Colombia -- Cali -- Popayan -- Security!!!
 

Dear All,

I do not want to be MR security in the Group, but wanted to update you guys on the changing security situation.

There have been recent kidnappings of motorcycle travelers in the area between Cali and Popayan. These happened in Jan-May 2023 and were so called quick scheme kidnappings where they are after your money. Colombia is a safe country and the people are great, but due to the presence of left-over left-wing bandits in the area south of Cali keeps being insecure. Here are my recommendations as a local for you to stay safe:

1. Travel only on the highway :scooter: don't go back-country-ing in this area (there are other areas where you should do that, close to Medellin being one of them).

2. Travel only during the day and make sure that you are in your next destination before 6PM (I tend to calculate 4PM to leave ample room).

3. The Colombian Rule is...if there is nobody coming from the other side for more than 10 minutes, make a u-turn and try to work out the situation. It might be a truck that crashed, a landslide or a roadblock by a dissident group...you do not know.

4. If caught by these guys, do not resist under any circumstances

5. Make sure you don't have access to the majority of your money. So either have a family member have access to it, so without him/her you do not have a lot of money with you....just enough for food / gas.

When down in Popayan do not forget to rest and enjoy the city...you will need it.

Colombia has been through hell and it is getting out of it...2 steps forward and 1 step backward. Now, if you were to ask me...like I am with you a day on the highway is not that much fun...

Can you please post a source for the Jan-May 2023 kidnappings? Thanks.
I couldn't find anything in the local newspapers.

Been riding all over Colombia since 2012 and have never heard of the "Colombian 10 min Rule". That said, not a bad idea to keep it in mind.

A friend rode from Pasto to Popayan, then Cali to Medellin last week, no issues.

Bandits!
 

I worked in Popayan for a couple of months in 1999 and spent time touring all over the Department of Cauca there are many off the beaten trails all over the mountain ranges nearby , Popayan to Neiva, Popayan to San Augustine And never encountered a problem.
These roads have there issues Land Slides of epic porportions and saw no traffic for some times 2 hours its high country the Paramo . I saw Policia National stations covered in Chainlink fences to keep the IEDs from hitting the buildings But I never saw any problems and I talked about it to many locals about security. Purace the volcano outside of Popayan is truly a gem and there are more hot springs in the local vincenity that you can Count or see in a week.
this area is safe People are sick of war they just want to get on with there life
The Colombian Rule ! I think There are no Rules But if you are looking for a problem you will surely find a lot
Just be Calm you won't have any problems Here 85000 km and I haven't had a issue other than a broken bike