Difference between revisions of "Colombia"
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[[File:Hitching a huge truck in Colombia.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hitchhikers [[Katja and Augustas]] with a driver of a hitched a truck in Colombia]] | [[File:Hitching a huge truck in Colombia.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hitchhikers [[Katja and Augustas]] with a driver of a hitched a truck in Colombia]] | ||
| − | Like anywhere in Latin America, the biggest danger is to be robbed, which may happen if you travel alone. Bus transport is decent and reasonably priced, although not as cheap as in neighbouring countries like Bolivia. | + | Like anywhere in Latin America, the biggest danger is to be robbed, which may happen if you travel alone. Bus transport is decent and reasonably priced, although not as cheap as in neighbouring countries like Bolivia or Venezuela. |
| − | To | + | As mentioned, the security situation makes hitching difficult, but certainly not as bad as you would think. To know which areas are outright no-go zones, ask around and check the newspapers. People tend to tell you that the whole country is ''muy peligrose'', only take information seriously if there is something concrete going on (exemple : ''the FARC have attacked a military outpost on the road to Turbo...'') |
| − | + | Thumbs up hitch-hiking works well, and it is also possible to talk to soldiers at check-points and explaining where you are going, either they should let you talk to cars that slow for the check-point, or they may even ask people for you... | |
| + | |||
| + | To cross from Colombia to [[Panama]] you've got to travel around the the [[Darién Gap]] some how. See the article on the gap itself for details on that. | ||
| − | |||
=== Cities === | === Cities === | ||
Revision as of 06:53, 10 July 2011
 Colombia | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Capital: | Bogota |
| Population: | 44,660,000 |
| Currency: | Columbian peso (COP) |
| Hitchability: | ? |
| Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
| <map lat='4.609' lng='-73.652' zoom='5' view='0' country='Colombia' height='400'/> | |
Colombia is a country in South America. Although it's not an easy country to hitchhike, it is not as bad as they say. There is a lot of paranoia about the security situation in the country. And some areas are outright dangerous due to fights between government and FARC rebels. However, the conflict is very predictable and usually limited to certain areas in the countryside. Check with your foreign ministry or recent guidebook.
Like anywhere in Latin America, the biggest danger is to be robbed, which may happen if you travel alone. Bus transport is decent and reasonably priced, although not as cheap as in neighbouring countries like Bolivia or Venezuela.
As mentioned, the security situation makes hitching difficult, but certainly not as bad as you would think. To know which areas are outright no-go zones, ask around and check the newspapers. People tend to tell you that the whole country is muy peligrose, only take information seriously if there is something concrete going on (exemple : the FARC have attacked a military outpost on the road to Turbo...) Thumbs up hitch-hiking works well, and it is also possible to talk to soldiers at check-points and explaining where you are going, either they should let you talk to cars that slow for the check-point, or they may even ask people for you...
To cross from Colombia to Panama you've got to travel around the the Darién Gap some how. See the article on the gap itself for details on that.
Cities
- Bogota (Capital city)
- Barranquilla
- Bucaramanga
- Cali
- Cartagena
- Medellín
- Santa Marta
Experiences
In the spring of 2008 me and a Colombian female friend went for some hikes in the countryside around Bogotá. We went to the village of Guatavita, where a 7 km dirt road leads up to the 'Laguna Sagrada'. On the way a milk truck picked us up. A great experience, standing on the back of a truck driving up a bumpy road, the wind in our hair. On the way back we easily scored a ride back to Bogotá, in a car with a bank employee who liked talking about football. The dirt roads in the countryside are not busy, but everybody seems willing to pick you up. Same experience in Puente Nacional late one evening, where we got a ride from a farmer for a few pesos. --Leimac 21:50, 25 September 2008 (CEST)
In 2007 I hitched from Cartagena to Ipiales in a few days. Stayed on the main roads. No troubles. Rode trucks & personal cars. God Colombia is beautiful. -k
I hitchhiked through Colombia in 2010. After making it across the Darién Gap by hitchhiking on speedboats, I went through most of the Colombian Andean territory. It is a fantastic country, and the only place where the truckers let me ride in the little space between the cab and the trailer! -themodernnomad
