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safety points for Cartagena

Please give some general advice on safety in Cartagena including:

1. What do to if get stopped by police for document checks? (I heard there are some fake ones trying to shake down for money. Also is this a frequent thing that police stop and search tourists?)

2. Taxi from the airport and within city - is safe to flag a taxi late at night after clubbing or better to call one? How does one call a cab from the street?

3. Anything else that springs to mind related to the subject (and if you think I am being overly paranoid please feel free to throw that at me!:) )

Thanks!

By CuriosJoe on Jun 6, 2004, 17:24 in Friendly Talkzone.

asmith says on Jun 6, 2004, 20:00:

Who cares--- Dear Junior: You are correct, and you seem to be a carring person. You appear to be a little to the left but thats ok, as long as we can talk. the bullets dont fly.

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Sam Salmon says on Jun 6, 2004, 21:31:

"Also is this a frequent thin "Also is this a frequent thing that police stop and search tourists?"
Absolutely Not!!!
CTG is a tourist friendly place and shit like that gets stomped out in a hurry.
Cabs throughout Colombia all have their licence plate #'s on the back door as well-a reproduction of the plate-2 feet long and a foot high-plain as day.
Also a copy of the driver's licence is prominently displayed on the back of his seat in plain view.(actually cabs in Cartagena are much better run than what we have here in Vancouver if truth be told)
There are a few older cabs still around in CTG but most are new vehicles-stick with them and forget anything else.

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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Hunter says on Jun 7, 2004, 06:36:

1. Spent 1.5 years in Ctg never yet been stopped by Police, never been hassled by them, although I live there on and off, I have blond her and do not look like a local, I will look like a tourist to them. Have a photocopy of your passport handy, you can walk into any notary there with the photocopy and your passport and they will stamp the copy, cost about $1.

2. Only once have I heard of a foreigner been robbed by a taxi driver in Ctg, so limited chance of this happening. I have used taxis in Ctg at least 500 times at all hours of day, some will try and rip you off as many taxi drivers do in any tourist location.

3. No need to be paranoid in Ctg, just be aware of whats going on as in any large Town/City.

Hunter

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ColombiaBoard says on Jun 7, 2004, 18:41:

Cartagena 1. No, police in Cartagena are "tourism oriented", so there´s not much corruption, usually they don´t ask for documents unless you find yourself in a difficult situation.
2. There are usually cabs parked outside most clubs, discos, hotels and restaurants. How to hail a cab on the street? stand on the sidewalk, extend arm when you see a cab, usually they´ll stop.
3. Be aware that prices are sometimes exceedingly higher than in any other colombian city, specially during high season (june-july).

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