Going to Bogota, Columbia for six weeks and I need advice.

March 29, 2006 7:01 AM

Going to Bogota, Columbia for six weeks. What's the safety / internet situation like there? Got any tips for a newbie?

My girlfriend just got a six-week placement in Bogota and I'm going to go down with her. I honestly (and ignorantly) don't know a lot about Bogota except for what I've read in the media and in a few travel books.

How safe is Bogota? I've read that the cities are generally safe but travelling outside of the cities can be risky - is this still true?

While I'm down there I'm hoping to keep working on client projects, for which I'll need internet access. What's the quality of the internet like in Bogota? Is high speed somewhat plentiful or is it scarce?

I've travelled a fair bit but never in South America, so any tips anyone may have will be welcome. Thanks!

posted by theNonsuch to travel & transportation (15 comments total)

Here's some info on safety/tourism:

When it comes to tough sells for a vacation, it doesn't get much tougher than Colombia. The South American country has a well-earned reputation for gun-toting guerrillas, cocaine kingpins and the world's highest kidnapping rate.

But after decades of being shunned as too dangerous for travelers, the country is riding an unprecedented tourist boom.

...

Kidnappings have dropped 78 percent during Uribe's four years in office, to 371 last year, according to the government. That may even be below Haiti and the tourist haven of Mexico, where kidnappings-for-cash have boomed.
posted by donpedro at 7:13 AM on March 29, 2006

if it's anything like chile and argentina, any town will be full of internet cafes. in major cities there should be domestic high speed internet via cable (tv).
posted by andrew cooke at 7:17 AM on March 29, 2006

Bogota is generally ok (ok as in like any other big South American city for an American) but I'd take care when travelling outside as you said. Google for FARC for more information.

There are Internet cafes, find somewhere close to where you will live and if you have to use it all the time, try to negotiate a deal with the owner. Good luck and have fun!
posted by keijo at 7:22 AM on March 29, 2006

i asked a columbian guy at work - apparently the main threat to foreigners is just street crime, tho a lot of it can be armed. take hotel taxis everywhere and stay out of the poorer districts (much of the south/south west of the city). the northern part of the town is a lot safer. most murders are as a result of bar room brawls/personal vendettas. keep an eye on your drinks + never accept drinks from strangers as kidnappers (kidnappings are down 50% in 2005 compared to 2004) commonly use drink-based drugs to bring people into a coma.

as for travelling around - try and avoid public transport, and it's always preferable to fly. the medellin-bogota highway should be avoided as much of it is under guerrilla control, while guerrillas often set up road blocks/blow up bridges etc along other major highways.

as for the internet - most hotels should have ready access to the internet, tho not necessarily to each individual room, and communications in general is reasonably efficient.

having said that my colombian colleague wishes you a safe and pleasant trip to his homeland.
posted by muthecow at 7:23 AM on March 29, 2006

I dunno.

Foreign Affairs Canada advises against all travel to this country. There's even a special security assessment attached. But it also looks mildly outdated. The US State Department's travel warning is less panicky, but still says that you need to watch yourself. Bogota is probably mostly okay, but, you know, watch out for bombs and people who blow paralyzing nerve agents in your face (or in your drink).

If your girlfriend is going, she's probably being arranged secure accomodation. I imagine you'll be safe in that area and in whatever nearby areas that her coworkers patronize... but I wouldn't mess around much.
posted by blacklite at 7:36 AM on March 29, 2006

Blacklite - ironically we're heading down under the auspices of the Canadian government, so I would assume we'd be staying in a fairly safe place. That's kind of interesting that they still warn against all travel, though.

Luckily we still have nearly two months before it's time to go, so hopefully I'll make some internet contacts there that I can meet up with. Any MeFiers from Colombia?

Oh, and a reminder to me: it's spelt COLOMBIA. Whoops.
posted by theNonsuch at 7:45 AM on March 29, 2006

From the US Department of State's Travel Warnings:

Violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas, including Bogotá, Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. The level of violence in Cali and its surrounding areas remains high, largely as a result of the illicit drug trade. Many rural portions of Colombia also remain extremely dangerous due to the presence of narcoterrorists and Colombian government operations against them.

At least five Americans were kidnapped in 2004, and at least one in 2005. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), and other criminal organizations, continue to kidnap civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. The FARC have held three American official contractors hostage since February 2003. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government’s ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited.

It looks like Bogotá isn't nearly as worrisome a place as it was in recent years. Just be very safety minded and don't delude yourself into thinking you're more safe than you are. Definitely follow the advice of those who know more than I.

Also, what's your girlfriend doing there for six weeks, out of curiosity?
posted by disillusioned at 8:47 AM on March 29, 2006

I was in Bogota quite a while ago - 1997, but there were plenty of places even then to connect to the internet and check email. You should be fine. It's a very modern city and as I understand has only gotten more so.

Safety is a concern, but it's a concern almost anywhere you go in south/central america. Still, it's like any big city, know where your wallet is, keep your backpack under your arm rather than on your back, if you get mugged - give them what they ask for. If you look really anglo, just assume that your wallet will get stolen/pickpocketed out of your pocket and don't carry much more than a bit of cash in it (ie, put your id/credit cards/passport elsewhere).

You don't want to go out of the city, anywhere you go outside of Bogota you should fly rather than take a bus. If you get to know some locals, be sure to ask what areas of the city NOT to go to. There are some bad areas that a local can point out to you easily. I personally wouldn't worry too much about using public transportation, I had more trouble with the price gouging taxi drivers than I did with the buses. But YMMV.

Also, enjoy! It's a beautiful place to visit.
posted by mulkey at 9:41 AM on March 29, 2006

Oh, and a reminder to me: it's spelt COLOMBIA. Whoops.

Psst, recommend you change the tag for the benefit of future searchers.
posted by donpedro at 9:51 AM on March 29, 2006

Mulkey: Actually, I'm Chinese, but my girlfriend is Anglo. I'm curious if I'll see any difference there because of my race - I've found in the past while travelling outside of North America that most people automatically assume I'm an Asian student or tourist that can't speak French / English / whatever...

Disillusioned: My girlfriend works for the Canadian government and on occasion she can apply for foreign placements (the locale is based on operational need). She was up for either Warsaw or Bogota, and got Bogota because she can speak Spanish. Warsaw would have been really cool, too.

To be honest, going to Bogota kind of freaks me out a bit, but I'm trying make these kinds of decisions based on whether or not it would make an interesting story when I'm old... (only live once, take risks, blah blah)
posted by theNonsuch at 9:56 AM on March 29, 2006

donperdo - done!
posted by theNonsuch at 9:58 AM on March 29, 2006

Hm, with the extra info you've provided, and from what everyone else has said here, it'll probably be a good time. And I always err on the side of broadening one's horizons. Go for it.
posted by blacklite at 11:38 AM on March 29, 2006

This may go without saying, but remember to let your bank at home know you're going to be out of the country if you plan to use your credit card/check card/debit card over there. Transactions originating from a place where you, the bank's customer, don't live, might make your bank freeze your account if they're not already aware it's you at the ATM.

Generally, be careful in banks. People line up huddled close together... it's not like here in the states or perhaps there in Canada where other bank customers will keep a respectable distance while you conduct your business at the ATM.

I took a trip to Colombia last summer (Cartagena, not Bogota) and was even working for a bank at the time. I had alerted my employer about my travel plans, but every time I tried to use my card in an ATM in Colombia, I was denied access to my funds. I assumed it was a communications problem between the various Colombian banks (I tried several) and my bank, but it turns out that right around the time I left the states, someone in Toronto started using a forged check card with my account number at various gas stations to the tune of over $500. Bank of America knew I was in Colombia and couldn't have been in Canada at the same time, so I was locked out of my account and there was nothing I could do about it for a week.
posted by emelenjr at 12:09 PM on March 29, 2006

I've been there, and had no real issues. I treated safety the same way I do in any major central/south american city, by hiring a driver, and not stopping anywhere that wasn't known to be gringo-friendly.
posted by I Love Tacos at 2:10 PM on March 29, 2006

I was just about to ask a very similar question, so thanks for getting this out there.

I'll be in Cúcuta for a week in late May, and was looking for info on security issues while there. Here are some tips I found online:

# Don’t get paranoid. Don’t let safety fears ruin your visit.
# Don’t take night buses, unless you are pretty sure it’s safe. Take day buses.
# If you are the worrying type, just take flights between cities. The main danger in Colombia is being kidnapped (doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s bad), kidnapping happens when you travel, and taking flights gets rid of that danger. You won’t get kidnapped in any of the big cities, this almost never happens.
# Ask local advice. That means do NOT necessarily ask a Colombian in Bogota if some area in the country is safe, because they have probably never been there. Ask a real local. Ask Colombians who travel, not Colombians who never leave their city.
# Generally, the cities are safe from kidnapping.
# Take BASIC travel precautions: leave your passport in your hotel safe, take taxis home after going out at night, use a money belt.
# Use a money belt to deter pickpockets.
# Take taxis home at night.
# Use a money belt. Yes, I repeat myself, but these BASIC precautions are too often not taken.

I was also given the idea of contacting the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to let them know of your arrival. Not sure if I'll do that though.

Have a great time in Bogota!
posted by emoeby at 2:58 PM on March 29, 2006