Printable View
Not in Bogota but near by. American killed in a home invasion about a week ago. Doesn't sound mongering related. Sounds like some quick police work at least.
[URL]https://boyaca7dias.com.co/2025/02/07/dos-venezolanos-capturados-por-el-asesinato-de-un-estadounidense-en-su-casa-en-villa-de-leyva/[/URL]
[QUOTE=JackTaggart;2983629]Not in Bogota but near by. American killed in a home invasion about a week ago. Doesn't sound mongering related. Sounds like some quick police work at least.
[URL]https://boyaca7dias.com.co/2025/02/07/dos-venezolanos-capturados-por-el-asesinato-de-un-estadounidense-en-su-casa-en-villa-de-leyva/[/URL][/QUOTE]Pretty brutal. They didn't just shoot him.
[QUOTE=Combo;2983648]Pretty brutal. They didn't just shoot him.[/QUOTE]I've posted before about the very dangerous Venezuelans in Colombia. For years a drug addicts or robbers would stick a gun or knife in your side and ask for your phone, want the password and run away. BUT Claudia Lopez the Mayor of Bogota did a public announcement to be very wary of the Venezuelan gangs because they shoot you first. Then take your shit. Be careful.
[QUOTE=LatinaLover#1;2984316]I've posted before about the very dangerous Venezuelans in Colombia. For years a drug addicts or robbers would stick a gun or knife in your side and ask for your phone, want the password and run away. BUT Claudia Lopez the Mayor of Bogota did a public announcement to be very wary of the Venezuelan gangs because they shoot you first. Then take your shit. Be careful.[/QUOTE]Or torture you before they kill you.
I don't mean to turn a blind eye to this murder nor make light of it but in a country the size of Colombia with a mixed population picking a story out of a town almost 3 hours away from Bogota and relating it to the safety of Bogota is a bit far fetched. But that's just my 2 cents and honestly not really looking to start an argument. As with all large cities, even more so in a country that the socio economic divide is extreme, safety should never be overlooked. Latin America has a certain feel which if you're not used to can put some people in a heightened state of alert. I also don't want to cast Bogota as the safest place in the world, it's not. As in all my reports I have mentioned that certain areas (SF being one) feels sketchy and by no means would I say it's safe but having said that I have seen some gringos walk through SF oblivious to their surroundings probably because they're so freaked out from these reports that they almost make themselves a target not walking with confidence and awareness. One guy looked like a deer in headlights oblivious to sounds and people around him. It was quite eye opening. I personally feel safe walking to SF from the Ibis museo up until about 9 pm at night. By that time most people have cleared out of my preferred walking route of Carrera 7 to Calle 22 and then walking in. I'm also obviously gringo and so stand out. I feel as though if you had more Spanish features you would have a better time. But after that I just get a didi in to SF. I find the main streets where the girls and clubs are fairly safe but obviously gritty. When I've left the SF clubs around 1-2 am I personally wouldn't feel comfortable walking around SF. The streets are a lot more deserted but the street with the clubs on is fine and easy to catch a taxi back to your hotel.
Just my 2 cents. Take what you want from it. I feel Bogota gets a bit of a bad wrap. Petty theft is common. Obviously murder is another thing but unfortunately this can happen in many places.
[QUOTE=DaVinci40;2984383]I don't mean to turn a blind eye to this murder nor make light of it but in a country the size of Colombia with a mixed population picking a story out of a town almost 3 hours away from Bogota and relating it to the safety of Bogota is a bit far fetched. But that's just my 2 cents and honestly not really looking to start an argument. As with all large cities, even more so in a country that the socio economic divide is extreme, safety should never be overlooked. Latin America has a certain feel which if you're not used to can put some people in a heightened state of alert. I also don't want to cast Bogota as the safest place in the world, it's not. As in all my reports I have mentioned that certain areas (SF being one) feels sketchy and by no means would I say it's safe but having said that I have seen some gringos walk through SF oblivious to their surroundings probably because they're so freaked out from these reports that they almost make themselves a target not walking with confidence and awareness. One guy looked like a deer in headlights oblivious to sounds and people around him. It was quite eye opening. I personally feel safe walking to SF from the Ibis museo up until about 9 pm at night. By that time most people have cleared out of my preferred walking route of Carrera 7 to Calle 22 and then walking in. I'm also obviously gringo and so stand out. I feel as though if you had more Spanish features you would have a better time. But after that I just get a didi in to SF. I find the main streets where the girls and clubs are fairly safe but obviously gritty. When I've left the SF clubs around 1-2 am I personally wouldn't feel comfortable walking around SF. The streets are a lot more deserted but the street with the clubs on is fine and easy to catch a taxi back to your hotel.
Just my 2 cents. Take what you want from it. I feel Bogota gets a bit of a bad wrap. Petty theft is common. Obviously murder is another thing but unfortunately this can happen in many places.[/QUOTE]I don't disagree and I'm not trying to scare anyone. I pretty freely roam the city at this point. However, the last 4 months or so the city feels a little different. I was walking through Santa Fe a recent Saturday afternoon and my spidey sense was going off a lot with the younger men. Not trying to scare or anything. But I never had that happen on a regular basis in the cumulative like 1000 days I've been in Bogota the last couple of years. And these last few months it's a common feeling in various parts of the city for me.
I was sharing this with a Venezuelan friend that mongers and he said he was waiting for me to say something.
But for me Bogota remains awesome. Love it.
[QUOTE=JackTaggart;2984440]I don't disagree and I'm not trying to scare anyone. I pretty freely roam the city at this point. However, the last 4 months or so the city feels a little different. I was walking through Santa Fe a recent Saturday afternoon and my spidey sense was going off a lot with the younger men. Not trying to scare or anything. But I never had that happen on a regular basis in the cumulative like 1000 days I've been in Bogota the last couple of years. And these last few months it's a common feeling in various parts of the city for me.[/QUOTE]So your feelings changed? Anything more concrete than feelings? Maybe saw someone getting robbed on the corner every few days or groups of gangs patrolling the sidewalks?
Historically, for anyone not familiar with Bogota the north is as safe as you can get in Bogota but things happen EVERYWHERE! The further south the more unsafe things get.
Bogota is divided into zones, zone 1 is deep south and as you move north to zone 6 in Chico. Utilities are the cheapest in 1 and gets progressively more expensive in the neighborhoods in the.
North. Speaking in generalities, the rents are the cheapest in the south and inhabited by those less fortunate and work in menial jobs but by no means not good people, most are hard working, honorable people unfortunately they fall victim to the robbers more than the richer residents mainly they only take taxis or Ubers or have a car. Most never take the transmilenio, lots of pick pockets and robbers on the platform. Most buses are ok but I personally stay away from the blue buses, they have a bad reputation.
Having made many many visits to Colombia in the last 15 years and having a family for the last 5 I have experienced the living conditions in the south and it is difficult. Back in 2010 Bogota was much better than today, they had escaped the stigma of Pablo, Tourism became to come back and the crime was basically normal big city crime. The cops came in and scoured the El Bronx neighborhood which scattered all the drug addicts and criminals to other neighborhood, probably good intentions with bad consequences. THEN Covid came. Poor Colombia can't get a break. Hundreds of thousands of very bad and desperate Venezuelans spread to other border countries in South America, Colombia being hit the most with this influx. So CRIME went up in Bogota, the lack of resources for the people took a toll on the city. And then, as of now the trifecta. With the aid of ill-informed University students, they elected. Gustavo Petro, a dedicated rebel sworn to take down the, in power government of Colombia, a member of FARC he has installed XFARC members as ministers of a lot of the divisions of power in the city. So Colombia has more things to endure so Crime has grown and what was safe may not be safe anymore. Bogota Vets like Taggert are not wrong. Take taxis or Ubers at night either in the south El Centro or the north, to your hotel even if its just a few blocks. I stay at the same place or years when in Bogota, I know the family who own the hotel and they treat me as family so I trust everyone. Beware of some Hotel workers / doormen, cashiers in stores, some work with the street criminals and tip them off if you flash cash watches or jewelry. But be careful if you bring a girl back, don't trust her. There's a guy in Rio named Mario a German xpat who locks his door and won't let anyone leave his apartment until he searches them and the girls purses. Maybe a little over the top but good advice all the same.
Love Bogota and the Latin culture, my girls family are wonderful people, common working people by honorable and trustworthy. I've only been to SF twice, but had one problem when a skinny street person approached me and my wingman as we waited outside the Piscina for our driver. Its a standard MO for robbers to start a conversation sizing you up. And my wingman was a big guy, a boxer that hits hard but if he stabs or shoots you first it doesn't matter how hard you hit vs a gun. I kept him calm and our driver arrived at that moment so all was ok but I sensed, like Taggart something wasn'why right. So pay attention to your gut, take taxis / Uber stay sober and be stay safe. Sorry if this is same old same old for Colombia Vets but its good advice for anyone new to Colombia.
[QUOTE=LatinaLover#1;2984724]Historically, for anyone not familiar with Bogota the north is as safe as you can get in Bogota but things happen EVERYWHERE! The further south the more unsafe things get.
Bogota is divided into zones, zone 1 is deep south and as you move north to zone 6 in Chico. Utilities are the cheapest in 1 and gets progressively more expensive in the neighborhoods in the.
North. Speaking in generalities, the rents are the cheapest in the south and inhabited by those less fortunate and work in menial jobs but by no means not good people, most are hard working, honorable people unfortunately they fall victim to the robbers more than the richer residents[/QUOTE]I was messing with this chick and wanted to go bowling. I think most of the places closed at 7, but one stayed open later. I told her to meet me at the mall down south in Ciudad Bolivar. She was like noooo, it is too dangerous there. But when she got there, she said it was not as bad as she thought.
I can say though that you can see the difference between there and the north. I went to this chick's house in the north and it was as quiet as suburbia. The mall closed all early and shit. Streets were clean and empty after 9 pm.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2984882]I was messing with this chick and wanted to go bowling. I think most of the places closed at 7, but one stayed open later. I told her to meet me at the mall down south in Ciudad Bolivar. She was like noooo, it is too dangerous there. But when she got there, she said it was not as bad as she thought.
I can say though that you can see the difference between there and the north. I went to this chick's house in the north and it was as quiet as suburbia. The mall closed all early and shit. Streets were clean and empty after 9 pm.[/QUOTE]Looks like you obviously had the 57? Jaja just sayen.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2984882]I was messing with this chick and wanted to go bowling. I think most of the places closed at 7, but one stayed open later. I told her to meet me at the mall down south in Ciudad Bolivar. She was like noooo, it is too dangerous there. But when she got there, she said it was not as bad as she thought.
I can say though that you can see the difference between there and the north. I went to this chick's house in the north and it was as quiet as suburbia. The mall closed all early and shit. Streets were clean and empty after 9 pm.[/QUOTE]Looks like someone bowled a Turkey. 🦃.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2984882]I was messing with this chick and wanted to go bowling.[/QUOTE]Have never heard of that happening. Must have been a very lousy lay.
I'll be in Bogota next week and I'm wondering where to go to have a good night.
Not just wonder the streets for a girl that may or may not deliver good service, but a place where you can relax, fool around if you want but not be forced to.
Something between a German FKK spa and a Thai gogo bar.
Are there any places like this? Or what is the best place to hang out.
[QUOTE=Dvil00;2985548]I'll be in Bogota next week and I'm wondering where to go to have a good night.
Not just wonder the streets for a girl that may or may not deliver good service, but a place where you can relax, fool around if you want but not be forced to.
Something between a German FKK spa and a Thai gogo bar.
Are there any places like this? Or what is the best place to hang out.[/QUOTE]Several stripclub brothels available-- You can get lapdances for pretty cheap and then go upstairs-- depending on the day and time you go. Atonis, Venus, Fiebre, Paisa and Troya are some good clubs in Santa Fe some pretty hot girls when they are busy -- Other clubs in the city too--Good Luck.
Thanks to everyone who has posted reports. They really help.
I am wrapping up my 2nd trip to Bogota. 3 days were spent with a spinner that I like from Seeking. It went well until she started her time of the month. She went home this morning so I started looking at Tinder and casas. It was too early in the day for clubs so I went downtown to hit a museum. Around noon I realized that I was close to Santa Fe so I took a walk.
I quickly found a thin petite woman. The room was 13 mil for 30 minutes. The BBBJ did the job and I was on my way. I expect to make another trip tomorrow.
I invested a fair amount of work and cash in the seeking friend but next trip I'm going to make my life easier and either hit Santa Fe or a spa.