General Info

Cali to Medellin is an OK route for land travel, ditto Cartagena to Barranquilla and even SAnta Marta. Still would avoid doing them at night. Look you could cruise Putumayo and live to tell the tale, but that does NOT mean it is smart. In russian roulette you only lose 1 out of 6 times too!

BOG to BAQ is a WHOLE DIFFERENT THING as that road passes through some VERY insecure areas. I wouldn't do it. By the way, do a google search on striking viking to read the tale of a VERY bold guy who motorcycled across Colombia and whose friends paid bribes to get him released when he was sequestred at a roadblock. HE is a very tough, resourceful, guy. Think you'll fare as well?

Anyone know if La Piscina is open on Sunday night? Also, looking for the address of Juan Pablos/Zhivago o lo que sea.

Thanks

OK. Safety is relative. What might be a good & moderately-safe route for a mongering tour of Colombia? Based on comments, here's what I'm thinking:

FLY: USA to Bogota. (2 nights)
BUS: Bogota to Cali. (2 nights)
BUS: Cali to Medellin. (2 nights)
BUS: Medellin to Cartegena. (2 nights)
BUS: Cartegena to Barranquilla. (2 nights)
BUS: Barranquilla to Santa Marta. (2 nights)

Then somehow fly/travel out. I have a total of about 3 weeks so I could either (a) spend more time in Colombia than indicated above and head directly back to USA, or (b) fly to Brazil for awhile before heading home.

How would you change the above itinerary and why?

Yankee

Depends on how important safety is for you. You might prefer to do BOG Cali and Medellin Cartagena by plane. The rest should be ok.

Several years ago I have done all these bus trips, plus a few more through more dangerous areas. In the last 4 to 5 years I wouldn´t have done it. Now I am not sure. The situation is improving, but there are still risks.

Summer 04 we travelled by bus from Cartegena to the Venezuelan border and back to Santa Marta to overnight. East of Santa Marta can be spooky (dangerous) because of the ruralness. Different people bord the bus at numerous stops to sell. You can never know for sure. My GF told me to keep my mouth shut. We talked only in very low whisper. There are numerous police/military roadblocks along the route. The landscape, people, villages, businesses were an experience to see.

From S.M. we returned by taxi to Cartegena and was stopped by police 3 times and I was searched once and my suitcase was searched. All 3 times the taxi was searched. I was told later that trip could have been my last. Take note and be careful.

[QUOTE=Alachingada]Anyone know if La Piscina is open on Sunday night? Also, looking for the address of Juan Pablos/Zhivago o lo que sea.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

Last two trips (most recently 2 weeks ago) that I went on a Sunday, neither La Piscina, nor El Castillo, nor any place other than Las Paisas and Casonas were open on a Sunday. Even Abejitas (Cra 14 83-23 tel: 616-2255) closes at like 6.

Bar Zhivago, Juan Pablo - Cra. 18 No. 93A-83 256-8925 - The house fee is $60,000 and the girls ask between COP100.000-200.000 per hour.

[QUOTE=Yankee 617]OK. Safety is relative. What might be a good & moderately-safe route for a mongering tour of Colombia? Based on comments, here's what I'm thinking:

FLY: USA to Bogota. (2 nights)
BUS: Bogota to Cali. (2 nights)
BUS: Cali to Medellin. (2 nights)
BUS: Medellin to Cartegena. (2 nights)
BUS: Cartegena to Barranquilla. (2 nights)
BUS: Barranquilla to Santa Marta. (2 nights)

Then somehow fly/travel out. I have a total of about 3 weeks so I could either (a) spend more time in Colombia than indicated above and head directly back to USA, or (b) fly to Brazil for awhile before heading home.

How would you change the above itinerary and why?[/QUOTE]
Personally I would change it by staying longer in each place. You mentioned you like to only stay 3 days or so, but I wonder if you appreciate the distances involved for all that bus travel. You are looking at 10-14 hours or so per trip, until you get to the north coast.

At that rate you'll spend half your vacation time feeling warmed up on the bus while sitting through B grade action films.

Colombia is worth spending the time. 3 weeks is better but still not enough.

It may take you a week or so to find your groove with the language.

Except for Cartagena and Santa Marta, there's very little in itself to make each city a tourist destination. The highlight of Colombia is its people (cliched I know, but fundamentally true here).

Not sure why you'd leave each new place after a day or so (after allowing for travel time). That gives you no time to build anything personal, which is where your fun memories are going to come from.

Consider also that most Colombian cities are dead during the week. So hitting a new city on Tuesday night and leaving Thursday morning would be almost a total waste.

Cachorro ... very well put ... I agree.

[QUOTE=Hermescali]Yankee

Depends on how important safety is for you. You might prefer to do BOG Cali and Medellin Cartagena by plane. The rest should be ok.

Several years ago I have done all these bus trips, plus a few more through more dangerous areas. In the last 4 to 5 years I wouldn´t have done it. Now I am not sure. The situation is improving, but there are still risks.[/QUOTE]
You guys have to remember that you stand out, even if you never open your mouth.

I did mentioned in one of my early posts that one time I took out an Italian American, average height, black hair, and dark skin, and people would address him for directions, thinking he was a Colombian born like me.

There have been with this new President what they call CARAVANAS DE PAZ, which I would translate as PEACE CONVOYS, which are hundreds of cars and buses going to a given place, take for example: Barranquilla to Bucaramanga, all leaving at the same hour and being guarded by road Army and by helicopters, it is a slow trip but it should be pretty safe.

Think of it like rush hour but much faster.

If you tell me which destination you are interested in and from where in Colombia, I will find out when the next Caravana might be and I wil post it. Peter.

For those traveling to Colombia, this is what you can expect in exchange for your money . As of Oct. 7th/2005.

Dólar (TRM): $2.294,12
Dólar Casas de Cambio:
Compra: $2.135,00
Venta: $2.175,00
Euro : $2.743,53

Updated financial and weather information in my new section Peter Solano in Barranquilla.

Been to Cartagena before, planning another trip, have read the board, good info on P4P in the major cities (thanks to contributers). BUT I also want to spend a couple of days romancing this educated, refined non-pro cutie. Looking for a city (not Cartagena) in Colombia with romantic restaurants with ambiance & upscale dance places with class (beach is irrelavent). Which City?

Try Medellin.

Medellin is a terrific city. Two 5 star shopping malls, many normal malls, Paisas say it is the cleanest city in Colombia.

The rotating restaurant on top of the Dann Carlton is a nice dinner date. So is Las Palmitas, overlooking the city. Great food too. Afterward, go to El Tesoro (top shelf mall in the city) to shoot pool, or have drinks and watch the lights of the city. If the day is right, you can watch the fireworks from Pueblito Paisa.

Have a great time!

[QUOTE=Gipse]Been to Cartagena before, planning another trip, have read the board, good info on P4P in the major cities (thanks to contributers). BUT I also want to spend a couple of days romancing this educated, refined non-pro cutie. Looking for a city (not Cartagena) in Colombia with romantic restaurants with ambiance & upscale dance places with class (beach is irrelavent). Which City?[/QUOTE]

Thanks mongers for the contributions to this thread.

I have alot of reading yet to do here. However, I saw on Cartenega thread reference to Isla De Rosario as a snorkle and perhaps limited diving destination. I am beginning to make flight reservations out of Cartnega to San Andreas Island (but will purchase the ticket from within Colombia as suggested for a better price). I would like to do a few dives off San Andreas Island between December 8-14.

Does any one have a contact who runs a good dive shop there? Are there any mongers going to be around who want to dive? Thanks.