Safety question regarding LA COSTA DE COLOMBIA

Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 04:46:

elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:18:

The only drawback for gringos traveling to the northern Caribbean coast is the lack of nookie action. Them there costeñas love to dance and if you can’t keep up they’ll drop your ass like a hot potato.
My suggestion is that you first go to the south and get yourself a cachaca, then invite her to la Costa. If you don’t do that, good chance you’ll spend most of your vacation in the hotel room chocking the chicken. THANK YOU!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:33:

juanalejo says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:49:

Sorry to contradict you, but in today´s safer Colombia still Cesar has one of the highest kidnap rates in the country and the Montes de Maria on the road between Cartagena and Monteria has problems with FARC and I will not recommend it at night. And no, it has always not been safe, just remember how many people were kidnapped a few years back in la Cienaga del Torno just outside Barranquilla. So, Colombia is safer that it was a few years back but La Costa does have its fair share of the problems left.
Cartagena to Santa Marta corridor though is very safe day or night, but then again so its Bogota to Bucaramanga or Bogota to Cali day and night.

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:50:

Peter: "The coast is indeed very safe" for who? Tourists? Gringos? From FARC?
And the Sierra Nevada area, between Tayrona and Rioacha is safe? Of course the guerillas drinking beer in Pueblo Nuevo was not on the news.
Good that a new group is now organizing, so the area can stay clear of ELNs, but what about the death in Mendihuaca? Oh, I forgot, people have been advised to stay home after 9PM, because the group is doing "limpieza" right now....
Well, if you close your eyes you don't even see "off duty cops" looking for "fosas comunes" and "caletas" GPS at hand...
Have a read at http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=98403. Oh, the chief of the police was just changed a week ago, surely because of improved security in town LOL...
Try to hear the people talking about Barranquilla (atracos, homicidios) and you'll surely think it is very safe LOL. If you live there, you know that it is really far from being safe. Maybe Medellin is quite safe now, but Barranquilla is NOT safe.
What about the voice of Mellizos sending 1500 man to the coast because they cannot work anymore in Medellin?

And seeing Elmo describing Paracos as sort of cops doing their LITTLE questionable business... well... Jesus, is it one of your joke, right Elmo?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:54:

Juan, the road between Sincelejo and Barranquilla is CLOSE at night! You do not have to recommend it!

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:18:

Hog wash!!! I traveled all over the coast at all hours, in all conditions from extremely drunk, to Ozzie high, and let me tell ya, not once have ever had any problem. One time a gringo friend and I got stuck in the worst traffic jam in history, somewhere between Soledad 2000 and Soledad, that was the worst incident we ever faced.
Now as to murders, hell yeah corronchos enjoy killing each other when they get drunk, but that’s been happening for ever and it never involves outsiders.
As to the increasing crime rate, it has to do with cachacos going up to Barranquilla where most of the money now is, but PARACOS are working to solve this little inconvenience.
As for traveling up in the La Guajira, that chit has been dangerous even before FARC, ELN and PARACOS came into the picture. Injuns can’t stand white modefoques, mostly Colombian white modefoques. I don’t recommend traveling up there. I could go there with no problem.
Medellin , Cali or Bogota has never been and will ever be safer than Barranquilla.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:19:

Not in million years!!!!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:20:

and you could take that to the bank!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:29:

A couple years ago I was in Poblado and they decided to take me just outside Medellin.
As soon as we came to the first Toll, I see hundreds of soldiers standing all along the highway, “what the fok is this, are we in the middle of an invasion?” I says.
“No parce, this chit gets dangerous at night, FARC moves in” they said.
“WHAT??????? Get me the fok outta here and put my black ass in the first flight to Curramba” I says
Exactly the same chit happened in Bogotá up in those surrounding mountains.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:51:

The funny thing about placing soldiers right outside Medellin and Bogotá is that they situate these little skinny red cheek cachaco kids no taller than the M-16 about a block away from each other.
Now really? what is one single scared shitlees kid gonna do when FARC sneaks in from behind y le entierra la verga?
Remember those cities are surrounded by endless jungles and mountains

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:52:

and snakes and chit!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 08:53:

and elephants and chitas and hippotomous and girafe and....

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 10:43:

Miamigo says on Jul 6, 2007, 10:51:

it's very safe, just like the area north of Bogota

North of calle 72? What about Chapinero and Federman?

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:02:

Hey Miamigo, great pic, one of my all time favorite movie.
ya all have a nice weekend, ya hear?

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Puddin says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:30:

you guys are scaring me away to travel around in colombia...!!

NOT AS HAPPY AS BEFORE BUT GETTING THERE... Liz 0.o

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getting better says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:38:

The Sierra Nevada is spectacular and loads of endemic birds, frogs, orchids etc. On the South side it may be dangerous. But you can easily access it it in safety from Santa Marta via Minca and stay at the ecolodge at the ProAves El Dorado reserve. One of the best places to stay in Colombia if you want to stay somewhere really nice in the country in safety without a long journey from a major city. You need to pre-book, don't just turn up.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:57:

don't worry puddin, the only thing you have to be scare is bumping into elmo...:)))

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bueno_pues says on Jul 6, 2007, 16:50:

Elmo, sabes que tienes razon y yo se que tienes razon pero los gringos bobos de PBH no saben nada. Viajamos en todas partes de la costa en el dia y en la noche sin problemas. Es mi suegra una jefita de los paracos?

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panthdave says on Jul 6, 2007, 17:10:

Very true Kat...Elmo will probably agree...Feel very safe in Medellin and outside Medellin...Can't say for other areas but always keep up on Farc activity which might become more if no agreements are made soon...I am sure the FARC is well prepared too with all there cocaine and heroin funds.. I would say the major cities are safe but you always here of little issues happening but you know what between all cities I have not heard of any in Medellin yet in a few years...

Example Bogota small bomb goes off near police station Examples

Medellin I hear nothing..

panthdave Miami

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rocinante says on Jul 7, 2007, 11:44:

No estoy en esa pelicula, por eso nunca tengo problemas en medallo.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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goin_south says on Jul 7, 2007, 22:25:

I'll take Bogota for safety anyday.

Me, 2. there's a guy with a machine gun, in the middle or on almost every corner,....in what appears to be the good neighborhoods, around north Bogota ( at least the parts where I was staying/walking around)

When the guards are there.... I feel good.

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

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Robert Jorge says on Jul 8, 2007, 01:51:

What the hell, I'll hijack a little. Most soldiers I saw in Colombia, and I saw a bunch, were armed generally with a Galil. I also noticed every Galil had a bright yellow plastic piece inserted into the firing chamber - with the bolt locked open. I assume, this was to prevent the live cycling of the action. Basically, it prevents the bolt from carrying a bullet into the chamber. So, in a nutshell, unless I am mistaken, most soldiers with their mean looking Galil assault weapons are not even capable of firing them without first removing this plastic piece and then chambering a round. This can be done in 2 seconds, but that is an infinity in some circumstances. I am not making fun of the soldiers or the apparent policy - it is wise in my opinion. It isn't nearly as funny as the National Guard that the US sends to disaster areas, armed with M16s without bullets at all.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 8, 2007, 02:43:

Robert Jorge says on Jul 8, 2007, 11:19:

Then why have the rifles at all tomtom33? Why not just have them carry toy guns? The troops are there to provide order and prevent looting. But in many cases are neutered because their M16s don't have any bullets. I am not necessarily even disagreeing with you on anything. Just making observations.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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BAQ says on Jul 8, 2007, 16:46:

OK, got to weigh in on this one. I LIVE HERE and have been here for the past three years. As far as FARC, AUC, ect, NOT PROBLEM ONE and I am not worried in the least. ELMO is correct, Bogota and the other cities he mentioned have the FARC, kidnapping problems.

NOW AS FOR HOMICIDE...... well its gotten pretty bad here. People are getting bullets but i their heads EVERY DAY and I mean that litterally.

Now that being said, a MAJORITY of these murders are PAID HITS, meaning one person has pissed another person off and paid the customary $400.000.00 pesos $200 US to have ther person shot. You can tell the paid assasin by the customary TWO PERSON ON THE MOTORCYCLE M.O.

The other murders are street punks who shoot ya uz you didnt want to hand over your money or didnt hand it over fast enough and that is NO DIFFERENT than being in NYC, HOUSTON, MIAMI, LA ect. AND a majority of THOSE killings are in the southern end, bad barrio´s and Solidad.

So the way I see it, as long as I dont piss anyone off to a large degree, my chances of being confonted by violance are no greater than any major U.S. city.

Semper Fidelis !

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 8, 2007, 19:06:

my perspective....National Guard members are representatives of the American government, which doesnt get many Christmas cards sent to them.....as such, if a nutjob wanted to whack a representative of the US government, why not pick one in a uniform......to wear a uniform like that, and a rifle, but with no bullets is just f at cking retarded.....sorry to be blunt, but whoever issued that order should be charged with incompetence........

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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goin_south says on Jul 8, 2007, 20:42:

"Why not just have them carry toy guns?"

Rob, you know alot more than most of us. Most (over 99 %, I'm guessing) people probably wouldn't know those guns are not loaded. I think I'm usually farely well informed, but... I wouldn't have known that. Nor, would I have known about the guys in Colombia.

It's The Image Thing. And, it makes a good impression (or, otherwise) on most of us.

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

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goin_south says on Jul 8, 2007, 20:43:

The Only Gun I would know 'How To Handle', .... is a.... Water Gun.

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

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elmodefoque says on Jul 9, 2007, 04:37:

Guys, let me learn you something about the history of Colombia.
First of all, let me make this perfectly clear (ala Nixon) I love Colombia! north to south, west to east, but we as a people are very different, very different.
Few here have lived Colombia the way I lived it, hard core third world.
I lived in Colombia during an episode call “La Violencia” Over 300 thousand fellow Colombians killed each other. In Barranquilla not one person died due to “La Violencia” we had our normal deaths, alcohol poisoning and 2 guys kicked in the head by jealous burras.
In the last 30 years we been having this ongoing conflict between FARC, ELN, AUC, NARCOS, Colombian soldiers, AND ONCE AGAIN, Barranquilla has been kept outta this mess.
WHY? for the answer I’ll have to go into more details in a new thread, right now I gotta clean up the third and sixth floor men’s room. THANK YOU!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 9, 2007, 08:43:

But, Elmo, what about all thos LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 9, 2007, 08:44:

that i keep reading about from PBH paranoids???? if i visit Colombia, i will CERTAINLY be KILLED, wont I? i mean, afterall, we ARE talking about Colombia here, right?

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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elmodefoque says on Jul 9, 2007, 08:54:

they got lions and bears right outside bogota that will shred your ass into a million little pieces.
just kidding!
listen bogota, cali, medellin are ok, but they're not my cup of tea, my personality is just too damb bubbly.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 9, 2007, 08:57:

Robert Jorge says on Jul 9, 2007, 22:38:

GIB, I'll buy that and it makes sense. (as far as the policy on the plastic pieces being in the chambers) I did not know those Galils were made in Colombia though. I will have to get with my sources. I know for a fact the UZIs - at least the few I saw up close - were made in Israel. I was interested in who the manufacturer was, and it was IMI (Israeli Military Industries). My wife's cousin's ex-novio is a cop, and I occasionally got to hang around cop types in Colombia. Most of the sidearms were old .38 Specials, but of the autos I saw up close, they were also Israeli made. Here in the US, I think they would be referred to as "Baby Eagles". Anyway, they were made by IMI. Never saw a Galil closer than 3 feet away, so I couldn't see the markings / manufacturer.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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