The $11 CHIVA bus ride in Cartegena was an experience I'll never forget. The open air bus has musicians playing and is full of partying Colombians (I know that is redundant). They tour you around Bocagrande and the Old City before stopping to serve cuba libre (rum & coke). Then they serve arepa Costena Style (with egg) before moving on to a discotec where the party continues until ???? As the only American on the bus, the Colombians made sure that I had a good time and made me feel very included. I think you can hop on the bus anyplace along the strip. Just look for the noisy bus. I do speak Spanish, but I don't think it's vital to have a good time with these people.
Valisa Saunders US (Feb 99)
We found Leticia to be a friendly and safe little town with it's own charm. We were almost the only western tourists there at the time (first week of june 98).
We met a German couple there and the four of us approached a LP recommended tour company-Amazon Jungle Trips (I think) with Antonio and his wife. We negotiated a four day trip to their lodge n the Yavari river (a tributary of the Amazon) for USD$40 per day.
This was the BEST thing we could have done. The lodge is rustic but clean, large and airy. The food (cooked by Antonio's wife) was good and plentiful with loads of freshly caught river fish. We enjoyed an interesting and varied course of activities with an excellent native guide. I want to recommend this company highly and also recommend Leticia as a destination as it is not touristy and the rivers and jungle there are pristine. The one drawback is that one must fly to Leticia and it is not included on the air pass.
Sandi Post (June 98)
Bogotá: The airport departure tax is $23/$41 if you've been in the country for less than/more than 60 days. To qualify for the lower amount, you have to get your passport stamped at the Tax Exemption counter opposite the check-in desks.
Luke Skinner - UK (Jan 98)
COLOMBIA
