Erik has left 32 comments

Erik comments on Reliable taxi drivers (Bogota/Cartagena) and travel agency (Bogota)

Travel Agency Hola NorwegianMale,

I am sure that our travel agency would be the perfect partner for your travel agency. We are a young (started in 2003) travel agency who organize tours (guided or just transport & hotels) for mostly foreigners here in Colombia.
We can give you that extra service you need (we respond almost always the email between 24 hours) and have a lot of experience in working with foreigners visiting Colombia.

Please have a look at our website and let us know what you think.

Kind regards,

Erik Rupert
DE UNA Colombia Tours
http://www.deunacolombia.com

Erik comments on New website DE UNA Colombia Tours

Job openings As you can read on our website are we always interested in contracting new persons. Look at the following link for more info:
http://www.deunacolombia.com/deuna/join.html

I didn´t know that Santa Rosa has over 80.000 habitants (same as my home town in Holland) but when I am there it feels like a small village to me and hard to believe that 80.000 persons live there...

I like the market a lot over there. If we have the time and opportuntity I always let the tourist walk around in the market, a typical sight of town. The chorizos are also very nice!

Erik comments on Search: Job in Bogota

job opportunity Job opportunity

For the year 2006 DE UNA Colombia Tours is looking for a new employer to put DE UNA Colombia Tours stronger in the international market.
Until now DE UNA Colombia Tours has been run by 2 Dutch travelers and in a very short period they made of DE UNA Colombia Tours an important portal for foreigners to travel in Colombia.

Who are we looking for, somebody:
- with an European nationality
- who can work independently and take initiatives
- who can speak and write at least Spanish,English and another foreign language
- who is willing to live in Colombia
- who has the enthusiasm to come with new ideas
- who has extensive travel experiences
- who has administrative skills

Preferably combined with the following points:
- degree in tourism
- knowledge of Colombia
- traveled in Colombia
- can speak and write languages other than the mentioned above
- experience in guiding

If you think that you are the person we are looking for please write an email to: info at deunacolombia.com with an explanation why we should choose you.

---------------------------
Erik Rupert & Thomas Doyer
DE UNA Colombia Tours
http://www.deunacolombia.com
+57 1 3681915

Erik comments on what to do on a 8-hr layover in el dorado airport, bogota, colombia

City Tour In 8 hours we can give you a nice city tour. Are you alone or with more people?
If your interesred please contact DE UNA Colombia Tours:

info at deunacolombia.com

Erik comments on Yellow Fever Shot a Must for Tayrona?

Yellow Fever With a yellow fever vacination proof you will not be allowed to enter Leticia. Tayrona is a bit different. Oficially the vacination is a must but you can talk to the oficials and most of the time they let you enter if they like your story.
Good luck,
Erik

Erik comments on Barranquilla Carnaval 2006

Carnaval Tour Every year we organize special tours to the Carnaval of Barranquilla and they are a great succes. Contact us at info at deunacolombia.com or take a look at our website www.deunacolombia.com.
Beside this tour we can also help you with a lot of information about Barranquilla and the carnaval.

Erik

Erik comments on travel with kids to colombia how safe is it?

DE UNA Colombia Tours Hola,

Together with my socio (Thomas) I have a travel organization in Bogotá organizing trips and tours in all Colombia. Maybe a nice idea to take a look at our website: www.deunacolombia.com
Besides the tours we offer on this website you can make your own tour by telling us what you want to see in how many time. We know a lot about Colombia and we often work with families.
But it's not only selling tours, we are also a good source of information about what to do and what not, about safety or how to travel with children if you want to go on your own. We'll be happy to help you or answer your questions,

Erik

Erik comments on Trip to Leticia!

flight from medellin to leticia Besides trips to the Amazon we can also arrange flights from Medellin to Leticia. Contact us by email info at deunacolombia.com for more information

Erik

Erik comments on Trekking in El Cocuy

trekking in Cocuy Hola Patka,
I have my own travel agency here in Bogotá, Colombia and we organize frequently trips to Cocuy. It is possible to go trekking on your own but you will probably miss out the nicest places. At this moment it is also winter time in Cocuy which will make the trekking a lot more difficult and even dangerous if you don't know the place.
Have a look on my site about the possibilities and I am sure we can work out a nice tour.
Erik
www.deunacolombia.com

Erik comments on Need advice about mountains & wildlife

Los Nevados & Cocuy Hello Arturo,

I have my own travel agency (DE UNA Colombia Tours) here in Bogota and I organize several trekkings and climbings in NP Los Nevados and El Cocuy in which you can climb several snow tops without previous experience. Especially the ones in Cocuy are very nice.
Check out the site: www.deunacolombia.com for pictures and more info.

Erik

Erik comments on andes travel plans

Los Nevados & Cocuy We (DE UNA Colombia Tours) organize several times a year trekkings to the National Parks of Los Nevados and el Cocuy. I actually just came back from an 8 day trekking in Cocuy and during Semana Santa (Holy week) I will be going on an 8 day trip in Los Nevados.
Check out the site: www.deunacolombia.com for more info and if you want some more info you can find my email on my site.
Cheers
Erik

Erik comments on Top things to do/see in Colombia

My survey 1. Most beautiful beach? - Nuqui
2. Best National Park? El Cocuy
3. Most beautiful small town? Barichara
4. Most beautiful City? Medellin
5. City with best Nightlife? Medellin
6. Best small town? Popayan
7. Number 1 must see tourist attraction? Zona Cafetera (Los Nevados side)
8. Best Hostel/budget accomodation? Casa de Felipe, Taganga
9. Best place for Travel Info? www.deunacolombia.com
10.Best website on Colombia? (not including PBH) www.deunacolombia.com
11.Best book to read on/about/written or based in Colombia? Secreto by Andres Hurtado Garcia
12.Best guide book? Footprint
13.Best Overnight hike? Cocuy
14.Most interesting/beautiful piece of Architecture? Barichara
15.Best Museum? Botero in Bogota
16.Best festival? Carnaval de Barranquilla
17.Best football stadium to watch a game? ... ?
18.Best Market? ....
19.Best Adventure activity?where? (ie scuba in Taganga or Horseriding San Agustin) Trekking in Cocuy
20.Friendliest locals? in los Llanos

Erik comments on Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

More pictures and tours With New Years I was in Cocuy and in March I will walk the same travesia and climb up Pan de Azucar with Pulpito del Diablo and also climb up Ritacuba Blanco.
See pictures and info on tours on my site:
http://www.deunacolombia.com
Cheers, Erik

Erik comments on lonely planet guide(cali)

Cali These are the backpackers guesthouse where you normally share the room with other backpackers. Both are very close to each other and close to la sexta where you can have a good night out. If you are looking for a room for yourself in a normal hotel but with normal prices you can go to Hotel Sartor with rooms for less than 10 dollars. It is in the same neighboorhood.

Erik comments on Is it possible to find a hotel in Barranquilla during Carnaval Feb05

Carnaval Tour Hola,
DE UNA Colombia Tours organizes a special tour during the carnaval de barranquilla. It is a 10 day tour starting in Cartagena and visiting the carnaval de Barranquilla and also Park Tayrona. Included are transport, accomodation, entrance fees and guides. We will show you where to see the carnaval parades and also where the big parties are during the nights.
If you want we can also organize flights from Bogotá to Cartagena.
Have a look on the website for more info: www.deunacolombia.com
Erik

Erik comments on Why not spending New Years in National Park Cocuy?

tours for everyone Desi,
Sure we organize tours for people with different ages and abilities. Btw. 10 km per day in Cocuy is a lot. Trekking in Cocuy is very different from any low level place. Most of the trekking will be above the 4000 m altitude. The backpacks will be around 20 to 25 kilos so that will be too much.
We also organize trekkings in NP los Nevados from Ibaque to Salento which takes approx. 3 days and might be interesting. Or we have shorter tours of 1 day close by Bogotá whih are also very interesting.
Or climbing Tolima might be an option which we are organizing in January. We have made it a 4 day tour so that more people are able to get to the top. It is also possible in just 2 and half days.
Write me on: erik at deunacolombia.com for more info.

Regards Erik

Erik comments on Why not spending New Years in National Park Cocuy?

Tolima in January ixent:
I am organizing to climb Tolima in the weekend of 7 to 10 January. I have been there a few times my self and it is an very beautiful and rewarding climb. If anybody is interested to jopin, just let me know. We will arrange everything, from transportation to equipment for climbing in the snow.

Gorgonabob: Sorry I will charge for the trekking. I am organizing this as well for Colombians around Bogota and I will take people who never have been to Cocuy before. Short trekkings can be done on your own but the one I am planning to do is adviced to have a guide. So I charge a little bit just for the transportation, the entrance fees, the nights in Cocuy and ofcourse the guiding.
All you have to pay for is your own food.

Erik comments on

Many things to do I have been here in colombia for almost a year and there are soo much things I still want to do and see. If you are a bit of an outdoor type there are loads of things to. It happens that I organize many one to multiple day tours around Bogota, enough to keep you busy every weekend till mid next year.
For example I am organizing for this weekend a rafting and rappel tour in Tobia for 2 days.
Other places we will visit sooon are: chicaque, tatacoita, Iguaque, Nevado del tolima and also for the real outdoors a 7 day trekking in NP Cocuy during the end of the year and the beginning of next year.
Have look on my site for some more ideas!!!
www.deunacolombia.com
cheers,
Erik
315 610 4986

Erik comments on Traveling from Bogota' to Risaralda or "coffee park" (Panaca)

Panaca and Park National del Cafe While travelling in Colombia for some time I was told by many Colombians that I should visit Park national del Cafe and so I did unfortunately.
I thought it would be mostly about the famous colombian coffee but it was nothing more than a child park which can be fun if you have childeren or if you are a child yourself but for my part I didn't know how fast I could get out of there after paying the huge entrance fees.
I think Panaca is even worse. It looks like a big animal farm which is made for families with kids... Colombians love it ofcourse but for me there are defenitely more highlights thats really vale la pena. In Armenia you have the butterfly park and park the bioversidad and just out side Salento you have Valle de Cocora which is just stunning. Beautiful for a day out just to enjoy the scenery or go walking or horseriding.
Colombia has so much more to offer but the problem is that most people don't know the country, not even Colombians....
For the ones who are interested to see things in Colombia that really vale la pena check out my site:
www.deunacolombia.com
I am happy to guide people around or give them good advices!!
Cheers,
Erik

Erik comments on More tourist visa questions..... plus a rant

6 month tourist visa When you have extended your tourist visa up to 6 months in a year you will have to leave the country before it expires and are not allowed to return to Colombia in the same year. Your can make another six months starting from the first of January in the next month. The legal fee for staying longer than your visa gives is 100 minimum salaries which is still payable but the problem will be when you want to aply fotr a different visa than a toursit because they will ask you if you have stayed illegal in the country. No matter what your answer is they will find out anyway.
My advise is stay 6 months as a tourist and leave and come back with a job visa (english teacher) or come back in the new calender year.
Cheers,
Erik
www.deunacolombia.com

Erik comments on DE UNA COLOMBIA TOURS

thanx ColombianoX I am the co-owner of DE UNA Colombia Tours and thanx ColombianoX for telling about our website and services. We try to bring more foreigners to Colombia and to show the nice places we know and show them why we like Colombia so much.
Erik

Erik comments on Juanchaco y Ladrilleros

Nuquí Thanks mariposa for your comment on my site. It soon will have loads of more info and also a spanish version. After ladrilleros I went to check out Nuquí and I really liked the place. It is another paradise in Colombia and had a great time. I stayed in a very comfortable lodge/resort or whatever you want to call it about 40 minutes with lanch from Nuqui. It's situated on a very nice beach, close to waterfalls, thermales, isolated beaches. On the 2nd day I saw whales and dolphins close to the beach and a boa constrictor of 3 meters was just below the comedor at the same night. Really beautiful place and highly recommended. I will be organizing trips to this place so if you are interested you know how to find me.
good luck.

Erik comments on Juanchaco y Ladrilleros

Ladrilleros is the better one if you looking for a nice place to stay. I was there just 2 weeks ago and stayed in a very nice hotel which arrange very nice ecological tours. I also know a nice cañan with a few rooms close to the beach which you can rent in total. This should be the reason to go there as there isn't much in Juanchaco or Ladrilleros.
I have good contacts with the hotel in Ladrilleros and if you want I can give you some more info.
Erik Rupert
DE UNA Colombia Tours
ww.deunacolombia.com

Erik comments on Opening a Business in Colombia

Starting a new business I have just started my new business in Colombia: DE UNA Colombia Tours (www.deunacolombia.com). Everything is oficial and i am paying my taxes. I just got back from Ecuador where I aplied for my visa de socios and now I am back in Colombia. If you want to start your own business it will need a lot of paperwork and effort but it is possible.
You can email me if you have some questions.
Erik

Erik comments on Traveling there...

DE UNA Colombia Tours Check also out my website: www.deunacolombia.com with lots of info about Colombia and if you would like to join a tour, just let me know.
Erik

Erik comments on Tourist visa running out

it's worse I just got back in Colombia (from Ecuador) but they only gave me 30 days as I already have been 5 months in the country this year. I have been to the DAS and Ministerio Relaciones Exteriores and they told me that I only can stay 180 days a year in Colombia as a tourists which is obviously too short. I have thought to stay illegal in Colombia and just pay the fine when i want to leave but because i will be traveling a lot (as a guide) this seems impossible too.
Marrying sounds like the best option but I will pass that one. Although I really like Colombia and the people, I don't see myself marrying one, not even for the sake of my business.
I hope there is another way......

Erik comments on Santa Marta

Santa Marta In February I was in Santa Marta for about 2 weeks. I spend some time in Tayrona, Taganga and Ciudad Perdida (in Sierra Nevada de SM) and I was interested in a tour to the nevadas in the mountain range.
Tayrona, Taganga and Ciudad Perdida are perfectly safe and Ciudad perdida and tayrona are great for nature lovers and you can see some nice birds in Tayrona.
I didn't go trekking in the sierra Nevada de SM because of the security. There are many guerrillas in the parc because of the coca fields and the indians who still live in the area don't like foreigners on their land.
I did a bit of investigations and as far as I know is Turcol (located in SM) the only organization that overs a tour in Sierra Nevada de SM and it's a 12 day tour with high costs. This would be the only safe option to go.
Why don't you go to PN Los Nevados, where there are beautiful places to visit with lots of special birds and nature.
I will be going back to Colombia soon to offer some tours to foreigenrs and I have a lot more info if you need it.
Have fun,
Erik

Erik comments on Traveling in Colombia

Thanks for the great comments and the recommendation to other people.
While I have already seen a lot of parts of Colombia there are still some places missing like the area around Manizales. Thanks for the advice. I really like the area around Los Nevados (I have seen the areas around Ibaqué, Armenia and Pereira and they were very nice).
Yes the ferias is a good idea, there are some very nice ones in Colombia and if possible I will include them in my tours.
I hope to see you in Colombia.
Erik

Erik comments on Travel by road from Quito to Popayon?

Nice places to stop I did the same in December last year. Had no problems at all but this road has a reputation that isn't that good. Just travel during the day which is safest and there are many nice place on the road to stop for a few days. (Ipiales - Las lajas, Pasto - La Cocha and also many nice places in Ecuador).
See for more info my site.
www.backpackingforlife.com/southamerica

Erik comments on Climbing Tolima

Tours in Colombia Hey Thomas,
sorry for the late reply but I don't check the forums so much. Are you already in the country?
One guy who went with us to climb tolima was a guide: Carlos who I mentioned above. The equipment was hired and arranged by the same guide.
Rock climbing in Suesca was my first time rock climbing and it wasn't a big success as I twisted my knee big time.
Volcan purace (the one close to Cali) is an interesting climb and not to difficult. When I was there in December the area was safe enough to go climbing. If the weather will be good I will do the climb in about one or 2 weeks when I will be there again.
Don't worry too much about the guerrilla and paramilitairs, there are enough nice areas to go to without them spoiling the fun.
At the moment I am organizing tours in Colombia. Have a look at my site and let me know if you find something interesting.
www.backpackingforlife.com/colombia
Seeya

Erik

Erik comments on Climbing Tolima

Hey Thomas Tolima was awesome!! Shot some great pictures and they can be seen on my site: www.backpackingforlife.com/southamerica
In the off the beaten track section you can read all the details including a map about how to climb Tolima and other mountains or trekkings.
I am sure you will like my pictures I shot in PN el Cocuy too!
I really like to get into the mountains but unfortunately this is also mostly the area of the guerrilla. Tolima is safe enough though and so is Volcan Puracé if you want to climb it. PN Nevada del Huila sounds great but I considered it a no go area.
You need to contact Carlos Avellaneda from the Caminantes del Retorno group in Bogota. Check their website for more details: travel.to/retorno
Good luck and get into the mountains!
Erik

Erik comments on Backpacking in COlombia good website

Thanks I am glad you liked my website and the pictures.
I am now in Taganga and was hoping to do some trekking in Sierra Nevada de SM to the laguna just below pico colon. There is an interesting trek for a few days to make but I am not sure yet if it is possible (because of the locals) and the costs maybe also too high.
If any of you has some more info on this subject, it would be greatly appriciated.
Any other advice about hidden treasures in Colombia is welcome too!
Best of luck,
Erik