American Traveling to Colombia

Atrevido says on Nov 15, 2004, 09:32:

The Americans you have spoken to are correct. You should have no problems whatsoever.

Hunter says on Nov 15, 2004, 10:05:

Travellin to Colombia Just read a few of the posts regarding safety and travelling to Colombia here over the last month or so.

It should help with your worries about visiting Colombia.

Hunter

isaactraveler says on Nov 15, 2004, 10:05:

try not to look gringo and dont go to places that your common sense would tell you to avoid in the US, and you will be fine. The people are educated, polite and considerate. Treat them with respect and enjoy your experience! take pictures and share them with us!

brad216 says on Nov 15, 2004, 12:15:

dont believe what you read I have visited cali 4 times in the last 3 months and have not run into any problems. As in any big city, just stay out of certain areas and try not to be an ugly american. I speak no spanish and depend on my fiance and i have found the colombian people very accepting of outsiders. Just use good judgement and you will be fine.

william_andrew_channell says on Nov 16, 2004, 10:12:

I agree with the "try not to look gringo" advice. As a very obvious american (1.79, blond, blue-eyed, with WASPish traits who speaks fluent spanish, however) I get away with not being considered a gringo every day. First, learn how to dress. The most obvious sign of gringoness is not knowing how to dress in public. The second is looking scared and nervous. The third is the stupid walking slowly and looking and pointing at everything while speaking loud in English. The fourth is being rude - learn how to say hello to everybody when you go somewhere and how to say thank you and bye when you leave. The fifth is the mysterious intangible stupid gringo tourist look. You can't really define it, but you guys know what I'm talking about. That way you can tell from 5 blocks away when a person is a stupid gringo tourist. If you can avoid all of these things, you'll be fine.

afq says on Nov 16, 2004, 11:21:

No problem for americans in Cali Hi, I'm from Cali-Colombia, right now I'm in Charlotte NC doing an internship and will be going back to Cali for La feria de cali this december(thank god).
I agree with all the comments posted, as americans you wont have any problem visiting colombia, colombian people accept others very well, so don't be surprised if from time to time you are treated too nicely.

Good Luck!

utopiacowboy says on Nov 16, 2004, 11:38:

What's the point of going down there and trying to look like a Colombiano? My wife can't pass as an American here - she dresses and acts like a Colombiana. I am from Texas and when I am in Colombia I dress like a Texan, boots, jeans etc. Why not? I may be the only Texan some of these people might ever meet. Why disappoint them by looking like everyone else?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

william_andrew_channell says on Nov 16, 2004, 11:47:

It's OK to look like a gringo... But not all the time. And certainly not everywhere. Depends on the situation. If you go to certain parts of the city, you might as well put a sign on yourself that says (read with gringo accent) "Yo ser gringo, yo tener dolares."

william_andrew_channell says on Nov 16, 2004, 14:03:

Ditto Couldn't agree more.

eagle46 says on Nov 22, 2004, 14:04:

Visiting Colombia in March 2005 Hi,

I will be visiting Colombia hopefully with plans in March 2005 to see a friend. I have to fly to Cali and then get to Tulua. I have been to South America before (Suriname, and had a great time with friends) but not Colombia. I saw a posting that mentioned that Cali is a dangerous place versus Bogota'. Is that correct? I do need to figure a way to get to Tulua safely where my friend resides. I am investigating those options. I understand that Tulua-Valle does not have an airport so I have to fly to Cali. Any thoughts, help, safe info to provide? ANY INFO on Tulua-Valle??? Thanks!!!

eagle46 says on Nov 22, 2004, 14:10:

Trip To Cali and Tulua-Valle in March 2005 Hi,

I will be going to Tulua-Valle hopefully in March 2005to visit a friend. I saw a posting that Cali is dangerous versus Bogota'. I have to fly to Cali and then get to Tulua. I also saw from the same posting that beware of cab drivers because they will try to rob you are set you up to be robbed. Any thoughts, advice?

I do need to investigate a way to get to Tulua-Valle and a place to stay there while visiting my friend. I will ask my friend about a place to stay. Any thoughts or info on how to travel from Cali to Tulua-Valle? I hope to have a safe and great time!!! I am from the US, originally from New Orleans but live in Atlanta. Thanks for the advice!!!

villdkatta says on Nov 22, 2004, 16:29:

How do people not know how to dress in public? Do you mean they wear sloppy clothes, or overdress? I suppose it depends on where you're going. Neat and simple is usually good, would that work?

Kim

Dan says on Nov 22, 2004, 16:43:

I'm an obvious gringo (6'5" 195cm tall, white guy that speaks a little spanish). I havn't had any problem going around bogota. Be polite and curtious. Dress in a way that is comfortable to you. In Bogota itself, it's fairly cool as far as weather so don't forget to pack pants Jeans are fine and a pair of nice dress pants couldn't hurt. Long pants are worn even in warmer climates too but you can sometimes get away with shorts, it all depends on where you go.

above all:
ENJOY YOURSELF!!

God Bless America!

litost says on Nov 22, 2004, 18:02:

eagle46,

Don't worry about getting to Tulua, it's only like 90 minutes from the Cali airport on a very modern and safe highway. It's a nice enough town, nothing special but you should have a lot of fun with your friend being from there.

Very warm weather, nice valley setting.

Gator says on Nov 22, 2004, 20:44:

Tuluá I would take a bus, Expreso Palmira and Flota Magdalina both make the trip. Road is very good, no security problems. Tou go through Palmira and Buga before reaching Tuluá. If you look to the right just before reaching Buga you can see the mountains where the American Airlines crashed about 7/8 years ago. City is about a 100 km north of Cali and is about 150,000 people. Should be about a 2 hours trip and cost about $5000 CPO($2USD). Your can catch the bus at Cali bus station downtown.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

eagle46 says on Dec 8, 2004, 18:34:

Tulua-Valle Trip (March 2005) Thanks Gator and Litost for the advice and info. You hear so much stuff about Colombia, the FARC, whether to marry in Colombia versus applying for a fiancee' visa, etc. It gets to be confusing. I guess the best advice is to stay out of "known troubled areas", and stay with someone who knows their own territory. My friend of course is a beautiful Colombiana. She speaks no English and I speak very little Spanish (HELP!!!!). Although i have a lot of hispanic in me, they did not pass the language down. I guess in those days in New Orleans, many people who came from other countries just wanted to "blend in". Funny though being from New Orleans, it's amazing that we don't speak French and Spanish. My ancestors did, but lucky for them and unfortunate for me "they kept their mouths shut" when it came down to the siblings!

I spoke to my Colombiana and she said that Tulua is safe and she knows a safe "good" hotel there. She said it would be easier for her because she has a little girl and wants to introduce me to her parents. She said that she would be my "eye", "ears", and watch out for me. I really appreciated that. Well, any more advice, I will be glad to hear that. I hope there are places we can go romantically and have a good time to enjoy ourselves.

Thanks for the info and this forum. There is a lot of good stuff on it!

Lisa Zee says on Dec 10, 2005, 20:06:

Looking like a gringo It is not a bad thing, is just that Colombia is a poor country, and people think that Americans are "all" rich. So don`t go walking with camaras, or backpacks, or like you don`t know where you are going.
NO DE PAPAYA!

katiebird says on Dec 29, 2005, 22:45:

What does a "gringa" look like? So how should I dress in Cartagena? Should I leave the American flag dress at home? How does one "blend in" down there? No logos, or phrases in English I assume? Is being a gringa a bad thing?

adrimm says on Dec 29, 2005, 22:58:

"Should I leave the American flag dress"

You're joking right? In case you aren't, probably a good idea to leave it at home for the 1st of July and not take it anywhere with you. Being gringa is not bad, being a dumb tourist (vs informed visitor) is bad becuase it means you'll get ripped off alot. You want to be informed.

Fortunately you are doing some homework, so hopefully you'll be an informed visitor. I wouldn't count on blending in, it is more that just about how people look, and Cartagenans are specialists in figuring out who is colombian and who isn't. Just focus on keeping a lower profile (ie, loud conversations in English = hallmark of tourist, paying the asking price for something at a street stall, walking around with a camera around your neck, loudly searching for something like what you are used to at home (like that cup of coffee done a certain way), all scream, I'm a tourist).

Learn some Spanish, stick to it, don't be afraid to bargain, enjoy the different experience, etc.

Mario says on Dec 29, 2005, 23:07:

My advice Read every single thread that has been posted here in the last 6 months (pretend it's a novel) and you should be good to go. After you've completed the reading, ask any questions that haven't been answered.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

grahamelder says on Jan 1, 2006, 20:51:

Are you in Cartegana now?

jpseast says on Jul 13, 2006, 12:58:

Cash To colombia I'm buying a house to remodel and resell. First does anyone know the easiest and least costly way to get money there? I have heard ATM machines work well any input as to the banks that have the lowest fees and conversion rates?...Thanks...JP

PaisaTours.com says on Apr 14, 2008, 17:00:

Yes it is safe by and large, though certain areas should not be visited.

If you want some advice on where to visit, see http://www.paisatours.com - an online colombia travel guide.