Colombia Trip

[horsa]

Bogota flight booked in January from Heathrow for 3 weeks. Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena and Santa Marta/Cali are the places I plan to visit but haven't worked out which order or how long to stay in each place. My Spanish is coming along nicely and will improve even more between now and departure 

[Almuerzo]

Buena suerte con eso mi amigo 

I’d like to visit Colombia myself someday, but first I’d like to visit Brazil as I’ve heard very good things about the quality of ladies they have there. I’ll probably visit Brazil then Mexico and then Colombia last 

[horsa]

is 3 weeks really enough time? I either extend my time by another week or visit less places

[Vivago]

If I were you, I'd drop either Bogota or Cartagena. The chicas are still just as hot in both places, but unless you are determined to pack your bucket and spade, Cartagena gets annoying with it's wall to wall hustlers and Bogota is too cold (I went in November/December which is maybe the coolest months). I'd spend longer in Medellin with it's beautiful chicas) or Call which I haven't visited yet but have heard great things of.

[horsa]

If I were you, I'd drop either Bogota or Cartagena. The chicas are still just as hot in both places, but unless you are determined to pack your bucket and spade, Cartagena gets annoying with it's wall to wall hustlers and Bogota is too cold (I went in November/December which is maybe the coolest months). I'd spend longer in Medellin with it's beautiful chicas) or Call which I haven't visited yet but have heard great things of.

I fly into Bogota direct from Heathrow and prefer the sun over cold weather. How did you find domestic flights in Colombia?

[Vivago]

Not a problem although Medellin Airport is an annoyingly long way from the city so plan on over an hour depending on the time of travel.

[Johnny wishbone]

I echo Vivago's comments on dropping BOG or CTG. If it were me, i would drop BOG. CTG for me was enjoyable: lots of nice islands to visit, hot weather, decent nightlife and the choice of chicas is good. The square on a busy night is something else. It is also easy to mix with other tourists: lots of backpacking travellers from all over the world to socialise with. I am tinkering with the idea of going back AGAIN.

[horsa]

An update, I've just got my cheap smartphone unlocked  how do I now set up SA and Tinder? Do I need Facebook friends then these appear on Tinder? How do I create SA and Tinder without a Colombian mobile number?

[jan567567]

How did you get on in Colombia?
Thinking of a trip in Nov - either Colombia or Argentina, would be good to hear from more people! 

[Marmalade]

It’ll be warm then in Colombia, very warm. Medellin is the city of choice. I can’t wait to return there. If it’s your first time, and especially if you are not very streetwise (= South American streetwise) a stay at The Mansion-1 (book early) is a treat and the owner will give you a free introduction to the best brothels. The claim is that Medellin has on average the most beautiful women in the world and, sceptical as I was, I tend to agree.

You can find more in Medellin here:
https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=184843.0

Argentina is a shadow of its former glory but still a beautiful city for those that learn its ways. See ArgentinaPrivate forum.

[Marmalade]

I found Domestic flights within Colombia are cheap but only very cheap if you go cabin baggage only, which is maybe not what people want when going for several weeks. You can sometimes shave a few quid by flying via some shitty European airport but going direct is so much more pleasant.

[fisherofsouls]

Does Colombia not have laundries then ?

I never take much these days to SE Asia as I know I can get my stuff washed and ironed within 24 hours for 30p pound

[Marmalade]

Does Colombia not have laundries then ?

I never take much these days to SE Asia as I know I can get my stuff washed and ironed within 24 hours for 30p pound

Well yeah, as someone used to cabin-only I agree. But most people take a bag. Also, it depends where you are. I rarely use laundries. I take fast drying clothes then buy some local disposable shit teashirts. Wash it in the bath (or in a plastic bag in the shower/sink) and let it dry in the sun.

But although Medellin has plenty of ‘backpacker wear’ areas, it also has some of the most sophisticated places I’ve been to anywhere in the world. Places where you can’t beg buy or borrow a ticket unless you look the part. Which kind of rules out cabin baggage!    I had other reasons for checked baggage on my last trip there though, so was able to be well-prepared.

p.s. I think personally that SE Asia is a lot more tourist-friendly for such things. But up to you, depends on your travelling style and how quickly you find you can adapt to a completely new culture. 

[TG1]

Thanks Marmalade and especially Vivago for the great info on this and other threads. I was going to do a 5 night hop over to Bogotá from Havana next March and am wondering if either of you can share some links via PM for girl friendly places to stay in Bogotá or if any Air BnB/hotel will do? Thanks.

[joe diddley]

Does Colombia not have laundries then ?

I never take much these days to SE Asia as I know I can get my stuff washed and ironed within 24 hours for 30p pound

I've generally found in Latin America that it's easy enough to find someone to wash your clothes for what for most Brits is a small amount. Ask at your hotel and they will either have this service available or one of the women there will be glad of the extra spondulis. In the warm climates there, your clothes are often ready later the same day or early the following day.

[Marmalade]

I've generally found in Latin America that it's easy enough to find someone to wash your clothes for what for most Brits is a small amount.

It very much depends where you mean!! Poor developing countries in SE Asia are one thing, or even S.A. tourist areas like Copacabana. But in big modern westernised cities like Bogota, São Paulo (both of which are friggin enormous so no generalisations) or even Medellin, you can be hard pushed. Maybe Venezuela you’d be lucky as they are pretty desperate, or Central America (I don’t know Central America well)  or I think I may have seen one Quito. But I’m curious as to which South American countries you’ve been to where “it’s easy to find someone to wash your clothes”. Big hotels will of course — and charge per item, same as U.K.

What you can do is put a plastic bags filled with water as a plug in the sink/shower-tray or bath, then add water with some washing up liquid to soak your clothes and dry them next day in the sun if you have s balcony or something. Best to take only fast-drying clothes if you plan to do that.

[Marmalade]

Thanks Marmalade and especially Vivago for the great info on this and other threads. I was going to do a 5 night hop over to Bogotá from Havana next March and am wondering if either of you can share some links via PM for girl friendly places to stay in Bogotá or if any Air BnB/hotel will do? Thanks.

I don’t keep those lists but I think you’ll find a Bogota one on ISG. More important of course choose your area carefully first — it’s a big city, much of it very modern, and not all of it awfully ‘desirable’ (as in 100% safe). Maybe you can tap Vivago for an address where he’s stayed though (he’s more into ‘home deliveries’ than myself)! 

[horsa]

if anyone is thinking of heading to Colombia and would like some information then PM me. Will not post my report here as too many leeches who want information given but never give any back

[Kev40ish]

if anyone is thinking of heading to Colombia and would like some information then PM me. Will not post my report here as too many leeches who want information given but never give any back

So you were happy to ask questions and get advice from others, but not happy to give back?

Why should anyone have bothered helping you out on an open thread?

[horsa]

So you were happy to ask questions and get advice from others, but not happy to give back?

Why should anyone have bothered helping you out on an open thread?

I had given something back to the forum at the time of asking, not going to post information so leeches can see it 

[Marmalade]

I had given something back to the forum at the time of asking, not going to post information so leeches can see it 

But you asked for and got quite a bit of info on Colombia. If you didn’t feel like posting a trip report a simple thank you might have been nice. You’ve posted U.K. reviews, but if you go abroad again and ask for info then someone might bring this thread up and accuse you of being a tosser rather than helping you. Sometimes it’s in your own interest not to be a cunt. 

[jonn]

There's plenty of information available on the web so 'leaches' don't need a report from you. But its good to hear views from UK based guys as different nationalities have different perspectives. I would imagine most 'leaches' just read here anyway and don't travel far.....Hmmmm.

[Marmalade]

There's plenty of information available on the web so 'leaches' don't need a report from you. But its good to hear views from UK based guys as different nationalities have different perspectives. I would imagine most 'leaches' just read here anyway and don't travel far.....Hmmmm.

I agree with the last sentence. But if there’s ‘plenty of information available on the web’ why have this site at all?

I travel a lot myself but on occasion when I’ve visited a new city I’ve found the info and people on here very helpful (Germany being a case in point).

Sometimes I answer a leech thread not for the leech but for the benefit of genuine sharers who might find the info useful when they travel to a place. Admin is taking steps to remove leeches and if we wanted to remove totally the possibility of s leech reading something we’d have to ask for country-specific contributions before allowing anyone to read anything.

This is a non-profit, advertising-free sharing board, paid for by the owner. Sharing info is part of the ethos and specifically stated definition. I’ve seen some overseas destinations ruined by internet info availability but in terms of distributing info carefully I’d rather do it here than other sites that have less protection from leeches.

There is some info I don’t share so readily. For instance, a small place that will be ruined too easily by excess  and insensitive traffic. I pass on that info by PM only and to whom I want to or see fit. Or in this country, a new prοssie who I want to once again before opening her floodgates. For foreign countries the limit is usually time. Colombia for instance is a very different culture and the punting opportunities, although vast, are not as obvious as elsewhere, and even getting around has challenged. So I can’t be arsed repeatedly writing reams of info for casual enquirers, it’s too time consuming. And we have a punting wiki for such things anyway. But I think contributions should at least be proportional to the benefits received. There’s a bit of “do unto others as you’d have them do unto you” there...

 

[Marmalade]

if anyone is thinking of heading to Colombia and would like some information then PM me. Will not post my report here as too many leeches who want information given but never give any back

Well I’ve been several times and will go again but not immediately. I’m not going to keep your name “on file”. So perhaps you might like to PM me your information. It’s a big country, maybe I can learn something from you?