to ColOmbia or not to ColOmbia, that is....
 

Howdy! I am in Panama City, heading south and ran into a guy from Columbia today. I was planning on shipping to Ecuador, but he told me most of the problems down there were a few years back and it is perfectly safe to travel there now. He recomended I stick to the Pan American and travel by day and no problems. Anybody been there recently? I believe I can save a few bucks by taking a boat there. Thanks!

btw, just saw the thread about this subject by greenhorn, don't mean to be redundant or anything. Would it be possible to limit this thread to people who have actually visited Columbia in the recent past? Thanks

Read the existing thread, talk to who you want, make your decision. Most everyone that replied had been to Colombia recently and wrote insightfully; there's nothing to add unless Alvaro Uribe, the FARC or the AUC care to comment on their latest plans. Almost invariably Colombians take extreme care looking after their gringo friends, so it's unusual that that you came across one so blasé about visiting.

Also, the name is spelled 'Colombia' - Columbia is a scary place on your continent. If you don't know that by now, maybe you shouldn't go... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

James

[This message has been edited by JamesCo (edited 22 February 2005).]

DO IT!! I have just ridden down from Cucuta to San Gil, and the scenery is breathtaking, the people; beautiful, friendly and some of the happiest I have seen in South America. I feel safe so far, but I haven't seen the rest. It strikes me that you are far more likely to come a cropper on one of these slinky roads as kidnapped/executed. E mail me, and we could RVP, around Medellin?

Thanks for the advice! I decided to skip Colombia because it is so late in the season and I really want to make Terra del Fuego, but <I will go back sdome day.

As for JamesCO, I guess I stand corrected. Thanks James! Hope I didn´t offend.....