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Juanchito - To go...or not to go, burundanga, a Cali scare

I have been weeding through some really interesting posts dating back to 2006, about how horrible Cali is regarding the violence and going anywhere by yourself, you will be targeted...its a bit unsettling. But Juanchito...the SALSA DISTRICT? Seriously? Is it that bad? Is it recommended I go in a group or if I went alone is that such a bad thing if I go straight to the clubs and back? Also, i don't know if anyone watched that VBS.com documentary on burundanga, that seems like that is worth paying attention to, I just think its so disapointing if I really have to be so cautious of everything I do, If I chose to hit the town solo, ya know? Or whats the real dish?

By mercedesdecali on Oct 15, 2008, 15:16 in Friendly Talkzone.

Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 15, 2008, 15:25:

You can go to any mall by yourself(CHIPECHAPE, PLAZA AVENTURA MY FAVORITES), You can go to Menga by yourself(GalaGala, SIBONEY,PRAGA), You can go to Granada by yourself (for the most part very chic) DO NOT as a single young lady GO TO Juanchito by yourself, Please go in a group. It is like Tijuana, Alot of lowllifes hanging around. Dark areas and SPACES between clubs BUT if you go in a group you can have the time of your life. May I suggest, Baracoa, Samba Caramba, CITRON my favorite and you must go to CHANGO just once if you go to CALI... Even Chango 2 in the back is not bad if Chango 1 in the front is full... Negotiate Taxis first and make sure they put on the meter if you dont negotiate prior.. Dont forget, go in a group. Anymore questions send me a PM.

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

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calipro says on Oct 15, 2008, 15:39:

mercedesdecali

I wouldn't worry about being targeted per se in Cali just because you are a gringa. But if you are in a bad area bad shit can happen no matter who you are.

The only time I go to Juanchito's is on Sundays simple because it is the only place that is really happening on Sundays. There are just too many nicer clubs in Menga and Granada to go to on other nites to even think about going to Juancitos IMHO.

PS I don't think it will be all that much fun to go out at night by yourself anyway so hook up with some friends and go out and don't worry about being attacked or anything like that.

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Monita Linda says on Oct 15, 2008, 15:43:

I think it is very "not done" culturally in Cali to go out (rumba) by yourself. Always go with friends. Do NOT go to clubs in bad areas and try to avoid the discos on the sexta. Be pendiente but don't let it ruin your time... just enjoy

Poor but Preppy ______Colombia: the only risk is wanting to lay.

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 15, 2008, 15:50:

Douglas isn't THAT bad on la Sexta but far from my favorite, and I don't mind stopping at Viejo Baril for a starter beer.. But THEN again if you wanted that kind of atmosphere you could head down to "Casa de cervezas" Another good safe, clean, small, fun SALSA only bar in SONEROS it on like on Ocatava con 11.

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

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E-Man says on Oct 15, 2008, 16:18:

MercedesdeCali,

I certainly would not be going to juanchito by yourself. There are some people that you don't want to run into (a few people ruin it for the majority of people that are good). But you should definitely check it out with a few friends or as a group. Chango's is definitely good. I am assuming that you live in the US and you are a Salersa here in the states. In the states you can generally go out to the clubs by yourself (as a woman) and just dance with the Salseros. In Juanchito you certainly have to be real careful who you are interacting with.

Be careful taking a taxi also. Have the club or wherever you go call a taxi for you rather than taking it from the streets.

These are just precautions. But you definitely can have a good time in Cali the Capital of Salsa.

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spy1983 says on Oct 15, 2008, 16:37:

Juanchito was the scariest place I went in Cali. I was there 22 days.

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Gator says on Oct 15, 2008, 19:06:

Its been a while since we visited but if you have never been go with a group. Starts late and ends even later-hope you can salsa.

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

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calipro says on Oct 15, 2008, 20:25:

Spy1983

I have probably gone to Juanchito at least 30 times over the last 12 years.

The worst thing that I have seen was a guy break a bottle of wiskey over another guys head and try and stab him with the broken bottle. It got broken up quickly so there I didn't get a chance to see any real blood.

Thank god my table didn't get knocked over in the braw. But they did knock over about three tables and a couple of colombianos did complain because no one offered to pay for their drinks.

Anyway I'd be interested in hearing why Juanchito was the scariest place you visited in Cali.

You might want to qualify your response be first telling us were was the nicest place you visited while in Cali just so we can get a frame of reference. If it was your hotel room you might want to add which one of the those five star hotels you were staying at. hehehe !!!

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romy says on Oct 16, 2008, 00:30:

some good advice is given here.
I would never go to juanchito by myself. I say the best plan for juanchito is a good group of people on a chiva that ends up at juanchito.

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bopenyan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 16, 2008, 11:37:

The calenos and calenos who I know would never go to Juanchito or La Candelaria alone. Nor will they cab it alone. My novia told me that a good friend of hers was robbed by a taxi driver after she left Changos. It was one of those situations where the group she was with could not all fit into the two cabs so they gave her extra money to cover her cab home - and it was that driver that took her to a bad neighbourhood, and it was there that strangers boarded the cab and took her on the paseo millonario.

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calipro says on Oct 16, 2008, 14:17:

bopenyan

I know of two gringos that where given the paseo millionario and neither one of them was any where near Juanchito.

If you don't own your own car I suggest you make a list of taxi drivers that you trust and call them to pick you up when you are out late at night.

I don't normally go to Juanchitos or Avenida Sexta NOT because I think it's dangerous. I don't go because there are just so many nicer places to hang out at night.

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billyb says on Oct 16, 2008, 17:00:

What kind of "friends" would send a girl alone in cab from Juanchito?

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 16, 2008, 18:29:

like I said before, It is a very seedy area very reminiscent of a Tijuanaesque atmousphere, with seedy characters and everything. I would strongly deter any single lady coming or going there by herself. While I have maybe have not been there 30 times, I can tell you that I have almost been there that many times in a lot less years. lol

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

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calipro says on Oct 16, 2008, 19:26:

"While I have maybe have not been there 30 times, I can tell you that I have almost been there that many times in a lot less years. lol"

Well the only conclusion that I can come to after a statement like that is: You must have liked Juanchito a hell of a lot more than me. hehehe !!!

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E-Man says on Oct 16, 2008, 19:29:

Speaking of Juanchito. One of my favorite Salsa songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfxp85JJe6g

The chivas tour bus that Romy talked about might be the one of the best bets to go there. That is assuming you stick with the tour and travel with some friends.

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 16, 2008, 19:32:

Citron rules and Chango for continued nostaglia and I'm not going to lie, If I'm with the guys Senegal and La Barra for a nightcap LOL

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

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mercedesdecali says on Oct 17, 2008, 20:38:

Thank you, I will meet people over there Im sure and see if I will go with them....I dont know. About the "friend" going in a taxi alone, tell that chick to get some new amigos because eso esta jodido. Ni modo, a ver que pasa......estoy emocionada pero no se...no confio mucho la gente estos dias, pero yo solo voy a enfocarme en divirtirme y ya. Yo voy para botar Colombia de mi systema. Un caleno me hizo lo imposible y ni voy a comentar por ahora....solo que este viaje es por un proposito......solo quiero poder hacer lo que siempre he sonado hacer....a ver...gracias por todos los comentarios....besitos...

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MrSalsa says on Nov 19, 2008, 00:46:

Maybe it was naive, but years ago I went to Juanchito by taxi alone, and I was OK...but I did feel a bit on edge at times, especially because the taxista was trying to take me to very low class places.
I finally ended up at Chango and had a decent time, ended up talking to the DJ about the music, and met a few people to dance with.

Just the other night I went to Citron with a group of friends who could dance, and I had a blast. I definitely recommend it, but it seems like going out with friends is definitely the better choice! It's almost a waste of time to go alone.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 19, 2008, 01:54:

In Colombia, girls tend to go out in groups, you should meet some other travelers in the hostels and go together, or with friends.

Poor but snappy

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