The myth of traveling by bus

juancegomez says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:09:

Unless it's absolutely necessary and/or the bus is travelling on specific "safe" roads and/or as part of a wider, protected "caravan" towards popular destinations (usually during holiday seasons)...I still wouldn't recommend it, most of the time, because it continues to be potentially dangerous. Even though safety has certainly increased a bit, it's far from assured, so it's partially up to your luck.

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MacGringo says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:18:

GIB,
I know that nowhere can be enirely classed as safe, but what is the general current opinion on the bus route from Bogota to Manizales?

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megs622 says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:32:

yes, I thought the same thing!! I myself, being foreign, and female, don't recommend it! BUT, I thought it would be nice to see the countryside on the way to the beaches!!! And it is sad that it still is unsafe because this country is beautiful and travelling by bus would be a great way to see it!

I just know one friend that went from Bogotá to Calí by bus. He said it sucked but not dangerous.

But yes, If I did this too, I would be sure to catch hell from everyone I know! -lol

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MacGringo says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:33:

HAHAHAHA!
Cheers, thank your friend for me. This made me laugh.

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Gator says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:35:

I, Personally,... would have no problem with a bus from Bogotá to Manizales, about 300 km, road is good, eight hours+-. If I was going to say Popayán, San Agustín, Cúcuta, or just about anywhere in the Departmentos de Choco,Narino, Putumayo, Vaupes, Meta, Caqueta or parts of Anti0quia, Cordoba. I would think long and hard. If you are going to the coast, I assume Cartagena or Santa Marta, FLY. Just to damn far and long by bus

Remember, hundreds of thousands of Colombians, and some gringos, ride the buses everyday with no problems.

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

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MacGringo says on Oct 9, 2005, 13:37:

Its possible that I'll be doing the trip with some Colombians, so when I think about it it should be OK or they wouldn't travel this route.

Thanks

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MacGringo says on Oct 9, 2005, 14:09:

Cheers, I'll be sure and do the journey with one of these companies if I need to.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 9, 2005, 14:35:

It's extremely subjective I say this all the time, but your biggest danger travelling by bus in Colombia is of dying when your bus plummets off a huge cliff or smashes head on into another bus. However, this danger is the same practically anywhere in latin america, so I assume you're talking about the odds of running into a FARC or ELN roadblock. You don't hear a lot about that happening anymore, but I will say that a Colombian friend of mine was on a bus recently that was stopped by the FARC and they came on and checked everyone out pretty thoroughly. He, as he said, put on his best campesino imitation and got through just fine. The result might have been different if an obvious gringo had been on that same bus.

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MacGringo says on Oct 9, 2005, 14:40:

And I'm the most obvious gringo you're ever gonna meet.....lol

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litost says on Oct 9, 2005, 16:56:

Hollywood, could you let us know what route your friend's bus was doing?

As far as my own personal experience, as a colombian/american citizen, I've travelled over the last 7 years dozens of times between Bogota and the Coffee Region, and not a single security problem. This is including many night buses as well, but for a little extra security and for the benefit of seeing the countryside I recommend an early day trip on Bolivariano. To be fair however, there was a friend of mine like 4 years ago whose bus was robbed by common thieves on a night trip between Bogota and Manizales.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 9, 2005, 17:43:

I don't know the exact route but it was somewhere pretty remote. My friend does outreach work for a Colombian government agency that deals with a lot of rural areas, so probably not a major road.

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carter says on Oct 10, 2005, 11:09:

You would be the first foriegn traveller kidnapped or killed on a bus in 5 years (and this was up near Choco). So you would be very unlucky if you take into account how many backpackers are travelling by bus daily.

I have taken that bus and many others within the country and say that your biggest danger is of the bus having an accident.

People talk as is if no foriegners ever catch buses but over the past 2 years tourism has greatly increased and all the backpackers are bussing it with very few problems.

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Rubiazo says on Oct 10, 2005, 19:59:

I'd feel less safe in a car First off, you are MUCH more likely to be killed in a car accident than in a bus accident. Any statistic you care to peruse will back this up.
Secondly, if there does happen to be a roadblock, they can see right through the windshield and if you look like a foreigner in a car it won't be any different than when you are on a bus. Lastly, although somebody on the bus could possibly call somebody with their cellphone, if you are driving you are going to have to stop SOMEWHERE at least to take a piss. What is to stop those people from calling somebody after seeing you, noting your description and license plate # etc?
To me, it is between the bus and flying. If you take Bolivariano make sure you get the best level of service. Intercity buses in Colombia seem to range from way better than the best buses in the US right down to way worse! The highest level of service, with seats that go back far enough to comfortably sleep in, bathrooms, good sound systems etc, is still very economical.
GIB, do rural drivers in Colombia drive with their lights out at night like they do in other parts of Latin America?

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carter says on Oct 12, 2005, 09:40:

id go with Rubiazo Busses are safer than cars. If you were a Guerilla trying to find someone with cash would you stop the bus or a 4wd?

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Gator says on Oct 12, 2005, 10:10:

carter.... a point I often make. Who would want to kidnap the average gringo? Hell, it would cost more to feed him after he was captured..

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

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carter says on Oct 12, 2005, 13:30:

some people think that the FARC and ELN are extremely stupid and just grab random people off busses thinking they are loaded because of the country printed on there passport.

Other people realise that the FARC and ELN are very well organised groups with intelligent leaders who actually put alot of planning into kidnappings and haven't got rich wasting there time kidnapping backpackers to steal there dirty underwear and a $300 camera.

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kernow62 says on Oct 12, 2005, 14:27:

Wow, that's a load off my mind Carter. I can start wearing underwear again when I visit Colombia.

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carter says on Oct 12, 2005, 14:35:

You need underwear Kernow for everytime you read one of GIBs or G5s posts and shit your pants in fear of whats waiting around the corner in Bogota

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CuriosJoe says on Oct 12, 2005, 14:39:

Cartagena to Barranquilla - bus - safe? Hello, is there a chance of a roadblock if I took a taxi or a bus with 3 other gringos to and from Cartagena to Barranquilla? I mean, I know that FARC won't kidnap every single tourist, but I would still rather not be in a situation involving being checked thoroughly by a FARC member :-)

Thanks for the info.

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carter says on Oct 12, 2005, 14:44:

there is a small chance but the chances of them taking you would make you the first traveller kidnapped or killed from a bus in the past 5 years.

Unless of course you are here working for an oil company,government, military or are a journalist and have papers on you stating this.

Id say around 5+ foriegners would travel this road safely by bus each day.

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juanalejo says on Oct 12, 2005, 14:53:

Carter & San Gil Carter, did you see CNNenespañol over the weekend? The program "Destinos" had a half hour special on San Gil. Very nice to see promotion of this type of the country, but then again I would have to think that all the CNN people flew straight from Atlanta to San Gil International Airport to avoid all the dangers on Colombian rural roads.

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Hunter says on Oct 12, 2005, 15:19:

Ctg to Baq by bus is safe in the daytime.

Hunter

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Gator says on Oct 12, 2005, 19:40:

I Agree.. with Sr. Hunter. NO problem with the Barranquilla/Cartagena bus in the day time.

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

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CuriosJoe says on Oct 13, 2005, 05:48:

thanks Ok thanks all. How long is the drive? Will flight be faster? Been to CTG before, maybe will check out Barranquilla this time for a day or two. Though it will be La Reinada week, will probably be smart thing to do to stick aroudn Cartagena this time around as well ;)

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Hunter says on Oct 13, 2005, 07:04:

By car Ctg to Baq was about 2 hours.

So by plane would take longer after messing around at both airports.

Never been by bus.

Hunter

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megs622 says on Oct 13, 2005, 10:47:

thanks for all the replies!!! I will have to think about this still. I still have mixed feelings. I want to believe it is safe by day but still worried about the dangers..... But I have plenty of time here to make a bus trip or not!!

But another question:

What are the "safe" routes from Bogota?? To which cities?

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carlos1102 says on Oct 13, 2005, 15:55:

travel by bus I have travel many times by bus in colombia and it is very safe there is a lot of police on the roads. the buses are very good. it those not matter if you are from the usa or europe or any where. why it will be more dangerous if you are from the usa?.

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carter says on Oct 14, 2005, 09:17:

Juanalego San Gil Tourist capital of the world.

We always get documentary teams coming here but Ive never seen any of the documentaries. Ohhh wait i don't own a TV maybe the problem.

Quite a few of these film crews do come directly to San Gil via Bogota o Bucaramanga. But why waste your time anywhere else in this country its a shit hole and bloody dangerous. Santander is the only place worth visiting.

Barichara festival this weekend followed by the San Gil festival on the 5-7 November. Unfotunatly i will be in Australia for the month. boooo. damn family weddings.

went to a nice spot near Mogotes, Its a hole 100m deep that leads to some caves and is about 30m across. Inside the climate is quite unique and it is filled with tropical plants. at 4am everyday and 6:30pm every night thousands of Parrots swarm in and out and its quite beautiful. Also some really nice waterfalls in the area. Im planning on setting it up as a mountain bike 2 day tour for my clientes.

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