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Colombia Travel Blogs

Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries has grown to several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

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By Scowie
April 30th 2008

Columbia......caliente!

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Causing a scene
Jaakko and I goofing around during a petrol break.

Wow I´m supposed to be partaking in a game of cards at the moment but I feel I should tell you a tad bit about my time in Columbia. It´s been great from start to finish. The thing that I noticed most is how nice and helpful the people are. My first day after crossing over from Ecuador I had some troubles finding a bank where I could withdraw money. So the cleaning lady from one of the banks just left work and took me around to all the banks in the area until we found one that worked. I appreciated [View Full Entry]

Tallest underground cross on (in) Earth.

By Graham Richardson
April 28th 2008

A Couple Days In

South America » Colombia » San Gil

Outside of the Salt Cathedral

Hello everyone, Today we just arrived in San Gil, which is about a 7 hour bus ride north of Bogota. I think the road was more twisty than any road I have been on in Vancouver. Tomorrow we are going to go white water rafting in the morning, and paragliding in the afternoon. Then we will be heading to the North Coast to spend time there. While in Bogota, we wandered around the city center the first day. The second day we went to a Salt Cathedral. It was a huge cathedral dug out of the side of a mountain, and [View Full Entry]

By renike
April 27th 2008

Colombia

South America » Colombia

Popayán

Popayán y Ipiales/Santuario de las Lajas [View Full Entry]

By divingbelle
April 27th 2008

Coffee pickin, mountain climbin, chiva ridin madness

South America » Colombia » Manizales

Salento hostel

My next stop was in the lovely little town of Salento, an hour east of Armenia. The town is a typical pueblo paisa and full of colourful fronted houses around the main plaza and lots of people milling around with their ponchos on. I stayed in the Mountain House hostel which is in one of the nicest settings I have stayed in here, with lovely gardens and an annex down across a field with the best views from my dorm room. From here I took a jeep with some others from the hostel to the Cocora valley famous for its wax [View Full Entry]

By Anglo Dutch connection goes Latin
April 24th 2008

Medellin, didn´t see much of it.....

South America » Colombia » Medellin

MEDELLIN Our 5 hour busride was not very comfortable, due to the blasting airconditioning. This must have pushed Yvonne over the edge towards her illnes (massive flue). She felt terrible upon arrival in Kiwi run hostel ¨The black sheep. We arrived on Friday the 18th of April. What we can tell you about Medellin is that it is a very modern city with a very efficient metro system. It tries to shake off it´s image of drugs trafficking capital of the world (thanks to the late Pablo ¨El Patron¨Escobar, who died in 1993). We paid the centre e very quick visit. [View Full Entry]

By Anglo Dutch connection goes Latin
April 24th 2008

Cartagena, the Colonial city

South America » Colombia » Cartagena

fruit seller...

CARTAGENA Yvonne was still not feeling well, and the busride didn´t help. The airconditioning made us feel freezing cold again. We had sleep with our coats covering our heads. We stayed in Casa Viena, a basic hostel in somewhat rough street near the colonial old center of Cartagena (10 mi walk). It is a beautiful city, but very touristy. Loads of (American) cruise boats stop here, so no it´s a lot more expensive than the rest of Colombia. The high humidity didn´t do Yvonne´s cough and breathing much good. We made the best of it though and explored the streets as [View Full Entry]

By Anglo Dutch connection goes Latin
April 24th 2008

Last country stop - Colombia!!!!

South America » Colombia » Ipiales

relaxing on the balcony...

The crossing from Otavalo (Ecuador) to Ipiales (Colombia) went very well; 20 min taxi journey to Ibarra (Ecuador), 3 hour bus ride from Ibarra to Tulcan (Ecuador) then a 5 min taxi ride to the Ecuadorian border. No queues whatsoever so we were stamped out of the country within 5 mins. A short walk then over the bridge where the Colombian flag and sign welcomed us. Again, no queues so we were stamped in and ready to get into a taxi within minutes. This is where it started to go a bit pear shaped. The "legitimate" looking taxi driver was willing [View Full Entry]

By Anglo Dutch connection goes Latin
April 24th 2008

City of extremes Bogota, Colombia

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Candelaria streets...

After a 10 hour daytime busride from Cali we arrived around 8 PM in Bogota. Our Footprint travelguide recommended a good hostel in the Candelaria area, called Platypus. What a shithole this was!!! We got put up in a house next door which is best described as a hangout for squatters. No door to the patio, a cat following us around everywhere and a room full of dust and that smelled awful because of the dampness and the cat. To finish it off, outside there plenty of glue sniffing junkies hanging around.... To make us feel even more welcome the hostel [View Full Entry]

By Anglo Dutch connection goes Latin
April 24th 2008

Zona Cafetera (Villa Martha) and Medellin

South America » Colombia » Medellin

Kitted out for bean picking!

Early morning on the 17th of April we arrived at Pereira bus station. We were picked up by Rafael, Martha´s husband. First impression was that he was not a morning person. Probabaly did´t have enough coffee by the time he picked us up (8AM)..... Upon arrival we immediately likes the place. Tranquil, a very nice room, swimming pool and an impressive colinal house surrounded by hammocks. Martha was a lovely warm person, who served fantastic free coffee. Even Yvonne enjoyed it without milk and sugar. The colombians don´t use sugar anyway. They use panela. A very pure and natural form of [View Full Entry]

By The John and Sarah Show
April 22nd 2008

Scuba-dooby-do and other adventures in Colombia

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Parque Tayrona

Our expectations surpassed ten-fold, we ended our three week journey through Ecuador with an overland border crossing to Colombia. Yes Mom, Colombia. Colombia is a country that was not even on our radar when left the States last September, but conversations with fellow backpackers convinced us that we had to see Colombia. To most Americans ( who, let´s face it, are not the most adventurous people), Colombia is a place to avoid. But why? I guess most people think of cocaine cartels and FARC guerillas, both of which are not nearly as prominent as they were 20 years ago. Apparently Presiden [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Colombia