Is it safe to stay in El Getsemani in Cartagena?

jena.gris says on Jul 2, 2008, 15:41:

www.northstarbackpackers.com

Its a safer location and a block from the beach, with the same prices as places in Getsemani

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ds says on Jul 2, 2008, 16:10:

Casa la Fe hotel is in a safe neighbourhood and much cheaper, nearby you find Casa Curato and Hotel 3 Banderas at a similar price. Getsemaní is nice but kind of tough.

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sloopskipper says on Jul 2, 2008, 16:34:

Casa la Fe is NOT cheap (and not a backpackers hotel)!

It is very nice, and in a perfect location in Centro, but I paid $145US + taxes (booking through Expedia) per night in October when the $ was about 2,000 COP.

It seems that I remember that 3 Banderas was a bit more than a hundred, then. But, I visited, and it also looked quite nice.

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tomtom33 says on Jul 2, 2008, 16:45:

There are no brothels in Getsemani. Hookers, yes.

It is okay during the day. Cab in and out between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.

Some of the clubs along Arsenal are quite nice.

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wabbits says on Jul 2, 2008, 19:57:

I stayed in Casa Viena for over a month. Its a little dirty a seedy-looking but never had any trouble. I regularly walked home from Quebra Canto a 2-3am, and the worst i got was comliments from the hookers.. El Centro is much higher rent, but seems to empty out at night, except for around the plaza and the bars.

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jul 2, 2008, 23:36:

Getsemani is totally safe. It is right next to the old city (a few 100 meters), and all the backpackers stay there. So you have nothing to worry about.

As for Casa Vienna: it's not seedy at all - the area (Getsemani) is indeed a little seedy, but still safe. I wouldn't worry about it, lots of women stay there.

And indeed: take a cab late at night (as anywhere in Colombia).

Good luck with your trip!

Poor but snappy

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Liam101 says on Jul 3, 2008, 01:54:

Getsemani is fine enough during the day but at night there are hookers and people offering drugs (depends what you're into). I wouldn't say that its totally safe. Its not even that nice. Stay within the walled city if you can. Places like Hotel Las Vegas are economical and decent enough. If you are only there for 5 days I wouldn't swap inside the wall for outside.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 3, 2008, 02:03:

Getsemany is safe it has the best nightlife in town along Avenida Arsenal, the centro de convenciones is near and so the cinemas or theater, is near the wall city and the muelle de los pegasos were you can take a boat to the islas del rosario.

Here is a picture of an street in Getsemany

engage brain before opening mouth

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mimimimimi says on Jul 3, 2008, 02:11:

is not the perfect timing for visiting colombia! buuut i wish you good luck and please stay in the cities !!

hope you manage to return back home at all :-)

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el flaco says on Jul 3, 2008, 02:18:

The area was seedy and dangerous a few years ago but is now safe and on the up. There are loads of police there and I felt safe during the day. I've been there at night and agree that taxis are best. The whole area has been painted and now looks good.

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mel727 says on Jul 3, 2008, 07:31:

Thanks for the feedback!

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GregYohn says on Jul 3, 2008, 08:05:

Hola!

I go to Casa Viena when in Cartagena. Then, they will tell you of their competitors when they are full!

Getsemani was my first introduction to Colombia! I have been there 2 times already.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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pedro says on Jul 3, 2008, 09:38:

Mel, there's one half of Getsemani that's pretty beat up and has cheap lodgings. Let's call this half "Media Luna". As you walk out of the walled city into Getsemani, everything to the left of the Parque Centenario including the park is sketchy.

The other half of Getsemani, on the waterfront, has been fully made over and has upscale nightlife, colonial buildings. Let's call that part "El Arsenal". This part is fine, I think. The walled city itself has a big security presence and as a tourist you feel very protected and happy to walk around at night. El Arsenal has a little less security oversight. You would probably be fine at night, provided you followed the paseo that links the walled city to the Arsenal.

que nota!

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durito says on Jul 3, 2008, 10:15:

is not the perfect timing for visiting colombia! buuut i wish you good luck and please stay in the cities !!

hope you manage to return back home at all :-)


its a great time to visit colombia. i dont think this is the right site for you

i`ve stayed in getsemani before and was fine. just be careful.

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Beerlao says on Jul 3, 2008, 14:33:

durito, why is it not the perfect timing for visiting colombia?

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tomtom33 says on Jul 3, 2008, 15:27:

Pedro is right on. You get the cheap hookers along Avenida Media Luna to the east of the park. One night I was strolling along Media Luna after dinner with 2 buddies. It was around 9:00 pm. We stopped a bought tintos from a street vendor. The vendor asked us WTF we were doing there. And he told us to turn around and go back to the park.

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aztec says on Jul 3, 2008, 16:25:

I would not stay there. Admittedly I look like a Gringo. If I were some other color I might consider attempting to fit in.

There are better places for you. Stay there after you have been in Cartagena for a while. I bet after a week you will not consider spending your vacation in the neighborhood.

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el flaco says on Jul 4, 2008, 01:56:

I went to Media Luna during the day a few years ago and it was pretty grim. I went last January and it had changed, everything smartened up and I felt safe.

My impression with Colombia are that things are changing fast, people feel safer and travel more and consequently investment is up on hotels, houses, supermarkets etc.

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tomtom33 says on Jul 4, 2008, 04:36:

Things do change fast. In March, my local friends warned me that areas outside of the tourist zone had become more dangerous. I was also warned not to ride the regular bus outside of the tourist zone because of increased bus robberies.

How one feels because of a paint job is irrelevant. What do the people who live there say?

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el flaco says on Jul 7, 2008, 03:02:

Well I asked them and they said safe and that there were lots of police. I took many buses to Crespo and felt very safe, they were certainly an experience.

People don't paint in run down areas, what's the point.

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Ctg Bound says on Jul 7, 2008, 08:22:

Getsemani where the Arsenal is and around the arsenal should be fine.

BUT the majority of Getsemani is not that safe at night, you should be well aware of your surroundings.

In the Getsemenai area if the area looks rundown you should keep alert for muggings, I personnely won't travel in there at night on my own, only to the area that has been done up, where the tourists go.

Over the years I have warned people about the area, several of the people didn't listen and were mugged in the area or next to it, the area is gradually improoving on the mugging front as each year passes by, but is far from safe.

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tomtom33 says on Jul 7, 2008, 09:47:

Now don't confuse people, CB. If they "feel" that things are safe, then things must be safe. The paint is along Arsenal.

By the way, I also know someone who was mugged in Getsemani during the day. It happened about a year ago. The guy was fluent in Spanish and had lived in Cartagena for several years. And he was 40ish and in good shape.

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Ctg Bound says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:25:

tomtom33,

For information to the board not to you as you know where I lived, I have lived by Getsemeni on an off for about 2 years over the last 8 years.

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tomtom33 says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:31:

Yup, and also for the board, I lived in Laguito for 4 years. I honestly didn't spend too much time in Getsemani. But most people who live in Cartagena don't spend a lot of time there. It can be iffy.

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