Possible work trip. FCO advice isn’t a flat no, but it’s hardly reassuring.

Any thoughts?

I probably would, yes. Find out about the sorts of areas you would be staying, etc., etc., but generally I have found that when travelling to higher-risk places*, the anxiety prior to going is worse than the actual trip**.

*I don’t have as much experience of this as some people do, but I have been to a few Latin American countries at a time of high tension.

**This is probably NOT true of many parts of Syria and Iraq. But I would even consider visiting those under the right conditions.

Defo. Supposedly way safer than it used to be, and most risks can be minimised with a few common sense precautions and a bit of travel nous. Meant to be a great country to visit.

I would certainly advise you to go 😉

I take no risks with work tbh as who wants to get injured for an employer and I would be very risk averse. Yu have a family now as well so I would always put them first.

Columbia is generally much safer than its used to be according to friends who live there. I’ve not been since I was a child, but would go. If you don’t feel comfortable don’t do it!

Met a couple of people from there when I was at a conference. Seemed fine but a little bit of altitude to work with 🙂

You couldn’t pick up a package for me could you?

The Mrs has been and didn’t get murdered, she enjoyed the sights and said the people were friendly, obviously don’t wander too far and don’t be a dick..
She said the biggest pita was when Hillery C and her security detail turned up at her hotel halfway through her visit,
meatheads with earwigs everywhere trying to boss everyone about and shutting things down randomly..

Ah, I see you too have watched Narcos.

But just in case, can I have first dibs on the Diverge?

I nearly had to go to Medellin a few years back – previously dubbed the most dangerous city on earth.

“But it’s nowhere near as dangerous now, and in any case you’ll have an armed escort with you the whole of the trip. And the hotel’s really nice”

Sadly the acquisition never went through, and the trip got cancelled……

Went a few years back for a wedding and holiday. As safe as any big city and only as intimidating as anywhere else where you don’t speak the language. Check out the gold museum. When we were there they also had a day where parts of the city were closed to traffic and open for the cyclists. The tejo bars, where you pay for entry by buying a crate of beer and then proceed to through rocks at gunpowder, were a highlight.

Some of the customs are a little odd though. Being parked up at midnight in downtown Bogota, in the back of a van, waiting with the groom to meet a mariachi band so that we could burst in and surprise the bride when she was asleep, was pretty cool. Also slightly worrying as the “concierge” had a shotgun… I was woefully under-mastauched for that bit.

I’ve just finished reading Alistair Humphrey’s books about biking round the world, including Columbia. He nearly bypassed it due to safety concerns, but ended up saying it was one of the highlights. Those that have been always rave about. It can’t be any less safe than bits of Glasgow, Liverpool etc 😉

Granted it was way back in 1998/99 that I was there and I was only there for a day or two, but I didn’t find Bogota any more intimidating than many other big cities I’ve travelled to. Colombia itself is beautiful and the people I met were incredibly friendly. I’m sure there are safer countries to go to but in my experience it was worth visiting.

The problem is that the difference between a good experience and a bad experience is as much down to luck as it is being prepared. Maybe if I’d turned left instead of right I’d have a different story to tell…

I had a trip that started in Amsterdam, flew into London on to Miami and then to Bogota then back to London via Miami. I wasn’t really expecting to get through that little trip without being stopped at some point but then again I managed to get in and out of Israel with kit that looked like something you might find lying around at Old Trafford without incident.

Went there with a local rep a couple of months ago. Company arranged bullet proof car as standard but that is totally OTT. In the commercial centre it is just like any other major city and like any other major city, there are probably places you should not go…

A friend of mine who works in the security industry (and spends what seems like most of his life in Ukraine, Libya and Syria) has bought himself a place in Beirut. He loves it there!

It’s the kind of place where being able to ‘blend in’ a bit really helps. Sharks can always spot a fish in trouble.

Bogota is a typical city of contrasts; huge economic disparity, and myriad social issues make for a bit of an intimidating atmosphere to those unused to such places, but there will be safer enclaves to hide in. It’s a major capital city, and will have better infrastructure, security etc than many other places. Unless you’re particularly adventurous, it’s unlikely you’ll be going into any really dodgy areas anyway. Not many who visit Paris would venture into the Banleiues for example. If you’re fairly streetwise and clued, up, you’ll be ok.

No worries, you are an experienced traveler you will be fine.

My niece went there about 18 months ago and raved about Columbia

Thanks, everyone. The usual blend of excellent advice and opinions coupled with a reply from Junky. 😉

Yes, great place. Usual travel advise re emerging countries but the side fascinating city.

Try and get a game of golf at he Bogota Country Club – ball goes miles at the altitude !!!

I’ve been, and to Medellin . It’s the same as any city really. Walk around flashing how much money you have and you’ll get mugged . Keep your head down , take taxis at night in the centre (even short distances) and it’s no problem at all. In fact it’s great . Try not to eat the arepas though they are vile

I traveled through Columbia when travelling around South America. Didn’t come across any trouble and enjoyed it (very friendly place). So as a traveller, it definitely never lived up to its poor reputation and I didn’t hear of others having trouble. This was about tweleve years ago…

Most posters are suggesting its OK to go.

However, the ones still locked up in a dungeon waiting for the ransom to be paid don’t have internet access 🙂

Colombia with two ‘O’s 🙄

As opposed to….?

Think you must have missed this bit:

don’t be a dick..

🙂

Do they need paper clips there???

Rule One, grum! 😆

DV, they’re, mad for paperclips over there.

Good lad! See if you can offload some of the coloured ones! 😀

Generally your employer wouldn’t ask you to go unless it was safe, just thing of the death-in-service insurance. My ex-employer used to send people all over the world, Nigeria you had a personal armed security guard !

I think you’ve made up your mind but if you wish I can ask my good friend and ex-collegaue who is Columbian for specific advice if you wish. He’s retired from banking to help run the family businesses – Pharma import (yes really 🙂 )

Was on Bogota in 98 at the height of the “troubles” had a bodyguard with me at all times (worked for a paranoid American company) frankly I was more scared of the body guard than anyone else I met… went to Kazakhstan the same year and that was truly scary – get yourself there keep your head down and your gob shut and don’t get drunk with the locals, I have worked in a lot of places over the years and the only place I felt uncomfortable was Riad in Saudi..

…a personal armed security guard !

A client of mine insisted I had two armed security guards when I went to Miami for work!

(Mind you, a 6’4″ gringo does stand out easily in some less salubrious areas of Miami…)

Friend of mine is backpacking there at the moment. So far loving it and reckons it feels as safe or safer than some of the SE Asian cities. And he is pasty, astonishingly Scottish and is fairly happy showing cash so certainly won’t blend in!

Oh dear fatmax you may have lasted 5 mins in the srea of Liverpool I was in today.II’d definately go.

I live in Bogotá at the moment and my girlfriend is from here. Most of the above is true, apart from this:

Try not to eat the arepas though they are vile

First, not eating the arepas in Colombia is like not eating the bread in France. Second, there are about 30 different types, so finding one type vile doesn’t mean they all are. Try arepas Boyacense, they are a bit sweeter than most.

Also, if you have any free time at the right moment do the Bogotá bike tour, they will take you around the must-see parts of the centre, to a tejo (explosive boules) place, to a coffee roastery and to taste fruit you’ve never heard of. The bikes are crap though 😆

If you want some more specific advice feel free to email me, address in profile.

Oh dear fatmax you may have lasted 5 mins in the srea of Liverpool I was in today.II’dinately go.

I’m from Sunderland, so can’t really criticise anywhere else! 😉

Generally your employer wouldn’t ask you to go unless it was safe,

I think they ask you to do things that make them money.

If you need any more lessons in capitalism give me a shout

Spent a few weeks in Cartagena and on a mining project in Barranquilla back in the late 70’s.
Really liked the people and some of the most lovely ladyz on the planet.

Yep, I’d happily go (back there). The FCO advice is uber-cautious, and even that doesn’t suggest not going.

Lovely city, great people, and arepas are tasty!