Would you go to Colombia right now?

She's just being a typical New Yorker... hopefully she'll leave the attitude at home and cool out a bit in Colombia...

Cheers,
Terry

Very helpful info foe me in this threat...
Me: 30-year old female, traveling solo in Colombia and deciding wether to take a bus or a plane from Bogota to Quito... I would definately prefer a bus, but was also wondering about safety-issues just like NYC_Girl_115 above... Anyone any info / advice on that? Crossing the border by bus is ok right now?

diksietje -- From my experiences and that of others there are no problems, it's all great. Could that change? of course. If you want to avoid the border crossing you could bus over to Cali and take a flight from there to Tulcan (and then a 4hr bus to Quito or a connecting flight). If you fly from Cali you don't have to pay the international departure tax. Don't know if it's the same at Bogota.

I do not believe you can avoid paying departure tax by leaving from a different city in the same country. More than likely the particular airline you use has included the taxes in your air fare. We did not pay departure tax when we left Bogota coming back to the US. But I know better. We paid AA when we bought the ticket. You know there only two certain things in life.

Let's face it. Colombia still is not a safe place to travel. Statistics do not lie. What you can do is pick the safer areas to go to. Bogota, Medellin, the pacific coast, the Amazonas are safe. I am sure there are many other areas. According to to at least one tourist police I talked to at El Dorado airport, Cali is less so. The south east border even less so. But don't get me wrong, having been there like many others, I would not think twice about the safety issue being a deterrent of me going back.

Great! Thanks for the comments!

I will check again some days before I actually leave to Ecuador. It is still a decision I have to make: love to travel overland and actually see/experience a country instead of seeing only cities (definately prefer crossing borders overland anyways). But dont want to be the "ignorant" traveler by just taking a bus into a "dangerzone", that is why I think this website is great and appreciate all your replies!

Re: Cartagena safety: I´ve been in Cartagena for some weeks now and staying in the Getsemani-area. If I come home late at night: there are cops everywhere on the streets; I feel totally fine...

yaofeng -- There is a big sign in the TAME section of the Cali airport advertising this fact. It is only for this route. The departure tax is ultimately an airport tax and not a country policy.

diksietje -- Something to consider, the overland route through Ipiales passes through some beautiful countryside. If you go by bus make sure you go during the day and sit on the left side of the bus.

what are the departure taxes out of cartagena airport?

Wow mananath; sounds great! I would surely try to travel by bus during the day (and not at night) because I´d prefer seeing the landscapes, and especially now that you tell me this... nice tip!

muchas gracias!

Edited by: diksietje

" Jorge: While your intentions might be good, you don't get the point either. Please just go away".

NYCgirl, may I suggest you leave your bit*chy New York attitude at home. I sincerely hope to never run into you while traveling.

I may catch a lot of flak but I feel the same way as NYCgirl does on Jorge's posts which he cut and paste from others' contributions. To be frank I never read his posts that he cut and paste from old ones he compiled. Although I do read his posts which are not simply cut and paste. Anything thing from him that is cut and paste I just ignore. I am sorry he spent that much time to compile them. I just do not feel like being spoon fed info on anything. I want originality and first hand experience. If I want to find something I'll do my own search.