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HOT DESTINATION: COLOMBIA

This recent article from the Christian Science Monitor puts a nice positive spin on visiting Colombia.

By (Deleted user) on May 9, 2006, 06:44 in Friendly Talkzone.

pachangero says on May 9, 2006, 07:06:

People get kidnapped all the time at Cuidad Perdida.

You would have to be crazy to go there.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0509/p06s01-woam.html

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johna says on May 9, 2006, 08:03:

All the time? are you joking or serious? I have read about the Euros in 2003, do you have more information to share?

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pachangero says on May 9, 2006, 08:36:

no I am not joking I wouldnt go ANYWHERE near Cuidad Perdida.

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 9, 2006, 09:51:

Yet lots of people do As far as I can determine there haven't been any kidnappings there since 2003. Ultimately, it's a personal calculation of risk. I wouldn't recommend that the daughter of a prominent politician hike up there, but some European college kid probably can.

Also, the key is that the tour guides pay off the local bad guys, so I imagine if you tried to freelance your way up there you'd quickly run into trouble.

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Miguel says on May 9, 2006, 09:53:

Just highlight Pachanguero's link And then copy, paste, and read the article and then decide for yourself.

From what my costeño friends have told me, and from what I read, that area appears to be a little "hot". It's a place with several factors in play, including paracos, FARC, the issue with the indians, not to mention a sh~tload of drug labs and some kick~ss weed crops.

Don't forget the Colombian Army's interest in the zone, as well. Backpacking and being in the wrong place at the wrong time is very possible.

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johna says on May 9, 2006, 11:20:

I did read the article in the link it said despite the kidnappings in '03 people are going because the perception of the security situation has changed. So my question (that is not answered in the article) is do "people get kidnapped all the time"? I would guess not, but I am not there. So thanks for the advice to aviod the place, I will, but I am just trying to get information that isn't overly dramatized. Also Miguel what is "the issue with the indians" I do not know much about this. Are they Guajiro Indians and do you know any place I could read about it?

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