Other Areas

[Que Ladilla]

Thanks HH. I'll stay in Rodadero rather than in the city. I've got some irons in the fire online. If nothing pans out, I'll move on.

Regarding Ciudad Perdida, I've read everything that I could find about it. You're right, it’s dangerous. The AUC, ELN, and FARC are all contesting this prime coca-growing real estate. But, the local narco-baron has a great little side business running the only tour company that goes there, and since I'll be on the tour, I feel fairly safe. Eight foreigners were kidnapped by the ELN in 2003 in what was apparently a failed negotiating ploy with the government. They were released unharmed three months later. The trail has been heavily guarded since then, not by the nicest people I admit. I haven't found any other instance of aggression along the trail against foreigners in my research, but I have found plenty of bloggers who loved the whole experience.

Please don’t take my failure to heed your warning as a lack of respect (for you or Peter). I’ve been dying to do this trek for several years, have done my homework, and the risk/reward calculation works for me.

My only anxiety now is transportation from the airport. Any tips? Hotel recommendation?

Thanks,

Gringo

[Hoof Hunter]

Not much here on Santa Marta. I'm going for two weeks later this month. Anyone have any advice?

Outside of the beaches of El Rodadero and guided tours of Parque Tayrona, maybe a trip into Santa Marta during the day, not much to say or see.

Santa Marta is mainly a non-pro city. Stick to the populated beaches. The P4P spots aren't many, and not really good. Lucky would be a 7.5. There's really not much to do or see there. I actually prefer the beaches, normalcy, and lack of gringos there to Cartagena, but it's a bring-your-own-chica spot. It's where normal Colombian folks go to vacation. Hottest chicas that you'll see will be with someone, trip-sponsor or family members. Not much English spoken. Pretty decent weekend nightlife. Might be able to get lucky, but not immediately. Very few touts available on the beaches, and the official beach workers (chair/tents/restaurant waiters/vendors) must wear vendor vests or else the beach police chase them off. Everything priced for normal Colombians, therefore much cheaper than Cartagena. Located 1 hr from Barranquilla, 2.5 - 3 hrs from Cartagena.

Also, your timing is off, as college kids will be returning to school shortly after their break. The beaches were loaded for the past few weeks for the puentes (long holiday wkds). There was a large beach concert last week when I was there. You might catch some luck with that around the Colombian Independence day holiday.

You've already wisely been advised against your planned agenda, by someone who I will never see eye-to-eye with. I have to agree with him. Take heed to those words. It's not safe there. Not as in Cartagena not-safe, nor South Cali not-safe, nor barrios on the hills of Medellin not-safe. As in narcoland/FARC not safe. No need to take my word, ask the locals. They probably have stories to tell too.

[Que Ladilla]

Not much here on Santa Marta. I'm going for two weeks later this month. Anyone have any advice?

[Under100Pesos]

I have coined a new term for some of the guys here (Virtual Mongers). I believe Jackson should incorporate this into the board and create a new category up one level from senior member, to create acceptance and give these guys something to aspire too. Just a thought. LB

Yea, I guess your right. I have never been to Cartagena. Never been to LDV, don't know that there are two stairways going up to a courtyard with hardass benches. Go in the front door, mens bathroom to the right, tables along the left side, DJ both all the way in back left. Womans bathroom on the other side of the bar. Owned by a trippy Italian guy.

Would not know about the Loco Gringo that just opened 6 months ago where you can watch sports on two flat screen TV's. Was great during football season on Sunday's. Deserts are great there! Nice tables out front. I guess since I have never been I would not know about the Restaurant next store where the guys from Isreal hang out. Get the Jugo con leche, I think the Mora is the best. Good place to hang in the early afternoon to watch the girls go by. I guess I also have never been to Juilia's across the street. Good for breakfast Srambled eggs, with toast and coffee 5000. Also a good place to sit out front and watch the girls come off the beach.

I also would not know that the main street floods when it rains from the guardhouse to the little museum. Man I've walked that street over 1000 times, at all hours!

Before you question someones honesty in this forum you should get your facts straight.

[Under100Pesos]

A guy claims to live in ColOmbia six months a year, He then claims to have been traveling there for 6 years (before the internet), but he not only mispells it once but twice! I have been planning to travel here for sometime now, but the country seems to be overrun by a whole generation of internet geeks with active imaginations.

Maybe I will stay put in Lima, where I can see it, touch it and F**k it!

LB

I love guys that get on and correct spelling errors.OK,so my spelling stinks!

You're right,i have never been anywhere.You are planning to come to COLOMBIA? I would safe the criticism until you have gone somewhere yourself.

What the hell does having gone somewhere before the internet have to do with anything?This is one of the reasons i rarely post is because you get some knob who misses the point and wants to talk about spelling.

You're right you should stay in Lima!

[Lima Busy]

I have coined a new term for some of the guys here (Virtual Mongers). I believe Jackson should incorporate this into the board and create a new category up one level from senior member, to create acceptance and give these guys something to aspire too. Just a thought.
LB

[Lima Busy]

A guy claims to live in ColOmbia six months a year, He then claims to have been traveling there for 6 years (before the internet), but he not only mispells it once but twice! I have been planning to travel here for sometime now, but the country seems to be overrun by a whole generation of internet geeks with active imaginations.

Maybe I will stay put in Lima, where I can see it, touch it and F**k it!
LB

[Q Bert]

Actually for me it's more about living and working in an affordable Spanish speaking country and learning the language. This just has always been a goal of mine. Going to the Mansion and seeing what a wonderful job Greg and Bob have done just got me thinking about doing something similiar. In all honesty, the girls are great but I am getting laid (as for free as dinner and drinks cost) in the US about as much as anyone can. ISG or even mongering is just a passing interest to me or maybe just a sexual addiction, who knows? As far as girls are concerned there is never enough, is there? Besides, I really have a hard time calling something natural and instinctual an addiction, but then again, what do I know?

Thanks to everyone for their inputs though. This is something that I am going to have to research on my own. Hell, that might be the best part!

CT

[Under100Pesos]

If our tourist dollars are improving lifes there it must be a slow trickle down effect! My Girlfriend,her girlfriends and almost everyone i know there is unemployeed. My girlfriend has a degree and she still can't find a job.i live there six months out of the year,i don't really see the working class improving at all.

as far as Laguito improving,i guess everyone has their own opinion.I started going there six years ago.The changes i have seen are not good. The attitude towards grongo's has been the most dramatic change.If you are a gringo male,you will be tagged a sex tourist,for sure.

Has the internet changed Cartagena? Interesting topic.i would agree with Surfer that it has.Lets face it that 90% of the guys going there now, would not even know where Cartagena was on a map if not for the huge amounts of information being deciminated on the internet. for me if Laguito is not ruined,it is severly damaged. Now the village feel of Laguito is being replaced by loud groups of Gringo's yelling about buying apartments etc. the edificio's are starting to not let chicas in anymore. For those who have never been there,Laguito is very small.If there are ten gringo's in town it feels like fifty.Unlike Rio,it just does not have the size to accomadate huge amounts of people.

Now we have people starting to offer driving tours through Columbia countryside! are you kidding me? I hope if you are thinking about going on this you will have your life insurance paid up. what next a disneyworld in Cali?

Yea,i'd say there's been afew changes!For the better,not IMHO!sorry guys i don't mean to be negitive,and i still love Columbia.Still tons of hot chicas.But now i stay about a month in Cartagena to see my novia and then head out to smaller cities where you can still get laid for 20,000. sorry gotta keep a few gems for myself.

[Tiny 12]

Good points Tom 33. And applicable to a lot more than sharing unknown mongering spots on the web. For example, criticizing people for paying $25 for a piece of ass when $15 would have sufficed. That $10 might do some good in the girl's family or the local economy. (Admittedly, she might spend it on crack too.) Or, stretching it, like when the Sierra Club prevented electric lines from being strung across the Texas border to a small Mexican town, to protect some nesting birds. So the estadounidenses get to enjoy the birds, and the Mexicans live without electricity. Sometimes our own selfishness prevents the greater good. And I'm as guilty of this as anyone. If I find something good, I'm often not inclined to share it.

[Ricker]

It's true that more guys are visiting Medellin and Cartagena and other cities in Colombia ... Surfer's correct that the internet and sites like this one, that spread info, are bringing more guys to Colombia.

It's also true that Aussie Greg and his Mansion service have attracted many more visitors.

Really though, you have to congratulate Aussie for his and his partner Bob's accomplishments in Medellin.
They've done a first rate job in Medellin and now more places are opening up to emulate them ... a pat on the back for them but now more competition.

Like someone else recently stated ... and which I witnessed true on my recent visit to Medellin and the Mansion ... the vast majority of guys that visit Medellin and the Mansion, keep very close to the Mansion, el Poblado and it's surroundings.
The majority of guys I met are nice dudes looking to relax and have a little fun with the "Mansion chicas" that come by frequently.
Most guys are very "espanol limited" and don't dare venture to far from Poblado and the visits to the "usual places".
That's all great.
Aussie and his Mansion service are fantastic for that service and they have many repeat customers for that reason.
Guys enjoy the relaxing and safe atmosphere of the Mansion.

There are still many places in Medellin / Colombia / S.America to explore and enjoy for the more adventurous that don't have the gringo crowds.
The crowds are going to visit the convenient and organized places ... like the Medellin Mansion.

As far as the Clemson Tiger wanting to open a place of his own, like the Mansion ... I'd choose a location that is convenient for travelers to visit, like direct international flights ... most guys aren't going to want to travel 3 hours or more on a bus to and from the international airport to relax.

I guess the best way to open a succesfull new place is to copy the strengths of the place that's already there.
Convenience, nice location, lots of chicas and great customer service.

Suerte!

[Scooby1]

Surfer

I understand what you are saying about to many gringo's screw up a place. Look at some of the once little towns along the Mexican Rivera. They were once quaint little hamlets where you could go and really get away from it all. But because of the influx of us americans they are mostly tourist traps now. Yet, if you walk a few blocks away from the beach and the tourist areas there is still squalar and poverty. The only ones it really helped was the crooked politicians and big developers. Sure the hotels employs a lot of locals, but I'm not sure if it would have been better to leave them alone and allow them to live there simple existance.

Now on the other hand I have only been to Medellin in Colombia so that is the only city I can comment on. I think a city like Medellin is plenty big enough for other b&b's without ever interfering with each others business.

Yet once again I have heard that Rio has become so impacted with tourists that its becomming cost prohibitive for some of us to even visit.

[Tom 33]

I, for one, am happy to have any new businesses and tourists in Colombia. It is just possible that these dollars may improve the lives of some Colombianos.

People who come to Laguito to frequent the LDV and conclude that the area has been ruined by extranjeros ought to try some other activities. The building boom in Cartagena has provided many jobs for many locals including the father of a novia. Increased tourism brings change. Some change is good. Some is not.

I live in Laguito and am happy to report that I don't feel that it has been ruined by posts on the Internet. In fact I see great improvement.

CT-Medellin is big enough for more B&Bs. You could look at Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Armenia or Manizales. Damn, I hope I haven't ruined four more cities.

[Q Bert]

No offense to Clemson Tiger, but his post is a paradigm of what I have been saying about the dangers of overhyping destinations on public websites. How many other guys are also contemplating copying the Mansion in other Colombian cities BECAUSE of reading the ISG? How many have bought condos in Laguito BECAUSE of the hype on ISG?

The major cities have been exposed, but if you find a smaller city that lacks hordes of gringos, please think twice before posting about how great it is on ANY public access board (ISG is NOT the only example). Keeping "secret spots" has been going on among surfers for decades, but until the advent of the internet, sharing secret mongering locations did not lead to overcrowding. That is no longer the case.

Thanks for THINKING before telling the World how great the mongering is in Barrancabermeja (just an example). And you cannot unring the bell: once Pandora's box is opened (e.g. Laguito, Poblado), you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.

Not quite the reception I had hoped Surfer but you are making a lot of assumptions.

1.) I have been to Medellin (even I have been outside the Oviedo MacDonald's).

2.) Just business that's all.

Thanks though!

CT

[Slumlord]

No offense to Clemson Tiger, but his post is a paradigm of what I have been saying about the dangers of overhyping destinations on public websites. How many other guys are also contemplating copying the Mansion in other Colombian cities BECAUSE of reading the ISG? How many have bought condos in Laguito BECAUSE of the hype on ISG?

The major cities have been exposed, but if you find a smaller city that lacks hordes of gringos, please think twice before posting about how great it is on ANY public access board (ISG is NOT the only example). Keeping "secret spots" has been going on among surfers for decades, but until the advent of the internet, sharing secret mongering locations did not lead to overcrowding. That is no longer the case.

Thanks for THINKING before telling the World how great the mongering is in Barrancabermeja (just an example). And you cannot unring the bell: once Pandora's box is opened (e.g. Laguito, Poblado), you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.

I agree with you to a certain point - but the thing is Medellin is a very big, sprawling city. There is so much beyond Poblado - but most guys will never see that because they'll come into town for the quick shot and do the Mango's, Loutron, Fase Dos trifecta and think they hit the jackpot. And compared to the US, those spots are like hitting the jackpot.

I do hesitate to post some findings - for example, it's widely reported that the only club open on Sunday is Deja Vu (a toilet, IMHO). I've been to two other clubs on Sundays, so there's more open than Deja Vu. And those clubs were slamming. I'll give you a hint where they are: not in Poblado.

It's just like any other big city. I live in NYC and I go to places where there are nary a tourist. Even in a place like NYC where EVERY place has a press agent and EVERYTHING gets written up, there will ALWAYS be hidden gems. I think the same holds true for every other city.

I say more power to the mansion. Greg made a market where there was none - many of the guys who go to the mansion would have never gone to Medellin if there wasn't any. Do you think these guys are gonna venture outside of Poblado? Be real - they're all hanging out at the Oviedo MacDonald's. And there's nothing wrong with that.

The world is a big place - plenty of room for everyone.