Difference between revisions of "Armenia (Colombia)"

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=== East towards [[Ibagué]], [[Bogotá]] ===
 
=== East towards [[Ibagué]], [[Bogotá]] ===
Take a bus towards Calarca, a pretty old town that is 7km away, and definitely worth taking a stroll around before you head on. Expect to pay 2500$ for this. You can indicate you wish to get off at the junction to the driver, or it is a 10minute downhill walk from the town centre to the road headed out towards Bogota.
 
  
There is a police check point, a garage for refuelling trucks and a beautiful long slip lane as little cars struggle to accelerate up the hill out of town, so all the elements are on your side, just to put the magic thumb and trustworthy smile into play.
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Take the bus going to the nearby town of Calarcá (05/2019: COP 2,300). It leaves quite regularly from a bus stop right behind the cathedral (04°31′55.66″N 75°40′18.21″W). In Calarcá, ask the driver to be let off at the market ("Plaza de Mercado") and cross the town walking East on the same street. At the end of Calle 39 you will meet the highway junction towards Bogotá. To your left you will spot a Mobil gas station (04°31′45.34″N 75°38′02.13″W) on the other side of the road. This is where you can start hitchhiking and asking people for a ride.
  
Note, traffic from Cali to Bogota passes here, so it's likely you'll snag a direct lift to the capital. If headed south, ride until a junction just after the Peaje immediately before Espinal town.
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Note, traffic from Cali to Bogotá passes here, so it's likely you'll snag a direct lift to the capital. If headed South, ride until a junction just after the Peaje right before Espinal town.
  
 
===Experiences===
 
===Experiences===

Revision as of 20:42, 21 May 2019

Armenia is a city in Colombia.

Hitching out

If you are stuck for a place to sleep for the night, the bus station has great security and is fairly quiet. Guards will wake you at 9am

South towards Cali

Take bus Ruta 9 towards the airport and ask the driver to leave you at Glorieta, just before the bus turns from the main road to the airport. A ticket costs 1500 pesos.

East towards Ibagué, Bogotá

Take the bus going to the nearby town of Calarcá (05/2019: COP 2,300). It leaves quite regularly from a bus stop right behind the cathedral (04°31′55.66″N 75°40′18.21″W). In Calarcá, ask the driver to be let off at the market ("Plaza de Mercado") and cross the town walking East on the same street. At the end of Calle 39 you will meet the highway junction towards Bogotá. To your left you will spot a Mobil gas station (04°31′45.34″N 75°38′02.13″W) on the other side of the road. This is where you can start hitchhiking and asking people for a ride.

Note, traffic from Cali to Bogotá passes here, so it's likely you'll snag a direct lift to the capital. If headed South, ride until a junction just after the Peaje right before Espinal town.

Experiences

I've tried hitching from Calarcá to Bogotá twice, a year apart, and never any luck. The first time there was rioting and trucker strikes, so it wasn't such a surprise. The second time should have been a breeze. Looks like it should be an amazing spot, but YMMV."