General Info

Hoof-

Great post... sums it up. I wouldn't necessarily say one is in danger just for solely being in Santa Marta because truth is no one wants to fuck with you for no reason. But anything can happen.

It's just this whole idea of mongering and going to p4p clubs in Santa Marta is something that seriously needs to be thoroughly thought out... you really don't have any idea whose gal you are screwing around with. And where Hoof Hunter said "both were affilitiated." In Santa Marta everyone is affilitated.. somehow. Everyone is involved. The parmilitaries run the city and everyone knows it. It's their city. If they don't want you there, you won't be there anymore. You [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] 1 person off or mess with 1 gal who you aren't supposed to mess with (even though you are paying her and she's in a brothel) you now could be the next dead gringo in Colombia. It's not like the US where they will start a fight or want an explanation or screw around with you, etc. In Colombia, you [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] someone off, anyone will be more than happy to whack you for 5k pesos. Heck, for free in many cases. And don't expect any sort of investigation into your death, because it just won't happen. That's the risk of mongering in Santa Marta and I wanted to get across in the posts that I erased. Common sense one would think, nothing will happen to you in a brothel in Santa Marta because it's a business and you are a paying customer. In most cities that may be true. In Santa Marta, absolutely forget that kind of thinking. Heck anywhere, not just brothels or p4p type venues. You can go sit down at a restaurant and they can walk up to you and whack you. End of story. No one saw anything. That's the way it is.

Rodadero and Taganga as well as Tayrona are beautiful... take your own chica and you wil have an awesome time. In fact, if you hit Escollera in Rodadero on a puente weekend (3 day weekend) or holiday, it might be the best time of your life. Escollera can be very fun. Puente weekends are the time to go. Any other weekend (excluding holidays) can be hit or miss. Might see 1000 people there or you may see 20 people there.

Best advice... Forget about mongering in Santa Marta... and as Hoof Hunter says, Santa Marta is pretty much best if avoided altogether. There really isn't much to see or do anyways.

[QUOTE=Hoof Hunter]El Rodadero, 10-15 mins outside of Santa Marta, is pretty safe. Taganga also. Santa Marta itself......not so.

Yes, there are p4p places around, but not advisable, unless you want to become a paraco target. They run the city, and it ain't like how they run Poblado.

Again, it's best to just bring your own chica, hang out in Rodadero with her, and avoid "issues" by deciding to venture into downtown Santa Marta. This was told to me by a couple of taxistas there, both of whom were "affiliated" one way or another. Actually, my Colombian friends were pretty embarassed for them for "airing out dirty laundry." They had just been telling me, there's nothing really worth seeing, which is also true.

Almost did a trip to Riohacha (Guajira) last year, but after getting some advice on the lack of things to do or see there (from Colombian friends in BAQ), I decided against it. I also was told that "I" probably wouldn't have any issues, but then again, that's me. Now, my gringo brothers......not sure pussy's worth taking the chance.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Winner71]Hoof-

Great post... sums it up. I wouldn't necessarily say one is in danger just for solely being in Santa Marta because truth is no one wants to fuck with you for no reason. But anything can happen.[/QUOTE]I was just there a month ago or so and it was no problem. I hit all the major clubs in Santa Marta. Gringos draw a bit more attention to themselves there because there aren't many of them that roll through there apparently. But that was it. I was at Flamingos, Banana, Pleyboy, etc. They all greeted and treated me nicely. I had a colombian chick with me so the girls didn't want to approach me. But I didn't feel in danger at any time. Walked the streets in Santa Marta as well. I did opt out of going into a nightclub in the beach area that was a ways from the beach. Because I'm cautious in crowded, secluded areas. But that's just being safe.

Santa Marta isn't a vacation city for gringos. It's a vacation city for colombians. That's what a colombian guy with me told me.

Of course, using common sense and extra caution isn't a bad thing, but staying away from Santa Marta would be a mistake.- it's a nice place. I will be returning there in the next few weeks.

David B.

[QUOTE=Arasari]I talked in great lenght with many of the girls there. and they did say alot of americans and italians come thru there, but it's mostly seasonal. after learning this I was surprised there wasn't more information on the forums here. so it kinda makes you wonder why? other than keeping prices down from the americans that thru money at some of these girls.[/QUOTE]We were both there at about the same time and I had a good time. I will be back. I'm going to hit Banana, Flamingo and that park I mentioned this time. I think I forgot to mention Banana has live sex shows Saturday and Sunday If I remember correctly. Not really my thing (saw one in Amsterdam once) but some people might like it.

David B.

Im trying to find a cheaper alternative so I can call my girl in Palmira Colombia (27) area code. I am currently using Skyrocket it costs me .10 cents a minute to a land line. I checked Lingo and Vonyage about the same cost. I dont like using calling cards because you dont get the full bang for your buck unless you use the card once. Any Ideas. Im usually spending $60-$100 monthly currently.
Thanks

Shit. Do a video chat on MSN or Yahoo Messenger. Can't get no cheaper than that.

[QUOTE=Luis The Great]Im trying to find a cheaper alternative so I can call my girl in Palmira Colombia (27) area code. I am currently using Skyrocket it costs me .10 cents a minute to a land line. I checked Lingo and Vonyage about the same cost. I dont like using calling cards because you dont get the full bang for your buck unless you use the card once. Any Ideas. Im usually spending $60-$100 monthly currently.
Thanks[/QUOTE]

Skype works just fine for me. It's 5c a minute to a landline in Colombia, 10c to a cell.

the cheapest international phone calls i've found so far is using yahoo messenger phone out. and there's no monthly fee or connection fee. i've been using it to call chicas in colombia and other countries for almost a year now. my sister used it to call from australia. it's also cheaper than vonage. check out their websites and make your own cost comparison. as long as i have access to my laptop and a highspeed internet connection, i don't see any real advantage to skype or vonage.

yahoo messenger phone out
bogota $0.039
cali $0.039
medellin $0.069
mobile $0.109

skypeout
bogota $0.051
cali $0.051
medelling $0.095
mobile $0.099

to call to palmira, the rate will be $0.069 (vs $0.099 for shype), if i'm reading the rates table correctly. note the colombia mobile rate is higher.

[quote=luis the great]im trying to find a cheaper alternative so i can call my girl in palmira colombia (27) area code. i am currently using skyrocket it costs me .10 cents a minute to a land line. i checked lingo and vonyage about the same cost. i dont like using calling cards because you dont get the full bang for your buck unless you use the card once. any ideas. im usually spending $60-$100 monthly currently.
thanks[/quote]

Voipstunt et. al. are EUR 0.02/min. Set the call up on the site, your phone rings, then theirs.

Set up with a non-european address or you'll pay tax on top.

[QUOTE=Ohio Monger]To call to Palmira, the rate will be $0.069 (vs $0.099 for Shype), if I'm reading the rates table correctly. Note the Colombia Mobile rate is higher.[/QUOTE]I use a company called PhonePeople.com that I pay monthly for a 877 # (toll-free). It can transfer calls to Colombia for less than 10 cents a minute (9. 5 I believe). You can change where it rings too if you want. I call my friends in Colombia with it. And my customers can call me in Colombia as well very reasonably.

It's a whole lot cheaper than the $2 a minute alternative I have with Cingular's worldwide roaming service.

David B.

All that sounds like a hassel I just went down to cosco and bought a MCI international phone card and it costs only 9cents per min. to call a house phone or 21 to call a cell & there is no connection fee. You can recharge it by phone and its easy.

Im looking for a nice place to visit in Colombia in August . I was told cali was nice . What are the pro's and cons of cali and what would be a better option for someone looking for nightlife , nice clean place to stay (under 75$ us per night) and friendly girls of course !

John Jr

Cali is good for weather (if you like it a little bit on the hot side), and for darker-skinned girls, ranging from a little bit dark to very dark.

It is bad for crime and garbage and general chaos as half the city is under construction and the other half NEEDS it too.

Bogota is obviously going to have the best nightlife in the country, because it is the biggest and wealthiest city. It is the only place in Colombia where you can actually find something going on at night outside of the weekends. The downside of Bogota is the weather (for some, August is actually a nice time to go.)

There are PLENTY of places to stay in any city in Colombia for under $75 a night that are reasonable and nice. Look in the "Lists" for each city in this section. The only city where you may have a problem with that budget is Cartagena because there really isn't much AFAIK between the 4 and 5 star resorts and the ghetto there.

So what would be the big difference in between Cali , Bogota and Medellin as far as place to visit (and also meet girls) .

John jr

Bogota has girls from ALL over Colombia in spades, so it's the best part to go to if you just want pure variety.

Medellin has taller thinner lighter skinned girls, many of them are 100% European blood.

Cali has generally more of mix of African Indian and European ancestry. People in Cali are dark, but it varies a lot from neighborhood to neighborhood, block to block girl to girl.

There is also the Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla) if you want a more Caribbean look.

Beyond that, I dunno what to tell you, as far as attractions Bogota has a LOT, it has good restaurants (and shitty ones), theater (in Spanish of course), museums, etc. Medellin and Cali have less of that.

I obviously prefer Bogota, in fact so much I'm going to live there pretty soon! But most gringos go to Cali or Cartagena, and nowadays Medellin is starting to get VERY popular.

I'm gonna quote this and elaborate on it for the benefit of a poster who enquired in another section... remember you can change the 'o' at the end to an 'a' to make it feminine :P

Cachaco is a term used on the coast for people from anywhere in the Andean highlands, i.e. Bogota, Medellin, Manizales etc.

Costeño is a term for someone living in the Atlantic coast, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Valledupar, etc. These people are usually mixed and look like what we would call mulattos. The Atlantic coast I believe encompasses the departments of Atlantico, Bolivar, Magdalena, and La Guajira, which is mostly rural.

Rolo means somebody native to Bogota. It is like Cockney is to London, and is NOT properly used for people outside of the city. Bogota is it's own district , Bogota DC (districto capital) like Washington DC. It is surrounded by the department of Cundinamarca. Many people in Bogota are NOT native Rolos, having come from other parts of the country. The Rolas GENERALLY have a Pocahontas look, but more yellow-skinned, long straight black hair, aquiline features, and fairly short by North American standards.

Bumengense(/a) is someone from Bucaramanga, capital of Santander department. They tend to be taller, brown skinned and big in the ass department (although that can be said about the Costeñas as well.)

Vallunos are people from the department of Valle de Cauca, which includes Cali. Vallunos can be any color but are generally darker. People from Buenaventura are VERY dark.

Chocoanos are people from the department of Chocó which is on the Pacific coast above Buenaventura, and are the darkest people in Colombia on average, many of them being 100% African descent.

Paisas (spelled the same regardless of gender) are people from the Eje Cafetero, Medellin and Manizales, and surrounding areas, encompassing mostly the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, and Quindio. They tend to be the tallest, slimmest, lightest-skinned people in Colombia. In terms of classical beauty Medellin is thought to have the prettiest women in Colombia, but if you like big ass, you might be disappointed.

The Bogota accent is very crisp and formal, and they speak VERY quickly. They often ADD s's onto the ends of words. The Costeños on the other hand speak a lot like Dominicans, and MISS s's for example 'nosotros' becomes 'nojotroj'. The Vallunos speak with a very round soft sensual accent, and the Paisas speak like they have marbles in their mouths and often turn 's' to 'sh' like the Galicians or Portuguese do.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]Bogota has girls from ALL over Colombia in spades, so it's the best part to go to if you just want pure variety.

Medellin has taller thinner lighter skinned girls, many of them are 100% European blood.

Cali has generally more of mix of African Indian and European ancestry. People in Cali are dark, but it varies a lot from neighborhood to neighborhood, block to block girl to girl.

There is also the Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla) if you want a more Caribbean look.

Beyond that, I dunno what to tell you, as far as attractions Bogota has a LOT, it has good restaurants (and shitty ones), theater (in Spanish of course), museums, etc. Medellin and Cali have less of that.

I obviously prefer Bogota, in fact so much I'm going to live there pretty soon! But most gringos go to Cali or Cartagena, and nowadays Medellin is starting to get VERY popular.[/QUOTE]