Brief travel guide to Bucaramanga

timeforachangeofscenery says on Dec 22, 2006, 21:05:

bucaramanga Bucaramanga is a great little city if you're not particularly looking for sun, sand, surf or clean fresh air. Bucaramanga while not having any of these things, does have a number of great aspects that on their own make a trip well worth while. The best thing about this city is the distinct lack of gringos - read on and learn why :D
First of all......while the women in Colombia are on the whole amazingly attractive, the ladies from Bucaramanga are in a league of their own. Not only do these angels have looks to die for, the ladies of Bucaramanga are sweet, smart, fun loving and completely adorable. They are also fiercely loyal, protective and possessive of the man they love. These girls have an inner spark that lights up a room. Surely these are the most wonderful women in the world.
Unfortunately for these hapless nymphs, the men of Bucaramanga are aggressive, rude, amoral and narcissistic. They treat their women with contempt and have no grasp on the concept of fidelity. These sex-crazed fools are a constant source of disappointment to their chicas.
This is where the relatively low international profile of the city of Bucaramanga becomes a blessing for gringos. Simply put : Gringos are GOLD in Bucaramanga. Go for a walk and you will see what I mean - you'll thank me later :) A gringo tourist just walking around Bucaramanga has a GREAT chance of meeting up with a fantastic girl who will walk to the ends of the earth for a man who will just treat her right. I would not go there just for a score though. If your intentions aren't honourable and the word gets around (it's a small city), you're as good as toast. A gentleman is a rare and prized jewel in Bucaramanga.
The facilities are pretty good in Bucar too. There's a pretty reasonable gym there near the Hotel Dann Carlton. You just have to be careful not to let your lady out of your sight or the guys there will harass and pester her for sex - sigh. Yes - they really are that bad. Oh and on that note, don't let the personal trainers at the gym there anywhere near your girl - they're a particularly nasty breed of slobbering, drooling, steroid-driven amoral pig. (You know who you are Aldervader - or whatever the hell your name is LOL)
Anyway, I digress.....the streets are mostly crowded (but in a good way - lively as opposed to oppressive) and the street vendors are pretty laid back and relaxed. They also do a roaring trade which is nice to see as well.
On the subject of street vendors, the green mangoes with lime and salt took some getting used to and I don't see those fried ant things catching on here any time soon but there is a fresh juice vendor on the road near the gym (close to the Hotel Dann) that makes the BEST fresh fruit juice drinks anywhere - they also have ice-cream shake things that will change your way of life. Mmmmmmm I could really really go for one of those things RIGHT NOW!!!! :D In fact, once you've left Bucaramanga, you're going to find yourself thinking about creamy french vanilla ice-cream covered in freshly squeezed, fruity pulp stuff ALL the time -
There is a fair amount of pollution at any one time and I spent some time off sick with bronchitis but the taxis are pretty good - $4 dollars from one end of town to the other. Buses are cheap but crowded. Also be aware that if there's a lot of demand for taxis, the drivers won't pick up men - even if you're the only one on the street. They prefer to pick up unescorted chicas. If you don't believe me, try hailing a taxi yourself.....and then have your novia take a crack at it.
I give as often as I can to the genuinely needy but some of the "career" beggars (you know the type - well fed, well groomed, expensive jeans and shoes and spewing Marxist dribble) can be particularly rude and obnoxious.
The Christmas holiday period is the WORST time to go to Bucaramanga as this is the time of the richest pickings for beggars and violent criminals. My lady and her sister (both locals) were chased into a building by two men hoping to rob them (or worse).
The restaurants are pretty good - the shopping is GREAT - lots of boutiques, clothing stores, jewelers, flower shops, gift stores, major supermarkets and the occasional street festival make Bucaramanga an exciting and memorable place to visit.

bickerss says on Dec 23, 2006, 06:05:

I visited Bucaramanga earlier this year. I flew in and caught the bus out.

Flight - cost about 100 usd and the landing is pretty speccy as the airport is on a plateau. The taxi to town took about 40 minutes, but it is a nice drive.

I stayed at the Hotel Balmoral, near the Parque Santander. It was a right bargain at only 25,000 pesos a night, with a large room, cable, central and hot water. It was safe to walk around and cheap restaurants were in abundance. It is an easy taxi ride to the shopping centres, discos (those in town) and cinemas.

Things to see and do

Museo Casa de Bolivar, where Bolivar stayed for several months in 1828. You can walk to this from the hotel.

Giron. This is a great little colonial town about 10 kms from Bucaramanga. The buildings etc are totally painted white, and it is well worth a day visit. There are nice restaurants, and some cathedrals. One of the main traditions in Bucaramanga is to eat large fried ants called Hormiga Colonas. They are sort of like a delicacy here and people eat them as one would eat nuts in the Pubs in the UK or Australia, and they can be found in abundance in this town.

Buss out. caught the bus to San Gil, which is about 2.5 hrs away. This is an adventure sports capital of Colombia, and has rappelling, para-gliding, white water rafting etc. I stayed at Casa Mocondo, which is a hostel run by an Australia. It was a nice town, mountainous etc and the route from Bucaramanga was spectacular as you drive along the crests of mountains, with valleys on both sides. From there, I caught a 7 or 8 hr bus back to Bogota.

SanDiegoSurf says on Dec 26, 2006, 09:22:

Air Pollution Hi Time for a change. I was planning on visiting Bucaramanga but I think I will change my plans as I am quite sensitive to air pollution as I suffer from Asthma. I have been in Medellin a few times and did not fair very well given all of the traffic and smog.

I was thinking perhaps Manizales or Pereira may be better, have you been to either city ? The coastal cities are probably a little too hot and humid for my liking.

gbeckler says on Dec 31, 2006, 14:47:

Air Pollution in Medellin So does Medellin have an air pollution and traffic problem? I am planning to visit there next year.

Gary

Gary

xcharliex says on Jan 4, 2007, 05:03:

English student help in Bucaramanga? Coming very soon to Bucaramanga for one week's business but don't speak Spanish and wondering if there are any English students who would like to make a little money and practice English while being an informal guide/translator/friend during my non-business time during the visit. Write me if interested and we can discuss details.

mykee999 says on Jan 8, 2007, 15:51:

hotel ruitoque in bucaramanga very good, clean friendly mid-range hotel on a side street, carrera 19, near the parque central. when i requested a larger single room, they gave me an upgrade for the same 61,000 price. where are those pretty girls?

surf17683 says on Jan 15, 2007, 19:23:

hi hello, my name is adriana, I live in bucaramanga and know the city very well and it surroundings towns and villages. I read your post concerning a need for an english student during your visit to this city. My fiancè is also from the United States, and often visits bucaramanga. I wish to help you with a Spanish and as a guide as well so that your visit here will be safe and memorable. Rest assured that you can have complete confidence of me, o.k. If you are interested please write to my email or post here, adriana_1455_912 hotmail.com. I will wait for an answer soon. adriana

surf17683 says on Jan 15, 2007, 19:24:

hi hello, my name is adriana, I live in bucaramanga and know the city very well and it surroundings towns and villages. I read your post concerning a need for an english student during your visit to this city. My fiancè is also from the United States, and often visits bucaramanga. I wish to help you with a Spanish and as a guide as well so that your visit here will be safe and memorable. Rest assured that you can have complete confidence of me, o.k. If you are interested please write to my email or post here, adriana_1455_912 hotmail.com. I will wait for an answer soon. adriana

velo violeta says on Jan 25, 2007, 01:30:

Colombian men are chauvinist and narcisstic? "the guys there will harass and pester her for sex - sigh. Yes - they really are that bad. Oh and on that note, don't let the personal trainers at the gym there anywhere near your girl - they're a particularly nasty breed of slobbering, drooling, steroid-driven amoral pig."

hmmm...I have a penpal in Colombia. We started writing each other when I was 14 (he was a year older) and steadily corresponded to each other for about 3 years. He was poetic, played the acoustic guitar and was on the basketball state team. Recently (we're in our early 20s now), he graduated from technical engineering. I am coming to visit him in a few months while I teach English as a Second Language. In your opinion, what are the chances of him secretly being the so-called "breed"? Is this some kind of Colombian Man Disease? I found the comment above a bit harsh, to be honest, yet I'm still curious as to how accurate this "gringo's" information is.

1_caffeine_addict says on Jan 26, 2007, 20:12:

Heading to Bucaramanga for 1 and a half months in July '07 I have a friend that lived in Bucaramanga for three years and is from the Oregon, and married a girl from Bucaramanga. I am planning on staying at their home in Flora Blanca July of '07 and then venture out to Geron and other points unknown at this time. I do like the beach and have been told of an island that is popular with the Columians and have been told I wouldn't have any problem finding a local female or two to escort me there for a week or two or fun and sun.
I was told that there is a a big demand for the motion sensors down there and am planning on bringing as many units as I can and will have my friends wife's sister make the contacts to sell them, hopefully paying for my trip.
Any other items that are in great demand would help me as I am told I can almost pay for my whole trip just taking these units to the various businesses etc that are in need of these items but can't get access to them in Columbia.
Also as a dual citizen, should I travel under my US passport or my Canadian passport?
I am thinking of when I retire buy a small Finca and with the contacts with my friends, friends, hopefully will make my trip memorable.
I live in Washington State right by the Canadian border and am really looking forward to seeing Columbia.

BxUnika says on Feb 10, 2007, 20:12:

at Velo Violeta... "In your opinion, what are the chances of him secretly being the so-called "breed"? Is this some kind of Colombian Man Disease? I found the comment above a bit harsh, to be honest, yet I'm still curious as to how accurate this "gringo's" information is."

Look at where this information is coming from. Take a look at this website. Read some of the most popular posts, tell me who is writing the majority of them, what groups here are very under-represented, and what the main interest of forum members on here is. I think these questions can be answered easily enough. If not, I will just say it is a lot more than ironic and a tad bit humorous to read a gringo referring to COLOMBIAN men as predators. Calling the pot black a tad, are we?

Alma del Norte says on Feb 18, 2007, 11:02:

Hotel Balmoral Can't recommend it enough. $11 for a room with double bed, TV, fan and a "mini-bar" resembling a small supermercado. One or two members of staff were a bit surly, though.

La vida es una rutina

vicshere says on Feb 19, 2007, 19:34:

ouch 3000 foot fall
the river at Bucaramanaga is only 20 feet wide and 2 feet deep at best...then you have a fall of some 3000 feet.....you not going to look to good ...but if you start you river trip in Barrancabermeja you should have no problem navigating the wide and deep river Bucaramanga is about a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Burranca

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

vicshere says on Feb 19, 2007, 19:35:

oops sorry wrong thread listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

BxUnika says on Feb 23, 2007, 23:49:

Que Decepcion Must have been a bumangues who named it "La Ciudad Bonita". Nothing much to do or see and not any prettier than Medellin or even Pereira or Armenia, for that matter. The Zona Rosa was a joke, extremely tiny. The only truly pretty part of B/manga was on the hills in the gomelito section overlooking the city. Nice view, but the architecture was nothing to write home about and nothing you won't see in any other Colombian city. Que decepcion. Passing through San Gil was nice, though. save the money and go to San Gil or some place in the coffee region.

AnnieCoyote says on Mar 1, 2007, 16:42:

Bucaramanga To San Diego Surf....
Bucaramanga can be crowded and smoggy in the day, but nights are beautiful. Only recently have I noticed a lot of smog from my vantage on the mesa at Ruitoque, I think it is this time of year. Also, consider the nearby Mesa de Los Santos, aobve the Chicamocha Canyon. Clean and peaceful. We have a hostal for paragliders just south of the city, on the Ruitoque Mesa. It is a completely fresh and clean place, with a different cooler temperature. We offer paragliding instruction, tours and tandem flights. Great views of the city from here. If you change your mind and visit, think about stopping by at Aguilas flying site. I find Bucaramanga charming and friendly, very safe, yes a little small and provincial if you live here all the time but a very pretty city. I moved here a little over a year ago with my Colombian husband, I am from SF, California

SanDiegoSurf says on Mar 13, 2007, 21:07:

parapente Hi Annie,

Thank you for replying to my message ! do you happen to have a website for the paragliding school or somehow I can contact you ? I plan on visiting in June.

thanks.
DAVE

AnnieCoyote says on Mar 28, 2007, 19:48:

Parapente in Bucaramanga Dave...website is colombiaparagliding.com. Our website from US is eparaglide.com. Check them both out! And call us when you visit in June

Annie

timeforachangeofscenery says on Apr 10, 2007, 20:49:

Veo Violeta Look at where this information is coming from. Take a look at this website. Read some of the most popular posts, tell me who is writing the majority of them, what groups here are very under-represented, and what the main interest of forum members on here is. I think these questions can be answered easily enough. If not, I will just say it is a lot more than ironic and a tad bit humorous to read a gringo referring to COLOMBIAN men as predators. Calling the pot black a tad, are we?

Veo Violeta should focus his tediously worded invectives on the disputed facts of a post and not the individual authors. If this person were capable of providing coherent arguments and relevant facts aimed at disproving an argument, then perhaps he might not look like such a *FELLATIANT every time he opens his mouth.

Example: YOU tell us who writes the more popular posts. Don't hint that they are some kind of politically driven sub-class of xenophobe. That just makes you look stupid.

Example: What group is under-represented here ? What the hell does it take for an identified group of people to be under-represented on a BLOG ? - you idiot. An open web-log is truly democratic because EVERYBODY gets a say.

Example: Exactly what is the sinister motive driving the majority of authors on this web-log ? Please enlighten us with your unique insight.

Example: If these questions are so easy to answer, then do it. It's called persuasive reasoning. Don't just hint at an argument with a meandering series of unqualified assertions. That just makes you look like an idiot.



*Veo's post just inspired me to make up a new word!

velo violeta says on May 4, 2007, 18:10:

Velo Violeta...not veo! okay, onwards to the real topic... So, I finally found myself a job in Bucaramaga at Centro Colombo Americano. It's been months since I posted that first note about predatory Colombianos and I have talked to various friends of my Penpal and came to the conclusion that all men have some sort of "game" when it comes to attracting women. I think that the latin american culture permits overt displays of machoism, but it doesn't neccessarily always imply that they are more sexist than the rest of the world. I think, perhaps, the more educated they are, the more cunning and subtle they become ;) Anyway, I have seen the Colombians and some of them are muy guapitos!

surf17683 says on May 15, 2007, 23:15:

bucaramanga annie , i want to visit bucaramanga next week and would like to meet some contacts to start a business there or just tour around. do you have any suggestions? i would be interested in any outdoor stuff as well, thanks
surf

AnnieCoyote says on May 19, 2007, 19:29:

To Surf on visiting next week Hi Dave,
I have been in the USA for 5 weeks but am now in LAX airport about to board a plane for Bogota and then B/manga. I'll be there Sunday about 10am. If you are there, give us a call...011-57 (if calling from outside) 312-465-7838 is my phone or my husband Richi is there now..011-57-312-432-6266. Or just come on up to our hostal...at Las Aguilas in Ruitoque (it's Ruitoque bajo not the country club). I am arriving with a client/friend Israeli pilot and this weekend will be big because it is a holiday Monday.

Sorry for the delay in responding..been busy and not on the poorbuthappy site.

Annie

AnnieCoyote says on May 19, 2007, 19:31:

PS to Surf If you see this in the next few minutes I am at (650) 576-2430 in the USA.

Annie

Marielle says on May 22, 2007, 22:13:

Velo Violeta: Info about Centro Colombo Americano? Hola...
I´m currently looking for a job teaching English in Colombia and I´ve come across the Centro Colombo-Americano online. It seems like a good organization and I contacted them (a Barranquilla email I think), but haven´t heard back yet.
I wonder if you could give me a contact for you Centro location. I´d also love to hear your feedback on what it´s like working for them, how you found the job, and how you like living in Bucaramanga (it´s one of the destinations I´m considering).
If you get the chance to send me an email, it would be much appreciated!! Mi dirreción: marielle.lerner at gmail.com
Muchas gracias!