locals buying single tickets; I suspect the reason.

I originally used my roommate's Civics card. As a student she got a discount. I would just top it off whenever there was no line.

I noticed in July that Metro usage was up a lot from 15 months before. Longer lines at the ticket window and really long lines at the Civica booth. My way to minimize the delay is to buy multiple trips whenever there's no line.

Just paying full price I can make 6 round trips to El Centro for the cost of a 1 way taxi ride.

[Nounce]

I've been mongering all over western europe, mainstays being lisbon and barcelona. The SW's are alright there, they get the job done for $30 euros.

Brothel girls can be drop dead gorgeous, I can't resist going downstairs on them / kissing if they're hot enough.

Don't have answer about STI. For lower price girls that you are asking in general, you have to ask them to shower if you are in a room with functional shower. You are lucky if you get hot water and two towels. New Life is pretty well run, they give you one towel and the girl frequently will bring her own towel. Or is it they give two towels? In some places, it is obvious they don't wash at all between customers, Once you get here, it is easy to determine yourself. If you bring girl to your own room, you can eliminate some of the issues.

[Nounce]

I'm not a bar guy, and having been to the Santa Fe area only once in Bogota, one of the differences I noticed, is that there is no SW scene immediately adjacent to the Santa Fe area like in Medellin.

The street girls can go into bars. The girls you see standing around in the bars are freelancers and they can move from bar to bar, also the girls standing in front of ST hotels. It works the same way like with SW. You should have seen some SW on the street perpendicular to Cr 16. There is at least one street adjacent to Santa Fe that is full of them.

[Wolf662]

Hey guys,

First trip to Colombia soon, been mongering in Europe (and the USA hehe) several times.

I speak fluent Spanish, grew up in the bronx, not worried about the streets, I can conduct myself.

*My question is, which casitas / clubs have the least amount of gringos? (preferably none).

I plan on being in centro in the am, escort pages at night, and clubs / casas in the afternoon. I would dread seeing a bunch of gringo tourists in the waiting room or strip club bars.

I understand Bar Montijo and Grill occidental are pretty local? And the further north you go past metro prado, the real freak show begins?

Special thanks to PolloNegro, Jjbee, Wolf, Tall man, and barboa, you legends have been absolutely a tremendous help, any newbie should read most all of their posts.

Cheers,

John.

Strip Club-wise gringos are very rare in the Centro clubs and even kind of rare at Fase II, every time I have been there the only gringos came with me.

[RudeBwoy100]

Algo ms (do you sell more) 99% usually do. I landed at 3 pm Saturday and have bagged 5 chics since 5 pm, stay tuned! Pollo negro is out!

Woa woa woa! My guy, these are some wild allegations my brother. Are you saying that most women who are let's say middle to lower class have sold or are willing to sell themselves? I find such a statement problematic but I don't know; what are normal Colombian women stance / thoughts on prositution in general?

BTW, if that's the case, have you seen the slim, quiet & light skin / pale chica who works the front desk at Ayenda botero hotel? She always works morning & afternoon shifts, if she's on the table let me know because I loved seeing her every morning.

[Nounce]

I find taxis very reasonably priced in Medellin and use them. Some years ago I tried the metro and bought a civica card which you can top up but I found that I was not getting the value for what I paid and was actually paying more per trip than what I paid for a single way ticket. Now there are always long lines of locals buying single tickets; I suspect the reason.

The metro here is very basic. It charges by entry, not distance. For shorter distance, taxi is door to door will be a better to some.