Editing Colombia

{{infobox Country
|country = of Colombia
|in = South America
|map = <map lat='4.609' lng='-73.652' zoom='5' view='0' country='Colombia' height='400'/>
|language = Spanish
|capital = [[Bogota]]
|pop = 44,660,000
|currency = Columbian peso (COP)
|hitch = ?
}}
'''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.

[[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.

To cross from Colombia to [[Panama]] you ve got to overcome the [[Darien Gap]]. You can do that by booking a five day trip with a private sailing charter from Cartagena, although it's often not cheaper than a flight. Moreover, you might get in trouble if one of your fellow travellers decided to smuggle some cocaine out of the country. 
* It is possible to cross from Panama to Colombia without paying $200-$1000 for a private boat or plunging too deep into the Darien − the trek involves a few minor ferries and long walks down east-coast Panamanian beaches. Try yacht-clubs (out of storm-season). You might also find passage working on coconut-trading boats, but be prepared for a several-week ordeal. If you persevere, you can find a way and will get across; nevertheless, the Panama-Colombia border is one of the more dangerous places in the western hemisphere, and should not be taken lightly.

  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 (but don't ask old women, whom I've found to have an exaggeratedly paranoid perspective on "la inseguridad") and check the newspapers. Good ol' fashioned thumb in the air, wind in your hair, carefree smile on your face hitchhiking is quite difficult. My strategy in Colombia was to approach the young soldiers at highway checkpoints and begin a conversation. Start off with small talk about their guns, equipment, training, etc and later mention where you're headed. They may offer, or you might have to ask, to stop cars and help you get a lift. One soldier simply ordered a traveling salesman to "get this boy safely to Barranquilla". Nine out of ten times the young, bored soldiers were more than happy to help a crazy foreigner catch a lift. Viva Colombia!!!


=== Cities ===
* [[Bogota]] (Capital city)
* [[Cartagena]]
* [[Medellín]]
* [[Cali (Colombia)|Cali]]
* [[Barranquilla]]
* [[Bucaramanga]]
* [[Santa Marta (Colombia)|Santa Marta]]

== Experiences ==
[[File:Hammock under the truck in Colombia.JPG|thumb|left|230px|Hitchhiker [[Katja and Augustas|Katja]] resting in a hammock under the truck]]
''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 [http://maps.google.nl/maps?f=q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=guatavita&sll=4.835102,-73.560333&sspn=0.714302,1.235962&ie=UTF8&ll=4.921306,-73.850098&spn=0.714211,1.235962&z=10 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.'' --[[User:Leimac|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
[[trash:Colombia]]

[[Category:Colombia|Colombia]]
[[Category:South America]]

[[es:Colombia]]