How safe to drive from Cali to Bogota?

sydneygirl says on Jul 13, 2004, 08:10:

Drive safe I heard that the Gorillas kicked 100´s of Colombian people out of thier homes in a town just out of Medellin only last week. Thats on your way through to Bogota from Cali. They were locals, you guys arn´t. A car load of foriegners who play poker ie $$$$ would sure draw alot of unwanted attention. take care please.

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ShazCas says on Jul 13, 2004, 08:37:

Gorillas The third laugh of the day!! Don't you think it's a bit harsh on the poor animals?

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Gator says on Jul 13, 2004, 09:48:

Safe?????????/ The only route goes through Armenia and Ibague but does not come close to Medellin. This highway is loaded with trucks coming from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to Bogotá, et.al. An I do mean big rigs. Crosses La Lina which sits about 12.000 feet. I would not drive this unless I was totally familar with Colombian driving habits and rules of the road-which, for the most part, are kill or be killed. A little over 300 miles(515KM). Good bus service by express buses with A/C, reclining seats, stereo, bathrooms, etc. etc. Two I have used are Flota Magdalena and Expresso Palmira. Cost about $20 USD one way, time of travel, longggggggg.

Things of interest? Watching the bobos makng the climb to La Lina on bicycles. Going up they grab hold of the rear of the trucks with their hands or cargo hooks, reach the top, and go screaming down the other side.

A la orden,

Gator

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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litost says on Jul 13, 2004, 17:25:

First of all, sydneygirl is waaaay off saying you'll pass by the area of the guerrilla incident, you don't go anywhere near that road and anyways it wasn't along the road rather in a nearby rural area.

Now, I think that driving that route is a great idea and can be a fantastic experience!!! Of course I'm assuming you'll have a colombian behind the wheel, or someone who is at least fairly experienced in driving in Colombia. While it's true that there are many accidents along colombian roads, I think the "kill or be killed" comment is exagerated, it's not so much that colombian drivers are crazy or suicidal, rather it's just that the winding roads on mountainsides are something special. I've driven the Pereira-Bogota-Pereira (7-8 hours) road several times, and it's always a pleasant... and yes exciting experience. From Cali it's a little longer, some 10-12 hours, but you'll go through one of the most modern highways in Colombia that goes from Cali to where you take the detour to Armenia. From this city onwards it gets very high, cold and winding, until reaching the Linea summit and then it's downhill all the way to the uninspiring Ibague. Afterwards there's a couple of hours of plains and valleys with intense heat passing by Girardot and Melgar, before starting the climb up again towards Bogota. You see some amazing lanscape changes, and the best is you can stop to eat or have a snack in towns or traditional "tiendas" along the way... again, I'm assuming you're not all just a bunch of inexperienced foreigners in this car.

And regarding safety from armed groups, you'll be fine, it's a very populated and well guarded road all the way... just make sure to leave early in the morning so you can make it to Bogota before it's too late into the night. Just watch out for the long sugar cane wagon trucks leaving Cali, the fog and sharp curves around the Linea summit, high speeds between Ibague and Girardot... and yeah, maybe a few crazy colombian drivers.

Enjoy!!!

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robertdelred says on Jul 13, 2004, 19:47:

Excellent feedback Litost What a great response, positive, clear, and your knowledge of the area jumps out with what you have to say. I also appreciate your response as I may consider traveling to Bogota from Cali .. . .of course accompanied with some of the locals (that's locals not loco's). Again, thank you for taking the time to provide a very detailed response.

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