Travelling by bus - security question

shirly1981 says on Jul 6, 2005, 12:34:

let me think about it............ I know the situation in my country is getting better but we still have problems, you are a very lucky guy if you havent seen any problem when travelling. But if you wanna take a 4 year tour around the colombian jungle go take a bus good luck..........

Sophia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 6, 2005, 12:56:

Travelling I go to Cali at least 5 times a year and another 5 to Bucaramanga, plus once or twice up to Cartagena. Never seen a problem except the odd traffic accident. Maybe I am also very lucky, or maybe I live here and I know where to go and where not to go. But anyhow if you want real advice on foreigners travelling by bus go to the Lonely Planet forum, there is plenty of real advice there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RUV says on Jul 6, 2005, 13:01:

How is the travel by bus from Medellin to Bogota and back?

1) Is it safe?
2) How long does it take?
3) Cost?
4) Where do I take the bus?

Thanks,

0 funny, 0 helpful.

DCShoeCo says on Jul 6, 2005, 15:05:

Bullshit How was it bad enough GringoinBogota? Did something actually happen?

To the original poster, it's fine to take the bus to Ibague. For fuck's sake, stop reading what the idiots post on here.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter Miami says on Jul 6, 2005, 15:19:

Anders DCShoeCo;

I believe GringoinBogota know a lot more than you do. If you want to use foul language use it some were else and do you know everyone’s experiences?

For the rest of people on this forum I wrote this before.

Here is a altercation that happen to me so that you can understand about public transportation. I agree if you need to go long distance by all means fly i.e. Cali to Santa Marta. But there are times that you do not want to go from point A to point B you want to go to point C, D, E, F and so forth. Another thing with going in a plane or bus once you are in that city you need to pay for taxis and or public buses to get around and if you are there for a while two three weeks it adds up paying for all those taxis. I myself do not have any problems with money what I am concern if anything is my security. Here is a private message I sent to “kernow62� relating something that happen to me and what the police and military told me this happen in August 2003.
“Because of some stories I have heard also I once took a bus from Buga to Tulua which is relative a safe area and it is. I took a bus to Tulua because someone was picking me up there. Buga is a small town about an hour north of Cali and Tulua is 10 to 15 mintues north of Buga. I got on the bus with a luggage when I got out in Tulua three guys tried to steal my luggage and also tried to take me hostage. Since I look American I guess I looked stupid to them. They had a gun but I attacked them quicker than they could react. I kick their ass and while they where down on the ground I ran to the shopping mall (El Ley) that was about two block away. As soon as I got there I explain it to the police and military and they told me that as an American I should not take public transportation meaning all types of buses they told me to stick to cars or taxis. The three guys were short and skinny and I still can not believe they tried to take me on as I am pretty big I am an ex-marine and I am pretty strong I work out a lot. So if this happen from some small time tugs think what a well organize group with more guns could have done to me.�

Check this out for more opinions:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/11079



Peter Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 6, 2005, 16:39:

Clarification Just a little clarification on the incident in La Linea. First of all there have been two incidents of the same kind. Second there was no road block. It was actually some guerrilla guys dressed as civilians who ambushed a police car as it drove by. So what is the reasoning behind it, as the linea is very heavily guarded, especially with undercover army many of them in taxis and regular cars, they were just waiting for a police car to drive by to make it to the news. What is the difference, well big one because one thing is stopping the road checking the cars, kidnapping people and fleeing which they can´t due to the heavy surveilance of that road and another one is walking like locals, creating chaos and then walking like locals again. Terrorism is called, it is a tactic used by some to portray a distorted image and convey a sense of insecurity especially to those more vulnerable and ignorant.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Dan says on Jul 6, 2005, 16:41:

The only bus ride I've done in that direction to is between Bogota - Melgar and then to Girardot and back. I've been to Girardot twice (very briefly) and mostly to Melgar. I have not had any problems, but like mentioned already, there is a lot of remote roads along with a few small towns along the way. The only other direction I've been to is toward Chia. Not too bad either.

God Bless America!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter Miami says on Jul 6, 2005, 18:53:

GIB Thank GIB some of these people should stop and think before writing. They write from their little experiences they can not believe that there are many more things that happen outside their personal space.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Jul 6, 2005, 18:59:

I have only taken a bus from calle 127 to calle 26...*rolls eyes* I agree with previous posters, some routes are dangerous and one has to bear in mind not everything comes out in the news...so Id rather be paranoid than sorry. But then again I am sure a lot of people arrive safely to their destinations...Im not bashing or anything, I am just saying its better to be safe than sorry and even though Colombia is a great place to live in, visit and tour, one cant just pretend things do not happen.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gorgonabob says on Jul 6, 2005, 21:19:

if you want to have some fun take the bus from medellin - quibdo - tado - pereira

now thats a rocking bus trip.. you want it that bus rides got it..

id travel anywhere by bus in colombia... if your times up its up.
just do it

0 funny, 0 helpful.

europeantraveler says on Jul 7, 2005, 02:21:

I'd just like to note that the article posted by GIB is from November 2004. That said, incidents like that can happen again anytime, but I wouldn't consider La Línea between Ibagué and Armenia the most dangerous strecth of road in Colombia - it's heavily guarded and there is usually lots of traffic.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

europeantraveler says on Jul 7, 2005, 06:14:

I certainly agree about the danger from road accidents. That is far more likely than encountering guerilla roadblocks, especially on a road like Bogotá-Ibagué-Armenia, which has heavy truck and bus traffic, complete with lots of nice blind curves and steep drop-offs. I believe 25 people were killed throughout Colombia this past holiday weekend in traffic accidents. And like I said, roadblocks by illegal groups happen in Colombia, but they would certainly make the news if they happened on a major road like Bogotá-Ibagué-Armenia (I'm talking about it making the local Spanish-language news).

Back to the original question: From my experience a bus trip on the Bogotá-Ibagué-Armenia road is just as safe (or dangerous) as the other trips between Cali and Medellín that you've already taken.

To RUV: I've got no experience on the Bogotá-Medellín road, although I've heard that it's supposed to be more vulnerable to attack by the various armed groups.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 7, 2005, 06:46:

GIB I get my information from the National Police and the Road Police, you can just dial up from your mobile and ask *767, I do everytime I travel plus my company gets a permanent report on the state of the roads and all the events that happen here. It is part of the security of any company in Colombia. I do not rely from the news on the China Daily Star for Colombian news. But suit yourself, believe what you want and if things are so dangerous what are you still doing around here? You love telling people how dangerous things are so that they realize what a bad ass person you are to stay in this danger. Like I have told you before don´t put yourself at risk, there is a flight at noon for Miami you can still catch, you are one gringo I know for sure Bogota is not going to miss.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

carter says on Jul 7, 2005, 11:33:

My view Lived here for over 18 months half as a backpacker and half running a guesthouse. I have always travelled by bus and met Thousands of other backpackers in Colombia mainly travelling by bus (some by bike)

In all my time here I have NOT MET ONE backpacker or heard of ONE backpacker who has been kidnapped from a bus. In fact other than the lost City kidnappings not ONE backpacker has been kidnapped or killed in this country for years.

Im not saying it is 100% safe but you would be the FIRST foriegn backpacker to be kidnapped off a bus (pretty unlucky).

I would love for someone to backtrack and find the last reported case all I can think of is the butterfly collectors in the Darien Gp.

As for accidents this is a bigger concern but I rate the risk of accident here lower than other Sth American Countries.

People don't believe this backpacking community exists Im not sure why, maybe it will take something away from the sense of adventure they feel living here. They like to believe only an ex US military can survive in Colombia.

You've been here before and travelled by bus. The line your taking is travelled daily by foriegners and is as safe as the lines you´ve taken in the past.

If you need any travel advice send me a private email. I suggest you talk to backpackers about backpacking in the country. I also recomend the lonely planet website as you will meet more people there who have done it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caslug says on Jul 7, 2005, 11:38:

GIB.. I think it would helpful.. if you could list the time and place for your encounters or at least the general area. It would help traveller get an understand if a particular area is MORE risky than normal.. ie, attempted mugging 3AM, outside parque bolivar, etc.,

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vicshere says on Jul 7, 2005, 11:47:

GB
I think you need to go back to the US where the roads are clear and free for you to drive your merry little way...and where forces of nature don't affect you little life or the road you drive on.... unbelievable blaming the president of the country for a landside...... but that's common place for people who don't understand the world and how it works.... the world spins and doesn't stop for the individual to get off and on....

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lfsr1544 says on Jul 7, 2005, 12:02:

You must be really fortunate to be such a burly big man that can take on several people at once and kick their ***. But I don't think I've heard of someone being so unlucky as to be the target so many times as mr. gringoinbogota. Funny, how I've been with my not so burly, white wife to Colombia so many times and haven't experienced such horrible actions against our lives. So as another poster said, why stay there, unless you get some joy out of telling these stories, that of ocurse no one can prove. IloveSensationalismgringo should be your new name.

Better yet, why not go to a nation where there are so many gringo's like yourself and you can blend in....like let's say England...

"LONDON - Four blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday, sending bloodied victims fleeing in the worst attack on London since World War II.

Thirty-seven people were confirmed killed, and more than 700 were wounded in the terror attacks, which a shaken Prime Minister Tony Blair called “barbaric� and blamed on Islamic militants. "

maybe not...looks like there is no safe haven for gringo's anymore.

"Solo se que nada se"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Jul 7, 2005, 12:21:

I'd expect That we'd be told how it is possible to sit in the corner seats at the back of the bus and survive suicide bombers. Suicide bombers always sit towards the front and not much past the middle of the bus,, you should NEVER let your guard down.

Most don't know this,,, but with my vast experience (almost blown up once) I'll share. WoW,, lucky,, thought siting in the front was best so I could jump out the door.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jul 7, 2005, 12:28:

GIB, you are absolutely right. My wife would corroborate everything you say and so would her friends and family. Sure, she and my 3 step children can take the buses everywhere. They look like a bunch of Colombians which is what they are. They'll let me take the bus in areas that they know are safe but if there is any doubt, they err on the side of caution. Of course you get slammed non-stop here but out in the real world, it's good advice.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Jul 7, 2005, 13:17:

Colombia is dangerous Especially for the chickens. Roosters last longer.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

DCShoeCo says on Jul 7, 2005, 15:59:

Fear Mongering GIB, the original poster was asking about the bus route between Bogota and Ibague, which is indeed safe. That´s good for you that you live here, so do I.

Peter Miami, are you a moderator? Kiss my ass.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

quindioman says on Jul 9, 2005, 05:41:

anders if you have travelled to colombia before and have taken bus rides as you mentioned then Bogota-ibague should not pose too much of a problem.....i believe the hazardous part of "la linea" is between my city Armenia and Ibague.....good luck anders...

0 funny, 0 helpful.