Other Areas

[Furysys]

Foxes, yes I have read that valledepur is a beautful little town in a valley, but can be very hot. I have also read.

That there are some severely beautiful women that populate the place, but again, finding the casas can be tricky. Thanks for the info, keep it up, I would like to go there later this year!

[Strangeman]

First stop: Buga. Nice little pueblo, friendly people. Very religious, the center of the town is an old historic church. Lots of beautiful girls.

Second Stop: Armenia. Another very nice little city. Lots of hot girls. A nice cento area to see. Historic church, big sculptures, nice little shops. Sorry guys, but the name of the hotel here escapes me. But if you stand in the town square facing the church and look to your right / front, there is a side street with an obvious hotel there. That is where I stayed. I recommend the place, it was very nice and only 40, 000 pesos a night. Directly across the street are a bakery and restaurant, as well as a convince store. Also here is the National Coffee Park. It is like a small version of Six Flags. Very small. But still fun. 25 dollars buys you a ticket that included all attractions, including a horse ride, bumper boats, go carts, roller coaster, etc. Worth 25 dollars for a fun day. If you are in shape, try the 'coffee walk' back to the top instead of the cable car. Its a nice little walk that will give you a little workout.

Third Stop: Pereira. I did not really like this place. It seems just like St. Louis. A dirty little industrial town where the people are not very friendly. Smoggy, etc. Their only claim to fame is the 'viaduct' which seems to be a large bridge. Not real impressed, did not stay long. Perhaps there is more that I missed.

Fourth Stop: Santa Rosa / Termales. OMFG I love this place. I could move here. Santa Rosa is a nice little town, friendly people. There is a little cafe called Pablos just before the road to the termales. The service here is EXCELLENT even by US standards and the chorizos are fricken awesome. I highly recommenced. I also highly recommend the Hotel Termales. They are right up the road from the public springs. It is expensive for Colombia (97 dollars a night) but it is great. You get a room, access to a private hot spring and pools, poolside service for anything you want to eat or drink, a nice restaurant (you can opt to pay about 30 dollars more for all inclusive breakfast and lunch) and a massage spa that is twenty feet from the hot springs. It also includes free access to the public hot spring area. Pricey, but worth it to set in your own private hot spring with your novia wrapped around you, sipping your drink and contemplating if you should both go get a full body massage or not. FYI, my novia identified several prepagos there, so the place is obviously chicka friendly. I think it may be BYOW though, I did not see any girls trolling for work. Also, don't think too much about why the doorman here needs a 12 gauge. Just be glad he is on your side.

If your budget will not accommodate this, there is another option. Just around the corner from the public springs are several small bed and breakfast type places and many good little eateries. We ate breakfast at one (fresh ages, arepa, pan, chorizo for only 14, 000 pesos for both of us). They are much cheaper. The charge to enter the public hot springs area is 20, 000 pesos. These smaller hotels also have cheap horse rides (10000 pesos for an hour). They take you up into the mountains on horseback and the views are amazing. They also have canopy rides, etc.

All in all, a great area.

Final Stop: Manizales. A very nice little town. Very similar to any normal college town in America. Nice nightlife, cute girls, clean town. Stayed at Casa Galvez. Cost was 68 dollars a night, highly recommend. Very nice rooms, nice staff. Went to Zona Rosa for entertainment at night, and it was fun. Many bars and restaurants and a very safe area. Walked around centro the next day, nice street with many shops, etc. I did not see much in the way of P4P, but I did notice a shop in Zona Rosa called 'Manizales Cupid'. It seemed to be a dating shop (I am assuming for gringos) to meet locals.

Ok, folks. That is all. Good hunting.

[FoxesHunter]

I'd like to share some news about Valledupar. It is not very alive town in the night but there are some secret niche. Now I stay in Valledupar, it is not a big town but there are wonderful and sexy girls. Valledupar is very hot, even if I though more hot. Yesterday I reached Cachete (at 6. 00 pm) there were some ugly girls. Cachete is a casa with live sex. I leaved after a little time. In a short time I reached "donde Robinson", it is a casa where there were 15 wonderful girls, some breathtaking. It is possible to take away a gilr for 60. 000 pesos for one hour and 100. 000 pesos for two hours.

I chose the best girl, she was breathtaking really and very "amigable" but her sex was bad. Lastima! She gave me her phone number but I will not call her again.

[Furysys]

Judging by what you say about Manizales, MDE will always be a good spot for casa, chicas etc. I will admit to.

Being kinda surprised that nothing much seems to be available, but maybe that is the old circular argument that if there is nothing, then nobody will go there, therefore nothing will ever happen. The girls know there is always business in MDE, and costs of living are far less in Manizales and other places, so there will always be a migration there.

[Golfinho]

Using the bathroom on the bus was an experience, it would have been impossible given the wild turns we were making but the bathroom is so small you are stuck in it like a sardine so can't get thrown around.

As bad as that bus ride may have been. And, I can believe it. Driving that route was worse. Between the rain, construction, horse running loose in the road, tolls, and the curves, hills, hills, trying to pass the trucks. Wouldn't do it again. Could stop though anytime for photos. The scenery some of the world's finest.

[BayBoy]

When I take long bus trips I go on an empty stomach and only buy bottled water to go along. There's too much curving and swerving by the drivers for my stomach to take.

And I still get one of those barf bags just in case.

[Clodbuster]

I am going to Ibague in May for a two week stay related to my work. Anybody been there and willing to share info about the area? Are there some clubs or other places to meet Colombianas? Other options?

Thanks in advance.

[Manizales911]

There's buses from Terminal del Sur in Medellin going to Manizales approximately every hour in the daytime. One company is Empresa Arauca. Its a 4 1/2 trip. Costs approx. 30,000.

I've never taken that co. Can't recommend it or not. Looked it up on the net.

Arauca is the company that I use, I thought the price was 40. 000COP but I could be wrong.

[BayBoy]

While searching online I discovered that colombian bus companies have the worst web sites ever 'designed'. Got to be lots of work for a skilled web designer in this country.

I totally agree with you on that. You have to dig deep into these sites just to get times and schedules and basic information.

[Fla Fun]

Can anyone reccomend a bus company that goes from mde to manizales? I searched a bunch online but have yet to find one that does the route. I know there are many. Just can't find them.

Thanks.

Just take a taxi to the South bus terminal, here is the information and phone numbers. Just take a look at the buses. I prefer the larger buses with the bathroom. Bus Terminal South / St. (Carrera) 65 8B- 91 / Tel. : 361 14 99.

MANIZALES 4. 30Hrs.

11 (Ticket booth number)

Arauca

3611577-3611173.



135.

Tax la feria

3611181.



4 ò 133.

Expreso sideral

3611048.



9 ó 136.

Autolegal

3610947.



140.

Flota ospina sanabria

3611196

[BayBoy]

There's buses from Terminal del Sur in Medellin going to Manizales approximately every hour in the daytime. One company is Empresa Arauca. Its a 4 1/2 trip. Costs approx. 30, 000.

I've never taken that co. Can't recommend it or not. Looked it up on the net.

[BayBoy]

. But I'd like to know how much it costs about living 3 days inside the SPA. For exemplre, do tourists sleep inside SPA. Are there hotels? How much they cost?

Thanks

The 2nd spa has a hotel. I haven't stayed there, but the Lonely Planet book says its over 100, 000 to spend the nite.

[FoxesHunter]

To answer you guys questions about the costs. The Chiva bus is around 2, 500 to the spas. The spa is 26, 000 to get in. No time limit, stay as long as you want. There's a cafe inside.

But the strange thing is that the spa doesn't provide anything. No towels, bathing suits, shirts, hats, sandals nada. You have to bring all that stuff with you. They have a room to check your clothes into.

There's 4 large pools to soak in and some small individual tubs also.

. But I'd like to know how much it costs about living 3 dyas inside the SPA. For exemplre, do tourists sleep inside SPA. Are there hotels? How much they cost?

Thanks

[BayBoy]

To answer you guys questions about the costs. The Chiva bus is around 2, 500 to the spas. The spa is 26, 000 to get in. No time limit, stay as long as you want. There's a cafe inside.

But the strange thing is that the spa doesn't provide anything. No towels, bathing suits, shirts, hats, sandals nada. You have to bring all that stuff with you. They have a room to check your clothes into.

There's 4 large pools to soak in and some small individual tubs also.

[FoxesHunter]

In Pereira I took the bus. You catch the buses that leave from the underpass across from the Exito. They leave every 10 minutes. Its about a 20 min. Ride into Santa Rosa de Cabral. From there I caught the Chiva bus to the spas. Leaves at 12 noon. Takes about 30 minutes up into the hills.

The Chiva comes back at 4:30pm into Santa Rosa de Cabral.

How much Santa Rosa de Cabral costs for 3 days, please?

Thanks