PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Santa Marta tourism with the slightly nervous parents

I am a 26-year old American teaching English in Medellin, but am having my parents come visit me for a 10 day period with hopes of 3-4 days in the Santa Marta surrounding area. Does anyone have any good suggestions for beautiful beaches or nature hikes in that area that won't be particularly expensive and more importantly dangerous for a family of obvious Gringos? We had discussed maybe renting a car to give us more flexibility. . . more or less dangerous than the buses? Also, if anyone has any more adventurous suggestions for my two buddies and I who are far less sketched about safety and more into surfing and burly hikes I would be interested to hear about them as well.

When I was here last year I know Parque Tayrona was closed due to yellow fever. . . are they allowing people to enter again? Is it "vale la pena"? Still a danger for Americans to get off the beaten path or has the Guerilla died down a bit in the area? Can one safely cross the border to Venezuela by land (destination Merida)from the North east coastal area?

Thanks for any info, and I will provide info for anyone wanting to know the ins and outs of life in the land of eternal spring, Medellin.

Jesse

By Jesse on Jun 29, 2005, 10:34 in Visa & paperwork.

camilo says on Jun 29, 2005, 12:46:

Well, for that kind of trip you should go to MACANCANA,you can ask about it in sta marta or in el rodadero, that is a new, park for hiking and all kind of extreme sports, but it is also a natural park. otherwise, you can go to el Parque Tayrona wich is opened again and have beautiful beaches (arrecifes), and long hikes. Also if you get more adventourer, you can go up the Sierra nevada to Ciudad Perdida, and incredible indigenous town up the mountain, ask for it in santa marta or el rodadero. If you want to see some pictures of a recent diving trip there go to, kodakgallery.com, user:camilocardozo at yahoo.com, password:777tobias, and go to see all albums. ahope I could help

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Jun 29, 2005, 14:19:

Ciudad Perdida Is the three-day trek into the mountains any more safe now than when a group was kidnapped a couple of years ago doing the same thing?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

camilo says on Jun 30, 2005, 07:24:

Nothing has happened in a while so i can say i does, but the best is to ask the autorithies by the time you are there.

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