Cartagena Reports

[TBrog1]

I'm currently in Cartagena and was wondering if you guys could give me your opinions on where to find a real stunner?

Thank you!

[John Gault]

They have been there forever. I refuse to ride on one, but they most certainly are available like you stated Lmarcone. This is another reason I do not like to share my vast knowledge of the Cartagena and coastal areas, as to much inaccurate shit is posted and it gets old.

First off correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears people are talking of taking a moto from the airport. Most people have some kind of luggage so it would seem to be uncomfortable at best to use one from the airport.

In the matter of your vast knowledge of the area in question you must be mistaking yourself to being the legendary Urban Wildlife. His posts are still useful for the area in question. You have posted some decent info on Puerto Vallarta I will grant you that. But in the matter of Colombia you are a newbe using info gleamed from other posters, and using that to pretend you have vast knowledge of the Colombian Coastal area.

Write some valid trip reports from the area in question, and then people who really know the area may take you more serious.

[Manizales911]

I'm sure you know, the police set up an occasional roadblock as you're either coming in or out of Bocogrande and one of the things they specifically seem to look for are unauthorized motos carrying tourists. Some bikers will not take you down there. The licensed motos used to (still?) wear a colored vest and carry an extra helmet with them. Getting a ride on a moto used to be really easy, but it seems like it's become harder over time. I've been able to get rides recently into and out of Bocogrande but I'm not sure if the guys I was riding with were official moto taxis or not. It is way cheaper than a taxi and a much faster way to get around the city when traffic is tight.

Two men on a moto is a big red flag in Colombia, many thefts are committed by two guys on a bike, in fact it is illegal in Medellin for two guys to be on a motorcycle together, period.

[Jelly Donut]

I will look for them next month when I go back.

I'm sure you know, the police set up an occasional roadblock as you're either coming in or out of Bocogrande and one of the things they specifically seem to look for are unauthorized motos carrying tourists. Some bikers will not take you down there. The licensed motos used to (still?) wear a colored vest and carry an extra helmet with them. Getting a ride on a moto used to be really easy, but it seems like it's become harder over time. I've been able to get rides recently into and out of Bocogrande but I'm not sure if the guys I was riding with were official moto taxis or not. It is way cheaper than a taxi and a much faster way to get around the city when traffic is tight.

[Lmarcone]

Walk outside to the main street- and any solo male on a bike holding a spare helmet is a mototaxista.

Really. I may have just never noticed it in my 5 years of going to Cartagena. I will look for them next month when I go back.

[Hioctane]

Yes I agreed I am a little bias about Cartagena. My views and impression of that city were shaped by that first timer fuckup experience I had there. The first day I get there, I get scammed by the ISG senior board member Aunsa and me looking like a fool for an apartment's address that did not exist and later having to find a place in hurry late at night not knowing anything nor anyone in that city. Then the next day I am walking towards Playa Hollywood and I get scammed by a guy selling cangrejos. I fell for the free oyster scam which is not free at all. Then after that a black massage girl and others massage girls on the beach are trying to scam me putting their dirty hands with cream on my body without me asking. Then they wanted to charge me for putting their hands on me. And I still have not gotten to the umbrella of the hustler Tony, another big scammer. I saw Tony down there, but I was so pissed up dealing with all the scammers that I changed my travel plan completely in an instant. I was looking at him after someone called his name and began to think, is this really what I want? And then the answer was clear and decided to leave Carta, and gamble exploring another city, Barranquilla. And I am glad I did it. Next time, I go there I will spend a few days in Cartagena to see if my bias perspective change. It is bad that I did not report the incident earlier. I did not do it earlier because the rat Aunsa was communicating to me in January that he was returning my money and was emailing me all type of sorry excuses.

Yeah, the touts can be annoying. You need to make it clear that free is free and that you won't give them one peso. Or just tell them to come back later. With Tony, you need to settle on a price in advance and tell him you will be there longer than you really are. If he tries to play some tricks, just threaten to go to another guy tomorrow. It is a game. Always works.

In regards to Aunsa, we fell for his scam hook, line and sinker just as you. As a vet of Colombia, I feel so embarrassed! We even met him in Bogota. Bought him drinks and in return, he convinced us to get an even better apartment for another $100. We went to a non existent apartment in January. High season! It was almost impossible to find another apartment. As with you, many lame excuses.

[Member #4398]

Sounds like you are a little biased in your review of CTG. You should check it out again. Don't let one scam by Aunsa distort your view of CTG. I wished you had reported it before I got scammed as well! Generally, you will find some good people in CTG. Most are not scammers. When I was scammed, I had a local guy help me run around to find another apartment during high season (new year's). Juan for apartments is a solid as they get. Yes, there are hustlers on the beach but so does the beaches of Sosua in DR. It just comes with the beach. Also, the beach is not that great in CTG, but if you take a short 20 minute boat ride, you will get to the white sandy beaches of Playa Blanca or Isla de Rosario.

Yes I agreed I am a little bias about Cartagena. My views and impression of that city were shaped by that first timer fuckup experience I had there. The first day I get there, I get scammed by the ISG senior board member Aunsa and me looking like a fool for an apartment's address that did not exist and later having to find a place in hurry late at night not knowing anything nor anyone in that city. Then the next day I am walking towards Playa Hollywood and I get scammed by a guy selling cangrejos. I fell for the free oyster scam which is not free at all. Then after that a black massage girl and others massage girls on the beach are trying to scam me putting their dirty hands with cream on my body without me asking. Then they wanted to charge me for putting their hands on me. And I still have not gotten to the umbrella of the hustler Tony, another big scammer. I saw Tony down there, but I was so pissed up dealing with all the scammers that I changed my travel plan completely in an instant. I was looking at him after someone called his name and began to think, is this really what I want? And then the answer was clear and decided to leave Carta, and gamble exploring another city, Barranquilla. And I am glad I did it. Next time, I go there I will spend a few days in Cartagena to see if my bias perspective change. It is bad that I did not report the incident earlier. I did not do it earlier because the rat Aunsa was communicating to me in January that he was returning my money and was emailing me all type of sorry excuses.

[Hioctane]

4,000 pesos colombian.

No moto-taxis? Wow, then how did I get to and fro to the airport the last 3 trips? And to Casa Rocio?

Man, please- I don't mince words.

If I write it it's because its's true!

Only Good energy.

Really. I may have just never noticed it in my 5 years of going to Cartagena. I will look for them next month when I go back.

[Lmarcone]

I am fluent and pasS for Colombian. I enjoy interacting with locals and getting down with them. "when in Rome. ".

I enjoy moto-taxis when I'm rolling solo because they are fast and cheap.

And no, I have never been drugged and robbed by a woman!

They have been there forever. I refuse to ride on one, but they most certainly are available like you stated Lmarcone. This is another reason I do not like to share my vast knowledge of the Cartagena and coastal areas, as to much inaccurate shit is posted and it gets old.

[Old Parr]

4,000 pesos colombian.

No moto-taxis? Wow, then how did I get to and fro to the airport the last 3 trips? And to Casa Rocio?

Man, please- I don't mince words.

If I write it it's because its's true!

Only Good energy.

They have been there forever. I refuse to ride on one, but they most certainly are available like you stated Lmarcone. This is another reason I do not like to share my vast knowledge of the Cartagena and coastal areas, as to much inaccurate shit is posted and it gets old.

[Lmarcone]

4,000 pesos colombian.

No moto-taxis? Wow, then how did I get to and fro to the airport the last 3 trips? And to Casa Rocio?

Man, please- I don't mince words.

If I write it it's because its's true!

Only Good energy.

What? Are you talking about DR? There are no "moto-taxis" en Cartagena!

[Black Page]

What? Are you talking about DR? There are no "moto-taxis" en Cartagena!

Actually there were some, but at least 5 years ago and before. It's a long time I don't see any of them.

[Hioctane]

This post sound fishy. The first post and he knows people that have apartments and is asking another member to PM him. Does anybody knows where the scammer, thief and con man Aunsa. This post just gave me flashbacks. I wonder if Aunsa changed his name now to enter the board to begin renting imaginary apartments.

Cerebro

Exactly. Lesson learned though. When another guy that I met on FB tried to rent me an apartment in Medellin and to make a deposit, I had to laugh. NEVER send a deposit unless he is reputable and well reviewed on a board like this.

[Hioctane]

They are fast, readily available and cheap.

I usually pay like 4,000 pesos to the airport, for example.

What? Are you talking about DR? There are no "moto-taxis" en Cartagena!

[Hioctane]

In regards to CTG, since you are a DR traveler, you are going to be disappointed with the beaches because in CTG they are dirty as hell so to avoid disappointment don't try to compare it to DR beaches. They are not clear water like in the DR. CTG is also a touristic town with scammers and hustlers everywhere. So you have to constantly watch you back and the people you talk to because they will try to get you. It is a beautiful city thought with a great wall that surrounds it and all the preserve architecture of the 1500's. The weather is hot and humid as hell all year long. Just like the DR or even hotter and this is coming from me a Dominican born guy. There is a little more variety of women e. G. Some more women from Medellin or Cali, other areas, but still is more CTG women than anything else. You find more darker Colombians there too. I recommend the Hotel Pueblito Playa in Bocagrande http://www.hotelpueblitoplaya.com/. 85 k or 31 USD per night at Av. San Martn, No. 4-115, Bocagrande, Cartagena de Indias. Colombia. I think is the cheapest placed in that area. It is chica friendly and pretty basic hotel, clean, comfortable bed, it has a chica fee of about 45 K or 17 USD. It is a block away from Playa Hollywood, the beach where the chicas go and where Tony (a hustler) has his umbrella post. Tony has a listing of tons of chicas, but he is also a hustler so you have to act accordingly. Watch out or avoid the Cangrejo (crab) as I call them or sea food vendors and the black massage girls at the beaches, they are all over the beaches in Bocagrande and they don't leave you alone. 99.99 percent of them are hustlers and they are praying on tourist. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Cerebro

Sounds like you are a little biased in your review of CTG. You should check it out again. Don't let one scam by Aunsa distort your view of CTG. I wished you had reported it before I got scammed as well! Generally, you will find some good people in CTG. Most are not scammers. When I was scammed, I had a local guy help me run around to find another apartment during high season (new year's). Juan for apartments is a solid as they get. Yes, there are hustlers on the beach but so does the beaches of Sosua in DR. It just comes with the beach. Also, the beach is not that great in CTG, but if you take a short 20 minute boat ride, you will get to the white sandy beaches of Playa Blanca or Isla de Rosario.