riding the bus in COL..

I arrived in Cali on the bus yesterday. My trip started in Medellin to Pereria(4 1/2 hrs), staying in Pereria for 2 days, then from Pereria to Cali(3 1/2 hrs). These were on EXPRESS or DIRECTO buses, which you pay a little more for. If i was ridding on regular bus, it take lot longer. I been riding many bus so i ll give my observation.

1) its DIRT CHEAP! from Medellin to Pereria EXPRESS, on a AC minibus, clean, comfortable seats, cost all of $22k peso(10 USD). From Pereria to Armenia(45min to 1hr) on a clean, ac, van(soccer mom van) cost $6k(2.5USD). From Armenia to Parque de Cafe(20 mins) cost 1.2k(50 cents). From Pereria to Cali (4hrs) in a minibus, no ac, normal seats cost $16K(7USD), i could have(should have) upgrade to the van(22K vs 16K). I recommend paying MORE for the nicer buses, that way you ll worry less about your stuff. the different from normal cheap bus and exp one is just 30%.

2) it NEVER DIRECT EVEN when they say it. So if you think you re going from bus terminal in Medellin DIRECT to bus terminal in Pereria(or any other city), ITS NOT!!! It will stop several times to pick up or drop off passanger ALONG THE ROAD. I notice the regular cheap bus, stop EVERY PLACE, so at least the EXPRESS or DIRECT stop ALOT LESS.

3) The BUS TERMINAL in MAJOR city are ALL SAFE, it is enclosed and secure. Its the bus stops in the SMALL towns(pueblo) that is not secure. Once your in the BUS TERMINAL you can take taxis to your hotel, so again its safe. THE ROADS themselves, at least the Medellin to Cali route is SAFE, frequent military or policia checkpoint.

4) it is time consuming, even on nice express buses. I would take anything under 4 hrs, but NOT more. Actually short trip 1 or 2 hrs is nice, again take the nicer buses.

5) on longer trips 4 hrs or more they stop to for lunch usually only 20 mins, be carefull you dont take longer. Also, on nicer buses, there is bathroom.

6) its A GREAT WAY to see the countryside, it quite magnifigent, very different than the city. Its not as depressing as the city(with its homelessness, abject poverty, etc.,)

for you gringos that are worry, go during the day, and from major city to major city. I ll post my fotos from the road later.

PS, i FLYING back to MEDELLIN, because i DONT want to take a 9 hr bus trip! The ONLY reason i took the bus this trip, was because i was stopping for a few days in Pereria so i broke up the 9 hr trip to two trips.

By caslug on Aug 11, 2005, 09:28 in Friendly Talkzone.

CaryGrant says on Aug 11, 2005, 09:36:

caslug - visit the Termales! I visited the Parque del Cafe, Panaca, and the Termales at Santa Rosa with with my fiancee, and we took buses from Cali. I agree with caslug; buses are a great way to see more of the countryside - which is often very beautiful - and experience a bit more of the culture.

Caslug - the Termales at Santa Rosa are spectacular. I only have prints, or I'd post photos. (I left my digital camera on a bus!) 180m high waterfall, thermal springs, surrounded by mountains...it's the sort of thing you usually see only in movies.

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Peter Miami says on Aug 11, 2005, 21:14:

I second that motion, the Termales are excellent. I loved it.

Peter Miami

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NorwegianMale says on Aug 12, 2005, 04:01:

Direct buses From my experiences with buses in latin countries, "direct" should be interpreted as it is no need to change bus to get to the destination.

In norway "direct" means there will be no stops before the destination, but that is not the case in latin countries.

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caslug says on Aug 12, 2005, 08:31:

Another thing i notice.. was that people throw trash like nothing. after they finish a drink or eat something. they ll throw it out the window as the bus moves. coming fr the states, that is odd, because you can get fine if the cops see you. I just keep my stuff till we stop then throw in the trash.

I didnt get a chance to visit the termals, next time. i ll post foto of the bus trip later.

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Peterd7001 says on Aug 20, 2005, 11:27:

howdy caslug hello there dude. we met on the bus from medellin to armenia, i am the london lad who was showing his mum around colombia. where are you now? im back in bogota after going to leticia and missing cartegena because of the fog in the amazonas(what a nightmare)!
p.s. the stuff they were throwing out the door while still moving was infact vomit, mostly collected in small bags...some however, did manage to hit the floor and make me feel rather queasy. I must admit that if you are in anyway travel sick, the bus is not an option in colombia, there are NO straight roads in that part of the country, you could in fact say, "theme park ride" and not be so far from the truth. have a good trip

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CaryGrant says on Aug 20, 2005, 12:21:

Peterd - I noticed that some people in Cali (and Arizona) use the world as their garbage dump. Roll down the taxi window and toss the containers out the window. I didn't see many people do that, and I did see various murals painted on overpasses and the like urging people to be more respectful of the environment they live in and depend upon.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 20, 2005, 12:29:

New Mexico as well. You can tell when you've left Texas and crossed into New Mexico just from the amount of highway litter. And don't ask me about their rest areas! I've seen cleaner municipal dumps.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kernow62 says on Aug 20, 2005, 13:16:

You should come to "The City Beautiful" there is litter all over the place.

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caslug says on Aug 20, 2005, 15:04:

Hey Peter! Glad you posted!.. I agree with you about the vomit, it was quite interesting to say least. But you gotta admitt the view is spectacular, i wished i got window seat. I flew back fr Cali instead of doing 9 hrs to Medellin.

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caslug says on Aug 23, 2005, 18:08:

foto fr my bus trip.. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/binh_hoang/album?.dir=/707f&.src=ph&.tok=phT6mgDByHWvalIq

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adrimm says on Aug 23, 2005, 18:21:

Peterd How was Leticia? Do you have any reccomendations that you can share on activities/wilderness etc?

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mikecolombia says on Aug 26, 2005, 17:51:

the bus I've been to Medellin, Bogota, Melgar, Armenia, Cali, Cartago, Ibague, Santa Rosa de Cabal, and every small town in between stemming from Pereira. My only advice is pray before you get on ( they drive very different), and don't travel at night. Being a white boy from North Alabama, U.S.A ; I never had problems until I traveled at night-- a bad mistake, but you learn the hard way.

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