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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 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]

By divingbelle
April 22nd 2008

Volunteering at Hogar Arco Iris

South America » Colombia » Cali

DSC01875

When I went to meet the kids I was planning to volunteer with they were sitting quietly watching TV but I was immediately jumped on and hugged by 4 little monkeys called, Jhon, Yahaira, Nicole and Cristian Duane. I clearly wasn’t the first foreign volunteer they had seen and without any further questions or introductions I was dragged out to the patio area where they had all their toys to play with them. I had wanted to do some volunteering firstly to improve my Spanish and secondly to get to know one place from a different perspective. I thought that a [View Full Entry]

By Tyrone
April 21st 2008

If the Heat Doesn't KIll the Elderly I Will

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

The snow caps.
The clouds rise up after six in the morning. Worth the early morning hike though.

Adam and I bought a couch because, to be perfectly honest, we needed someplace to sit. I’m pretty sure the slipping pass to Chalmers for the game tying three only happened because Jors Adam and I were flapping our arms like Angels in the Outfield. Jerry, THE HEAT. It has arrived, in full force. To escape it we went to San Lorenzo this weekend, a nearby mountain town that I visited once a few years ago. Last time our accommodations were pretty sketchy, this time they were amazing. It was like a ski trip, freezing cold outside, at 2200 meters (about [View Full Entry]

By JosM
April 19th 2008

Aangekomen in Bogota

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Zo, het heeft even geduurd maar ik ben weer ontsnapt aan het dagelijkse leven in Nederland. Er is best veel gebeurd het afgelopen anderhalf jaar. Ik ben onder andere tot mijn eigen verbazing met veel plezier aan het werk. Desalniettemin heb ik per jaar genoeg verlof dagen om nu maarliefst 5 weken op vakantie te gaan. Bestemming is dit keer Colombia, beetje onverwacht misschien als je af moet gaan op de berichtgeving van de massa media. Ik heb echter verhalen uit de eerste hand gehoord (toen ik ergens tussen Mexico en Panama zwerfde) en die beloofden veel goeds. Neemt niet weg [View Full Entry]

By bobbin
April 16th 2008

Bogota

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Hopefully this blog will allow you all to see where I am and to know that I am safe. I have been in Colombia and so far there have been no problem, apart from my foot falling down a drain (no damage done). I spent a month in Cali with my Aunty and cousins. I had a brilliant time and loved spending some time with them as it dosen´t happen very often! I also had the opportunity to help at the Collegio Colombo Britanico which was brilliant and has made me realise that I definatly would like to teach abroad for [View Full Entry]

By salhasan
April 11th 2008

Amigo in Colombia + Links to Photos

South America » Colombia » Bogota

La Candelaria

Amigo Arrives in South America Hola Chicos & Chicas So I am back on the air typing this blog of Colombian adventures while I am here in Ecuador! S.A has been interesting so far and I am enjoying the ride, even though some of the rides in Colombia were expensive!! Colombia? 3 x the size of France, bordering Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador and Brazil with a northern Caribbean coast and a western Pacific coast. Unfortunate things that it is famous for are FARC, Nose Candy a.k.a coke and it's most famous drug baron Mr. Pablo Escobar, the ultimate badass drug baron who [View Full Entry]

By shuriken22
April 10th 2008

Colombia: Beauty reigns supreme in Cartagena

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Playa blanca, Rosario Islands

After our time spent there, we were all more than ready to leave Venezuela and head for the much anticipated Colombia. Having already changed as much currency on the black market upon entry to Venezuela, we had already increased our spending power there (getting nearly double the "official" rate), however we were duly shafted upon leaving, emphasized by their substantial hike (300%!!!) in departure tax for exiting the country. Furthermore, with the current bleak state of the Mighty Dollar, no-one would accept them for love nor money, posing some probs to those who had only enough currency for [View Full Entry]

By toshofbarra
April 10th 2008

Colombia

South America » Colombia

Parque Tayrona

Some people say travelling alone gives you freedom. Bollocks - try travelling without a budget, that really gives you freedom. And so it was I bought me a plane ticket and made an unplanned jaunt north for a square go with the FARC. Ignorance is bliss, and I closed my ears to mutterings in the media about border conflicts, guerillas, drug barons and the like. Having said that, such bravado was put to one side as I shamelessly begged for safe passage through Bogota from a friend whose parents live there. Really wouldnt want to come acropper on my first day! [View Full Entry]

By mrgazwilson
April 9th 2008

Caribbean coast, Colombia

South America » Colombia » Cartagena

The last week or so of my time in South America was spent on the Caribbean coast of Colombia in Santa Marta, Taganga and Cartagena. I have included all three in a single blog as I got lazy towards the end of the trip and I didn't do too much on any one day. It could have been a result of the warm and humid climate that makes you constantly sweat; or simply the fact that I had travelled the entire length of the continent in under three months. This last fact would not impress the travel snobs who believe you [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Colombia