SAFE AREA TO LIVE IN CALI COLOMBIA

expatriate says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:42:

The safest place to live is in an apartment. They have armed guards deciding who gets let in to the building.

In my opinion, safe areas are the North, also the area near the Cali river from the hotel Intercontinental upstream to the zoo, and Ciudad Jardin in the Southwest.

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 17:26:

The south is safe too and perhaps better if you have family. Most of the schools are in the south of the city. The North and the area recommended by the previous poster are fine for partying, single living but I would recommend a solid middle-class neighbourhood in the near south, San Fernando, El Lido, Tequendama, Nuevo Tequendama and the area around Avenida Guadalupe; all safe, central, residential. There are areas a bit further south that are very nice too: El Ingenio, Las Vegas, Ciudad Jardín and Pance , near the schools and country clubs.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

scotty says on Jul 6, 2007, 18:01:

Maybe Lowell can give you some advice on where not to live.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 6, 2007, 19:50:

I agree with Expat, the best areas are in the west from the Inter to the Zoo on both sides of the river and the near north, although there some very nice areas in the south, they feel much more suburban. A nice apartment in Arboleda, Normandia, Sta. Teresita, Sta Rita or Crystales, El Centenario or Juanambu' and you're set.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 6, 2007, 19:52:

Or even my personal favorites, El Peñon and Sta. Monica Alta.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 6, 2007, 19:58:

Or if you like views, I was just in Cali the last couple of weeks and they have built a bunch of new luxury apt bldgs. on the hill above the new thoroughfare built to relieve the Circumbalar called Los Cerros, although they are too close to Siloe for my taste.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 20:32:

goin_south says on Jul 6, 2007, 20:41:

Can someone give me some orientation, as to 'direction' in Cali?
What part is the Hotel Intercontinental and Chipe Chape Mall in? (N?S?...)
Okay, now take me to the other side of town, to the 'other' Carrefour (or, are there more than two in Cali?)... I remember we went thru some long stretches from one side to the other here, where she told me definitely to roll the windows up and lock the doors (as if I needed to be told... yikes!!!)

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 6, 2007, 21:07:

The Inter is in what's called El Occidente (west side), the best part of town, just west of downtown on the south bank of the Cali River. Chipi Chape is at the very north end of Santa Monica on the west side of the Sexta, just before you get into the far north neighborhoods (boring, as in the far south) I know there's a Carrefour in the south, can't recall one in the north, although there might very well be one there. Cali is like two seperate cities, the north and the south and the only thing they have in common, is downtown.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jul 6, 2007, 22:12:

from my memory, Chipe Chape is pretty close to the Intercontinental hotel... and there is a Carrefour, just across a street from Chipe Chape.... and, then..... the other side..

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 6, 2007, 23:25:

You must have been under the influence, if you tink the Inter is close to Chipe ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jul 7, 2007, 00:57:

i swear; we rolled outta de hotel, and right into de mall ;),... and back again

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 7, 2007, 04:45:

The OP has three daughters, still in school and that's the reason why I recommended quiet, suburbian strata 5-6 neighbourhoods; especially those furthest south (Ciudad Jardin, Pance, El Ingenio I-!V are very close to the best bilingual schools and good malls (Unicentro, El Jardín Plaza, Holguines Trade Center,.Palmetto Plaza).

As a single gringo, I would also choose the western barrios on the hillside for better climate), but I 'd rather raise a family inthe South or even further north, La Flora or Santa Monica Norte.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 7, 2007, 10:44:

Most of my relatives live in the western barrios and they had no problem raising families there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 7, 2007, 10:58:

Billy, I'm not saying there's nothing wrong about raising families in the western barrios. Just that the schools and malls are closer by on the south. The main universities are in the south too. lots of sport facilities and country clubs are there too. That's, however, just my choice of neighbourhoods if I was raising up a family. Other people may have other priorities.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 7, 2007, 11:08:

You are correct Desi it is a personal preference kind of thing and there are some beautifull barrios in the south, but for my taste, the only reason I would live in the south would be to be closer to El Club Campestre (although if somebody gave me a house in Ciudad Jardin, I would not turn it down ;). And I wouldn't live in the far north barrios due to the fact that along with them being boring, they are too close to the polution coming from Jumbo.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 7, 2007, 11:29:

Yes, that pollution used be a real problem in the northern barrios. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the air has become cleaner and the pollution in the north has diminished in the last 20 years or so?

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 8, 2007, 01:05:

Yes, it's not as bad but when I was in Cali last week I heard thet average life expectancy in Jumbo was only 45 years, so I think there's still a problem and I wouldn't want to chance it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.