PBH / Colombia / Start Forums▼ (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Riohacha to Bucaramanga

Can someone please give me detailed directions on the best and "safest" route to drive from Riohacha to Bucaramanga?

I drove from Bucaramanga to Riohacha last year and although the trip went well, I had to stop several times so the military could basically say hi. Which actually made us feel safe, other wise it would have been 100 miles of dirt road all alone.

After leaving bucaramanga we came to a fork in the road, probably one of many, but we went right instead of left. We should have went left.

If you know this region of colombia fairly well, any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...

By chiacolombia on Jan 23, 2007, 14:29 in Friendly Talkzone.

ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2007, 15:28:

My experience I did this route about a month ago.

From Riohacha we went to Valledupar, and on to Bosconia where the crossroads with the Bogota-Santa Marta road is.

From Bosconia, we just we southwards towards Bogotá along the main road.

There are **loads** of military checkpoints in the 3-hour stretch between Riohacha and Valledupar. Many are customs checking for contraband coming in from Maicao, in La Guajira. As you said, they don't seem to do much more than say hi.

If you do drive during the day you should be safe. There is a lot of traffic on this road.

If you need a driver, I know I guy in Riohacha (a computer science university student there) who is trustworthy and can drive you there, just let me know.

Ixent

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jan 23, 2007, 18:10:

I, Too, Would... take ixent's route. Alternative would be through Santa Marta/Ciénaga/Bosconia/Curumani and connect with the other road from Riohaca then down through San Alberto to Buca. like 700 km more or less

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lochdhu says on Jan 23, 2007, 19:57:

Gator,
is there a way to Gator,
is there a way to contact you or talk to you via email? sorry to barge in on this thread people. Gator, is you can, please contact me here at carlin at gmail dot com, will explain later

regards

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Jan 23, 2007, 20:50:

Did the travel in January But on my way back I took the road to Bogotá so I would enter the city thru calle 80 instead of Autopista Norte, which would had been the case had I take the Bucaramanga road. Nice views, I do remember passing thru a town called el Colorao, maybe because the sun there has a nice shine.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.