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Camping in Colombia

What is camping in Colombia like?

Can you find real bush-camping sorts of places with lots of forest & private, well treed camp spots with outhouses & river-bathing.... or does it tend to be more manicured & landscaped "wilderness" sites scattered on fields, with bath-house showers and flush toilets nearby?

By adrimm (Moderator) on May 1, 2008, 19:54 in Friendly Talkzone.

Simon says on May 1, 2008, 21:39:

Or ask Ingrid Betancourt, she's been "camping" for over six years in Colombia!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 1, 2008, 22:09:

Yeah thanks guys. I know there are mountaineering & outdoorsy Colombians out there, but clearly few of them frequent sites like this.

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Robert Jorge says on May 1, 2008, 22:29:

If you are in the Bogota area, there is camping: tents, camp fires, hiking, etc. in a little pueblo called Buena Vista which is outside of Villavicencio. It is a 2 hour busetta drive out of Bogota. I don't have any information ... never desired to sleep in a tent since age 14, but I know people do it in that area.

"You can not take the barrio out of the girl you really can't." Oneforamillion

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goin_south says on May 1, 2008, 23:42:

that's pretty mean, Simon... coming from you.

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tejasmarcos says on May 2, 2008, 06:15:

depending where you are located, contact a local tour company. they can give you the details as they are in that business. most of the experts here on PBH only camp in the city ;)

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 2, 2008, 13:05:

typical PBH helpful-as-always replies... tinged with sarcasm and uninformative.

I´ve camped in several places in Colombia. I've done "wild" camping in the Cocuy and the Nevado del Tolima, which were great.

You also get proper campsites in some places, such as the trout restaurants in the Valle del Cocora near Salento (these have a shared bathroom/showers) and also in a nature reserve near Doradal whose name escapes me, but where you can do rafting and caving. It seemed to be very busy last time I passed by there.

In short: You can camp in Colombia safely in many places, and like in most countries, there is a great variety of options, from very rugged to very manicured.

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 2, 2008, 13:11:

The name of the nature reserve is "Reserva Natural Canon del Rio Claro" -- http://www.rioclaroelrefugio.com. Beautiful but to be avioded during peak holiday periods.

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RUV says on May 2, 2008, 16:03:

I saw three options in RIO claro, the personal huts (bed, tv, shower, closer to a hotel), option two is a (bed, kind of like a hostal, open air rooms, with shared bathrooms) and then there is the camp grounds (seems like the showers and bathrooms are provided).

Nice place, I recommend going as a group. More fun. You need a guide to do the rafting, cave exploreing, canopy zip rides, and a couple of other things. You may want to ask, they may only offer them during weeked.

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Sam Salmon says on May 2, 2008, 17:11:

Any popular place where people from the Interior drive down to the coast has more organised camping options-I'm thinking of the coast around Santiago de Tolu-some very attractive parks but probably full of borrachos on weekends.

' a la orden!'

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adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 2, 2008, 18:47:

Thanks all.. (real answers woohoo) I suppose if I had to choose I'd pick the wild camping at a decent elevation over the "tour company & piped showers" with huts.

I actually like communing with nature in peace- as long as there aren't too many bugs around. Sharing a popular place with screaming kids and manicured gardens isn't my thing.

Damn.. I really can't afford to go again soon but I *really* really want to!

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webmanco says on May 2, 2008, 20:06:

I had been in Nevado El Cocuy, El Neusa, Villa de Leyva, Chicaque, I do usually take the camping equipment with me but at many times end staying in room. I enjoy outdoor activities, walking, hiking, talking to locals and eating on the road. Chinchorro en el Cabo de la Vela

Whoever wants to camp or know about camping activities, in Bogotá should go to a specialized stores for adventure traveling, there are bulleting boards with prenty of information.

I missed one walking from Bogótá to Villalvicencio but thru the mountins, on the way to get to stay at a campesinos house.

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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