Santa Marta safe ????

Nucknfuts says on Aug 4, 2006, 18:54:

You are never lost,
unless You are never lost,
unless you don't want to be where your at.

You are never lost, unless you don't want to be where your at.

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Gator says on Aug 4, 2006, 19:03:

We Go frequently and have never had problems. El Rodadero is very safe-parts of Santa Marta, especially out towards the bus terminal, should be avoided as should the beachfront late at night.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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bufalo says on Aug 4, 2006, 20:35:

From what I see from the fellow gringos posting on this site, Santa Marta is WAY different from what I knew it to be. I left four years ago, and a lot of the negative stuff doesn't happen any more, not that it was the wild west or anything. When I describe what I used to see to newbies there, they look at me like I'm making stuff up. I used to hang out on the beachfront all night long and found it ok, but I also knew all the derelicts (and they liked me). Bus terminal? They have a bus terminal now?

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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vladimiro says on Aug 4, 2006, 23:12:

santa marta I have only been to Santa Marta for a week, but it seemed to me when I was there a few weeks ago unsually free of poor people and beggers/vendors for a Colombian city(Radadero the turist area). It seemed like they had cleared them out.

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aztec says on Aug 5, 2006, 04:27:

I was there... ...10 years ago and it was not safe. You were restricted to certain areas of the beach during the day. Was unwise to go to town at night.

This may have been during the period when part of Colombia was ceded to FARK. Perhaps things have improved with the new President.

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untreated says on Aug 5, 2006, 08:17:

Very safe I've lived here for more then 30 years, I kid you not.

I'm leaving tomorrow on a trip to the USA, I'll be posting about it next week from Texas.

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Gator says on Aug 5, 2006, 08:22:

bufalo the terminal is not really that "new" and it's out on the Troncal Caribe(Av del Ferrocarril)I am talking of areas like Nueva Granada, Juan 23, Oliivo.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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dave_travels says on Aug 5, 2006, 08:41:

Also Blonde and 6'3" and had no problems I am also Blonde and 6'3" and had no problems. I have been there three times in the 9 months. Absolutely no problems. However, my bedtime is usually 10:30pm so I do not know what happens after that. I did see something strange from my hotel room in June (in Rodadero)at 4 AM when a group of 20+ people were following and surrounding a foreigner who was with a hooker. So I assume if you are not walking with a hooker you might be ok.

One can take Puerta y Puerta service from Barranquilla or Cartagena to Santa Marta and it is safe. The road between Barranquilla and Santa Marta is safe because it runs along a narrow isthmus. One would have to be amphibious to escape after committing a crime on this road. The puerta y puerta services all have radios and are in contact with each other.

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Peter (Moderator) says on Aug 5, 2006, 11:21:

Santa Marta and Taganga have always been considered pretty damn safe, there are a lot of travellers there etc.

As for the 'surrounding area', if you go WAY into the mountain and off the beaten path, you should be more careful, since that is paramilitary territory and marihuana and coke are grown there historically.

Poor but snappy

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Nucknfuts says on Aug 5, 2006, 12:17:

Thank you all for the info. It is vary much appreciated.
ALSO

You are never lost, unless you don't want to be where your at.

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platano says on Aug 5, 2006, 13:38:

Nucknfuts... Irotama is dangerous. I spent a week there. Then I paid for a few extra days...
Here's why it is dangerous: I didn't want to leave. And the chefs make delicious food and it's all you can eat... very dangerous!plátano

plátano

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Gator says on Aug 5, 2006, 20:24:

While there is no real problem with the Irotama other than the price-expensive and locaton some what out of town. Try the Sorrento or the Cañaveral

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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rjstuff says on Aug 6, 2006, 11:05:

Just came back in July We spent a week in Santa Marta - stayed in an apt building right on the beach - about $60 a night (150,000 pesos.) Most locals will be able to get you into an apt right on the beachh - the one we stayed in was called 'Santa Maria' I think. I am not sure if you arrived on your own and talked to them if they will get you one on the spot or not.
Rodadero is very safe and we spent 2 days on the beach there, you can take a boat ride to Playa Blanca (20 minutes) or go to Playa Crystal or Tayrona (We will do those next time.)
We used 'Invertours' for going from Barranquila to Santa Marta. They will pick you up from your home/hotel and drop you at your home/hotel for about $25 for 2 people!
It was hot and humid but I liked Santa Marta more than Cartagena. have Fun

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capitan1962 says on Aug 6, 2006, 18:43:

Cartagena is soon to be overflowing with loudmouth gringos. Apparently the owners of the Hotel Del Rey in San Jose, Costa Rica are going to set up shop in Cartagena. The Hotel Del Rey is a big overpriced whorehouse so all of the Costa Rica morons will be adding Cartagena to their program. All the more reason to stay away from Cartagena as the jerk brigade will be arriving by the plane load. Probably soon to be a daily direct flight from Houston to accomodate these pricks.

My wife is from Cartagena but we will be living in Santa Marta.

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bufalo says on Aug 7, 2006, 19:39:

60 bucks a night!!!??? Holy shit but Santa Marta got expensive.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Rubiazo says on Aug 8, 2006, 02:05:

The Del Rey Isn't that like shooting itself in the foot? A good many of those girls come over from Colombia in the first place! Plus I don't see how they could charge those rates in Colombia, unless Cartagena is a LOT pricier a place than Bogota.

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rjstuff says on Aug 8, 2006, 09:21:

$60 a night for a 2 bedrom apt. bufalo I should have stated that. Don't know the rates for one bedroom. My wife's niece came with us so the 2 bedroom workd out good - though we stayed on the beach or out of the apt most of the times.

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bufalo says on Aug 8, 2006, 11:26:

Actually it probably is an ok deal. I always stayed with friends, so it was different. Tourism is also really up all over, so it is to be expected. If I was captain1962, I'd choose SM as well. All the years I was going there, I almost never saw another gringo, but now I here plenty are going. Here in Armenia I see a lot too, maybe time to move on once Fidel is buried.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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