Ibaque- Please tell me what you know

haji says on Sep 12, 2005, 08:07:

Ibaque Maureen
Ibaque is a little farther than 90km .My wife and i drive from Armenia to Bogota alot Just came through there yesterday.anyway it takes around 6 to 8 hours depending on traffic and construction.Around 350 km Health care here is good and pretty inexpensive for instance my son today had an ekg and the visit and the test was 38000 pesos oh and that also included a sugar test,everything Is a little cheaper.However always get the cost up front.Weather there is not as hot as Armenia and not as cold as Bogota Cost of living well that depends on where you live and how you want to live if you live in a better community you pay more for utilities and for rent ect but i can say for around 1 million pesos a month you can live very well Ibaque is pretty safe as is all of Colombia but that doesent mean to drop your gaurd always be aware Just like driving a car theres always a possibility of an accindent.I guess what i mean is get used to your surroundings and understand them before you drop your gaurd to much
Fabio should have a great time just watch listen and enjoy
anything else just email me Taurus45b at yahoo.com
best regards
chris

juanalejo says on Sep 12, 2005, 19:11:

Ibague I would compare Ibague with Armenia in size and even weather. They both stand at around 1000 mts over sea level hence the similar temperatures. It is about 215 kms from Bogota and it takes me around 4 hours to drive there. It is a nice city, beginning to move again after a few years of stand still. They have just built a new mall, new cinemas, a few large format supermarkets, and plenty of construction going on. I would tend to say it is a good place to live, with nice weather for not much money.

Elbigie says on Sep 13, 2005, 03:44:

Ciudad Musical de Colombia. Ibague is about 3 to 4 hours drive from Bogota. I would add to Juanalejo's comments by saying that Ibague has 2 major universities (Universidad del Tolima and Coruniversitaria) + a few smaller private univ. 2 main hospitals (Federico Lleras and Clinica del seguro) and a few private smaller ones. The city and the region have high unemployment . Ibague tends to be a bit warm (around 28 to 30 degrees) and in general is fairly calm when compared with other Colombian cities, which is a good thing, but then it can get a bit boring at times (not because of the lack of hassles!).It has a few cinemas and a conservatorium of music. The population is about 600,000 people. Yes the city is not that expensive.
If one day you get there have a few Tamales tolimenses for me. Thanks.
Let me know if you need more info.

litost says on Sep 13, 2005, 11:57:

Sorry you guys, but Ibague does not strike me at all like a nice city to live in. I mean, if given the choice I would highly recommend other medium sized cities such as Armenia, Pereira, Manizales and Bucaramanga over Ibague. It is a very ugly and disorganized city, most of it anyways, very little to do and not as much identity as other regions. I do think it is hotter than Armenia. On the plus side, it is only about 3-4 hours from Bogota (not 6-8 like someone said). I am sure it has its share of nice and comfortable appartments and housing communities, but who wants to live somewhere where you don't have any incentive to get out of home?

mikecolombia says on Sep 13, 2005, 14:11:

litost I agree with litost. Ibaque was my least favorite of cities to visit, but they do have a good university if you plan on studying.

2retirensa says on Sep 13, 2005, 18:33:

I don't plan on studying, and won't consider anyplace warmer than Armenia. I like the idea of being closer to Bogota, but in reality how often would we go? I don't think I would go much more than if I'm in Armenia. It sounds like a very tranquil place to live, maybe a little to much for me. The new construction going on may change that.
I appreciate the info so I can talk about Ibaque with my in-laws (I know they will be pleased I know a little about their home).
Thanks for your replies,
Maureen

Brian858 says on Sep 13, 2005, 23:28:

stayed in Ibague for 2 weeks last year. It was hot and had to use a fan all the time. It was a 20 minute flight from Bogota. My sister-in-law lives there. She is a dentist. I had her remove all the mercury in my mouth and replace it with resin. You can take a taxi just about anywhere in the city for less than a dollar. Here is a link to some photos: http://public.fotki.com/Nacira/brian_en_colombia/ibague_coffee_park/
The internet connection was also horrible there. It would disconnect every couple of minutes. I did get a massage everyday from a certified physical therapist. She would come to the house and charge about $6 for a two hour massage.

quindioman says on Sep 14, 2005, 00:42:

brian very quick question.....how much did that mercury removal cost?

haji says on Sep 14, 2005, 12:48:

sorry It takes me 6 to 8 hours to drive to Bogota from Armenia depending on the traffic and road blocks and construction. from Ibaque to Bogota 2.5 to 3hours alot can and often does happen on the trip. My wife and I travel back and forth very often sorry for the mixup
chris

Brian858 says on Sep 14, 2005, 15:32:

Mercury removal. She didn't charge me anything since we are related :). I did get a root canal done by one of the best in Ibague. He charged me $140 for the 3 hour procedure. I just had another tooth done here in San Diego, California and the cost was $1,000.00 out of pocket. My dental insurance paid the rest. I find it cheaper to fly to Colombia and have dental work done than to have it done here in USA with dental insurance.. I have the most expensive plan that my employer offers.