los Farallones de Cali

billyb says on Feb 7, 2007, 08:23:

It's the mountians rising outside of south cali... it is also a national park, here's a link to its website. http://www.farallonesdecali.com/

BillyB

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Gator says on Feb 7, 2007, 08:33:

That's The Name...
of the mountains around Cali-you may be able to make contact with FARC or go bird watching. It is also a national park by the same name. The main road to the Pacific port of Buenaventura cross the range. Lots a good restaurants on the way and the town of Dagua say 40 km is worth a trip. Past that, about 80 +- km from Cali is a large recreational are call Lago Calima which really rocks on the weekends and holidays.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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cali373 says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:04:

So what is the consensus? Is it relatively safe to go there or not?

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:13:

NO

There's a guerrilla front operating in that area.

Cheers,
Desi

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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billyb says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:15:

I was all over those mountains last month... and the consensus among the locals was that it was relatively safe (specially compared to just a couple of years ago). One town in the area that people mentioned to avoid, was Restrepo, going down the backside of Lago Calima towards Buga (you might run into Colombiamike's buddies there).

BillyB

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kalder says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:18:

No My wife is always telling me how beautiful they are. Then comes the wistful caveat: 'Of course, I doubt you'll ever get to see them. They're WAY too dangerous'.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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billyb says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:25:

BTW, there's a "Batallon de Alta Montaña"... called Los Farallones that is based in that area and they have done a good job of keeping the remnants of the front Desi mentioned at bay.

BillyB

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billyb says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:37:

3 years ago they might have been too.. dangerous, but not now. When I visited the area, all the towns there, like Dagua, El Carmen, Kilometro 30, Darien/Lago Calima, Dapa, to name a few, were bursting with tourists on the weekends, the roads were packed and you saw military all over the place guarding the roads.

BillyB

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cali373 says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:48:

Do you think it would help to send an email over to the FARC asking for permission to check out the place?

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 7, 2007, 09:59:

Billy, was that a special holiday weekend or? We drove up a few times to km.30 last March and April and it was considered safe on the Cali side of the Farallones but not on th Pacific side. There were landslides on the road to Buenaventura between Dagua and the port, cutting off the traffic for several days, almost a week and the rescue operations were reported being harrassed by the guerrilla front.

No cali373, I don't think you want to send a letter of introduction and intention to visit them to those guys. That's just my opinion.

Cheers,
Desi

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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cali373 says on Feb 7, 2007, 10:15:

Well I was not going to ask to visit the FARC. I wanted to ask permission to visit the park.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 7, 2007, 10:27:

I don't think they have control over the territory, in general terms. It's an area being disputed by the Batallon de Alta Montaña (those guys were the ones responsible for the Jamundí massacre) and the front. You'd have to consult both sides if you even think getting in there with any margin of safety.

The towns and main roads may be relatively safe at daytime and when guarded by the military, but I wouldn't venture in the jungle myself.

Cheers,
Desi
Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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billyb says on Feb 7, 2007, 10:52:

Desi I was in the area last april when the... landslide happened also and as you say, they don't control territory in the area like they did a few years ago, but they do carry out attacks when they have the opportunity to do so like in the case of disrupting the rescue efforts in the landslide (hello Colombiamike). Several friends and relatives have fincas in the sorrounding area and all are members of the network that keeps track of movements and gives the governament info. Before they go up, they always call the network to find out the situation in the region where they are going and are in radio contact incase things change. So cali373, if you want to visit, do check with knowledgable locals as to what the situation is up there at that time As we are all well aware, the security situation everywhere in Colombia is very fluid. PS, Desi I was up there the weekend after new years, so I guess it was still holiday season there.

BillyB

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