Road travel Medellin to Cartagena

Jimmyto says on Jan 17, 2005, 07:45:

Travel Medellin to Cartagena I travelled from Medellin to Cartagena beginning of 2005 - January. The road was safe, I saw a lot of military check ups which is always a good thing to see. I travelled at night though because it was easier to rest. On your way back make sure you also travel with Rapido Ochoa, the buses are very comfortable or Brasilia. AVOID USING ANY OTHER COMPANY SPECIALLY IF THEY TRAVEL BACK TO MEDELLIN THROUGH PUERTO BERRIO, it took us 17H to get back to Medellin compared to 12h in our way to Cartagena. Rapido Ochoa also accepts credit cards.

Someone else might be able to help you out with regards to road conditions during low/tourist season. I know the current president has greatly improved the security on the roads. Take care.

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juanalejo says on Jan 17, 2005, 10:26:

Ignore GIB Ignore Mr. Gringo, he is always making up stories about doom and gloom in Colombia no matter the subject, and he always backs them up with his supposed high end friends in every corner of Colombian society. That road is fine, just ask anybody from Medellin or simply read the first post on this thread. And do not forget that many Medellin rich have their farms in Cordoba which is exactly on that road, including President Uribe.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 17, 2005, 13:03:

For what it's worth, my Colombian family will not let me go by car from Medellin to Monteria. They usually travel by car but they insist that I fly. From Monteria to Cartagena, they have no problem with me travelling by car or bus. I guess they're worried about their daughter's and grandchildren's meal ticket and feel it is their duty to keep this gringo alive. So they err on the side of caution.

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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jccg says on Jan 17, 2005, 13:18:

Why not to fly? Yes, the country is beautiful, but if you are not going to stop one for a wihile to enjoy, and you have money to fly, why go by land? ther are from 12 to 14 hours (if there are not problems)

Second: there are ever armed people in the road, and it is not so easy to know who is who. You recongnize the army becouse they have the uniform in a perfect form (not disorganaized), the gerrillas are organized, but their boots are the ones from the country-men (not the super-cool boot of the army), they (both) treat you with politness. And the mercenaries (paras, AUC) maybe disorganized, maybe not, they treat people like shit, and kill you if you look in the wrong way.

In the touristic season, the principal roads are pretty safe (just army), I don't know about others season.
From Monteria... well, it is full of paras, (Uribe has a lot of lands there), so it is pretty unsafe for colombians (middle clase), very dangerous for poor people, but it would be safe for droug-dealers and rich people.

This is just the true!!

This is just the true!!

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 17, 2005, 16:01:

How funny you say that Monteria and Cordoba is unsafe. Why do you say this? It is the one place in Colombia where I can travel freely and never have to worry about security. We drive all over the countryside there and ride the buses to the coast.

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.

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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jccg says on Jan 17, 2005, 16:26:

Do you feel safe into narco-mercenaries? If you do, it is ok. But for us (those who like to think), it is pretty unsafe. Just ask for the sindical movement in that places. Yes, no one is going to kidnap you in there (almost not for money), but don't you dare to said your political thinks in loud voice (unless you disslike human rights), better, don't talk about politics, or said that those that go to a worker-strike are leasy people that do not want to work. Be unsafe is not only not to have the risk of been kidnapped. I will tell you that I would not take my beautiful girl to that place, if a para likes her... I have no money to speek loud....

Is that safetly?

This is just the true!!

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 17, 2005, 16:36:

Getting more to the point, have you actually been there? Or are you basing this just on Cordoba's reputation? My wife's family is from Monteria and they are well aware of who is a narco and who isn't. To me it's the safest place in Colombia.

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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juanalejo says on Jan 17, 2005, 17:27:

Utopiacowboy You have proved Mr. jccg as one of the classical examples of the real problem in Colombia. Ignorance and Resentment. No matter what the truth is, they will only believe in what they think is the only and absolute truth. Left or Right they are all the same.

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pink_lotus says on Jan 17, 2005, 21:44:

??? This is a dangerous trip - or at least it was about 7 years ago. Ther eis a lot of gruellia and my ex husband and i were stopped. Especially dangerous heading into Covenas!And stop dissing gringoinbogota...most Colombians I know won't drive between cities!!!

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pink_lotus says on Jan 17, 2005, 21:46:

hello /................. Dudes you guys what GRingo is saying is true! This is how COLOMBIANS talk about there OWN COUNTRY! it's not badmouthing it!
It is reality! My ex husband won't even travel withouth his bodyguards . If you can afford to fly do so!

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jccg says on Jan 18, 2005, 05:55:

Ignorance? Jeje, for some people is ever hard to heard the truht. I live in Colombia, and I know how it is. Is not as the news said, you can go to a gerrillas (nuki) or paras (trigana) land to have vacations, and it is very unprobable that something happend to you. But you have to know how to behave in each situation (and NEVER go to a land in dispute). The people here do not know what is happening, and a lot of people think the AUC are good (because the news seid the FARC are bad), for me, the guerrillas are the bads and the AUC are the "worse".
Resentment? that is how the industrials call the sindicalist that want to earn enough to paid for food. Sadly, most of the people wants to think the world is black and white. Of course, if you only fear gerrillas, Monteria is safe for you. I fear any one that carries a gun to have ilegitimate power.

What I said about the beauty girl is based in a real story, one of my best's friend sister suffer that.

This is just the true!!

This is just the true!!

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 18, 2005, 07:15:

OK, jccg, I will take your response as a NO, you have never been to Monteria or Cordoba. So I guess we can evaluate your comments in this light - a person who is talking about a place he has never been. Typical of this whole site. If I have never been to a certain place, I keep my mouth shut. Then you have the nerve to say that some people here do not know what is happening. In my opinion, Nato, this is a lot worse than Los Trolls. As for Covenas, the oil pipeline terminal is there and the whole area is heavily guarded by the army. I don't know what the situation was like 7 years ago - I have no doubt security was probably a lot worse than it is now.

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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jccg says on Jan 18, 2005, 07:32:

Sad... sad... but tipical... Why is that so hard to heard the truth?
First (although you don't care) I DO know monteria, San bernardo del viento, Isla fuerte (beautifull place).
Second, a cultured person will debate IDEAS, attack the people is for fools.
Third, come on! if you have been there you must know the place (Monteria) is full of paras!!

Back to the topic... I do suggest travel by plane, not that much for the security issue, but because 14 hours in a bus is too much time.

This is just the true!!

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 18, 2005, 08:03:

Yes, I do know Monteria. Even in my limited experience, clearly much better than you do. My wife's kids used to sleep over at the Mancusos on a regular basis until my wife thought better of it. My brother-in-law ran for political office in Monteria last year. BTW, the question is not, Is Monteria home of the AUC? Yes, it is. The question is, Is it safe? Yes, it is very safe. It has one of the lowest crime, murder and kidnapping rates in Colombia. There is no need for a gringo to travel by plane there.

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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jccg says on Jan 18, 2005, 08:32:

A little flash back... When San Vicente del Caguan was in the FARC's hands, the rate of vulgar crime also was down, almos zero, but I wouln's say it was a safe place, not because of kiddnaping, but because of the lack of freedom the people have under this cicunstances. Is Monteria safe for a rich or a gringo? maybe yes (if you do not talk against those in the power), but I cannot considered safe a place where you cannot said what you think. Besides, The original question was about the trip Medellin-Cartagena. Also, I not considere Monteria a Turistic place... But San Bernardo del Viento and Isla fuerte worth it (2-3 hours by land from Monteria)

This is just the true!!

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Patrick says on Feb 7, 2005, 09:31:

You have to remember…. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. However, there is a great difference between informed educated opinion and “asshole” opinions. Obviously you would not be very safe in Monteria if you were to stand on a beer crate, on a street corner, and call on the local farm workers to strike for higher pay. You would have to be a complete moron to do something like that. Other than that, Monteria and the rest of the north coast are probably the safest places in Colombia for a tourist or Gringo. I live in Cartagena and my wife is from Monteria; we have driven from our home to her families home in many times, during the day, we have also driven to Barranquilla many times, during the day, and have never experienced any problems. Some of the more responsible posters on PBH have real insight to share with those who truly seek to learn. Safety must be a legitimate concern for any person who travels in Colombia so when GIB, for example, warns you of the hazards of traveling by car or bus between cities, pay attention, he knows what he is talking about. When UC tells you that Monteria is safe he expects that you understand you should act as a responsible guest in that city and not try to incur the ire of the AUC, if you do you deserve what ever you get. Act like an adult, be cognoscent of your surroundings, remember that you are a guest and thoroughly enjoy Colombia and her beautiful people.

Disclaimer: You don’t have to be insane to post here, but it certainly helps.

Don't blame me I voted for Ron Paul!

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CatMischa says on Jul 27, 2005, 10:30:

Back to Mompos.... Does anyone have any suggestions for places to visit in Mompos? Or any ideas on how to best get there from Cartagena?

C

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nine inch nails says on Aug 24, 2007, 20:18:

I know this post is kinda late but I am planning yet another trip to the majestic CO (Cartagena/modefoks stomping groun (BRQ??) so I must study all these threads and taken the utmost precautions since I am a white gringo.

I must side with the more conservative approaches and minimise ground travel outside all large ciudades except for shorter 2 hr. or less trips to non-prolem areas and never at night. This really cool 40ish Paisa who is a lead singer of this killer 80s cover band in MDE told me about a bandito robbery problem she had on a late bus from MDE -BOG in 2001 and what scared me most is that the banditos were all young young kids (16-17) and got very nerviosa when the baby started to cry. They could of accidently sent a few rounds down range. That scares me most. Why encontrar it if you don't have to?


"Shoot first, let God sort em out"

The Hedge funds have all gone wild on us!

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