Colombia crossing - advice?
 

Hi Guys,

I'm currently in Quito but I'm hoping to leave and enter into Colombia heading for Bogota in 3 weeks.

Anyone just been through or currently there who can give advice on current situations in the country - I'm aware there's an election in March so things may get a little heated?

As with so many countries, Colombia seems to bring out the best and worst of advice as much of its personal so just trying to get some up to date info?

Thanks

Nik

------------------
Life is far too short...so don't waste it!

www.theadventuresofboz.blogspot.com

Hi
I came through back in October,heading south.Had no problems and the Colombians were some of the best people we met(we later rode with a Colombian we met before the Equador border and did so for a couple of weeks before parting in Bolivia).We didn't venture off the main route due to advice given.I wish we had as the country has so much to offer.
Recently i have read that there has been violence in the La Macarena area(100 miles south of Bogota)with 6 policemen killed. The government are coming down heavy on the drug trade and are trying to wipe out these coca leaf plantations that are normally hidden in the middle of nature reserves.
There are plenty of military check points and would presume they would advise you not to go any further if you did stray off the beaten track too far.
Common sense prevails as anywhere we go.
As i said they are lovely people and i would think it is unlikely that you would get caught up in anything.

Enjoy !

so jealous you're riding thru colombia.

you are correct to be concerned. i rode there in oct/nov '04 and went back again in june '05. LOVED IT!

that does not mean you should let your guard down. it is true they have plenty of (very friendly) military checkpoints along the panamerican (clocked them at one per 40 miles avg.). the current logic is to stay on the main highway and never ride at night. having said that most of your riding in lat am is like that as well. colombians are extraordinary people, lovely to the core. absolutely lovely. scenery is amazing as well. president uribe has been cleaning house in the last few years (thanks to some heavy duty american funding) and it shows in the heavy military presence there. a few years ago it would not have been such a hospitable place to travel. things are different now but, as i said, please take the customary precautions. i dont think i could ever, in good conscious, recommend that you stray too far off the panamerican though. and please dont head into the mountains. even the colombians tell you not to be so foolish.

having said that your trip should be wonderful. you will see the colombian landscape few tourists dare to travel, eat excellent food, pay very little and meet some of the warmest people on earth.

as i said before....i'm sooo jealous!

ride safe

Thanks for the comments and information guys really helpfull...you can't but let your mind wonder at times and think of the negative so it's great to hear such positive feedback!

Cheers and take care!

Nik

------------------
Life is far too short...so don't waste it!

www.theadventuresofboz.blogspot.com

Hi Nik, there is a couple where I work that is from Colombia and I asked how the situation is right now and she mentioned right now things are tense with the elections coming up. She said she would not recommend the area around the Colombian/Ecuadorian border. She said the coastal areas are safe now, I guess the Cartengena area. She also did mentioned there is heavy police crackdown in area south of Bogota. I told her I was planning on going in October and she said things can change dramatically from one month to another. Good luck and safe travels.

John

Look at my website Daily posts on the Tierra del Fuego link. I had a blast in Colombia two weeks ago. Crossed into Ecuador trouble free all the way.
Working my way to Ushuaia. Now in Santiago.


------------------
Mike Jacobs

You are not lost if you don't care where you are.

Free camping to adventure tourers in Colorado (my house), New York (vacant land), and West Virginia (vacant land)

[This message has been edited by cruisingmale (edited 12 March 2006).]

Flew my bike from Panama City to Bogota, then rode south to Ecuador. No problems at all. Great people in Colombia. And no charge for motorcycles on the toll roads!

For further trip accounts: http://timtraveler.com

(Hey, Mike! I'm currently in Santiago as well, just returned from Ushuaia. Write me a note if you want to connect!)