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Hey 'evrabody! I am going to be in Venezuela in 5 weeks for about 3 weeks. I then plan on going to Colombia via Maracaibo-Santa Marta bus route(June 1st-14th).
I understand the boarders can be volatile, I understand being a white-boy from America does not help me any. I have heard about the guerillas who stop the busses and this is where I would be in big trouble.
I was just hoping to get some more insight about traveling by bus through Colombia from Santa Marta to Cartagena to Bogota. I understand to travel during day, blend in, and I guess thats it.
So what can you say about a 23 year old, brown hair n' eyed American travelin solo thorugh Locombia by bus?? I have already read and listened to all the negatives.
April Fools!!! HA! I'm not going to Colombia!!? Why in the hell would I do somethig crazy like that!!?? April Fools again!! Thats an april fools-april fools. I'll be there, oh yes, I will go. Wait...now I'm confused..

By riley john on Apr 1, 2005, 14:02 in Friendly Talkzone.

COLDK says on Apr 2, 2005, 01:07:

Maracaibo- Santa Marta I recomend you to use the buses that travel direct from Maracaibo to Santa Marta (Barranquilla or Cartagena). Two companies travel directly between Colombia-Venezuela-Colombia. Expresos Amerlujos nad Expresos Brasilia. They departure from Caracas every day 7 or 8 pm and take around 16-18 hours to Santa Marta. If you want to departure from Maracaibo, same bus arrives at the Terminal de Transportes around 5 am or maybe before, you have to arrange everything the day before. I think you can take the same bus also from Valencia or Barquisimeto. I have done this and never problem. Never heard that they have been stop except by the police for inspections. You can also take bus or "carritos" from Maracaibo to Maicao and then the bus to Santa Marta. But this way is very though. Those carritos from Maracaibo dont use airconditioning and it is really HOT. Unless u take a taxi from the airport with airconditioning til Maicao Bus Terminal. One year ago was around USD30-40.
For national trips from Santa Marta to Cartagena i recomend buses La Costeña.

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Cessi says on Apr 5, 2005, 18:00:

no gerilla over there Totally agree with you don negro. Lots of forigners take that route. I´ve done it several times and I´ve never had a problem. I don`t think I`ve ever seen the gerilla there and I´ve travelled during both day and night time. However, the boarder isn`t the nicest and it`s best to take the night bus from Maracaibo to the boarder so that you`ll get there early in the morning, do your boarder stuff and then continue to Santa Marta. Santa Marta from the boarder is about six hours.

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EncantoSuPais says on Apr 10, 2005, 11:22:

Just before Santa Marta is the only guerilla zone this way Along the route you discuss, the only guerilla zone is in the mountains just prior to entering Santa Marta. That doesn't mean there won't be any. It's unlikely, that's all. You'll know when you are at that point. There is a sign indicating not to stop, guerilla zone. Take that, the Riohacha to Santa Marta leg, in the day time. And don't get lost in Maicao, by the way.

See you here!

:)

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