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Definitely no Visa for US citizens. From most US cities the flying time will be 1/2 the time to Rio. There are definitely some nice Hotels in the $100 range and some fabulous apartments (appear to be much nicer then anything in Brazil) If you go to VRBO.com and look in Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin, there are many beautiful apartments available short time. I will not rehash what I and Episevilla have posted about the boys . They are certainly available anywhere from free to a price that is still less then one boy will cost you in a Rio Sauna. This is not meant to be a knock on Brazil but just to make it plain that their are other choices that have not been discovered yet by many of us. I will be returning in March and plan on spending time in Bogota and Cartagena. I have already made many contacts on Gayromeo and my English Fluent Boy that I met last trip is also lining up some possibilities. He would make a fabulous Tour Guide for anyone who is making their first trip and wants to have a Bi Lingual guide who also happens to be great in the sack.

Here is a post from that other Board. I couldn't figure out how to do a link to just that post so I copied it. If that"s a no no, I am sure Tampa can fix it. Another satisfied Colombia Visitor!! Post by Bluboy Let a man never come between the seekers and the hookers! I truly aplogize for my tardiness but as it happened i extended my stay into Ecuador. The problem is that i am travelling with the ipad and not the laptop and i cannot type for long on the ipad. I am still not so skilled. Takes aeons. But since i am causing consternation here are the highlights as can be written by ipad. Thr trip was 2 weeks in cartagena, medellin, cali and bogota. For history and ambling aroind town.. Cartagena wins hands down. For food Medellin especially a restaurant called Carmen and El Cielo. for men medellin and bogota. The best sites to use for me were gayromeo, manhunt and grindr or good old fashion gay bars. No one is a hooker and if you act or try to approach them as that there is loads of sensitivities and offense taken. So entire thing is more subtle. You are in fact lookingbfor a guide or yoi are looking to take a few guys oit just to learn more about gay life in Colombia. The hook is a nice restuaurant or a guide fee of $10 an hour or open bar on you for a couple hours. By the way the cost of these things is way way below anything in the usa. My open bar tab in medellin which hosted 8 guys pit me back $100 with tip and allowed me to bond and interview 8 different guys. 2 of whom i eventually played with. On my profile i put things like in search of interpreter for a day or in searchnof guide etc. When i apporached i often said liked ur profile you look cool would love to buy you and a friend dinner or drinks. In bars it is much easier than USA necause in my entire 2 weks in colombia i was never turned down when i offered to buy someone a drink! NEVER! I do speak some spamish and i did do rosetta stone to brush up. Better if you do so you ahve a wider pool but if you dont you just have to seek out the guys who speak english. A multi hour session usually ended up costing about $50-$100 and often it was because i offered at the end. The only explcicit money for sex offers came from cubans and they usually asked $25 for a couple hours. Once you meet a couple guys in the scene then you are golden forthe time you are in any city as you then get introduced around. I even was able to meet a guy in bogota because of an intro from a guy in Cali. If you are into PNP there is obviously very high quality and very cheap goodies to be had and any of the guys can arraneg it for you once you are proceeding with the deed. If any of you are gping soon! Give me a pm heads up and i can give u the profiles of some of the guys who you can approach for guding. But i will also say u will not need my names as i came in here cold and was quickly able to establish good connections. Colombia has not yet been corrupted by "us" so the prices are very good and the boys are not yet cynical. The entire experience is gentle dating of older rich men to younger boys. More akin to the boyfriend expeirence than an escort cleint quickie. I did have a wild party night in medelin with 8 guys. 3 of whom i had met and the others were simply friends of the guys. My contribution to the party was the drinks and snacks and favors and i gave the 3 guys i knew $100 each. The rest just came to have a good time. The rest ofthe time i usually hung with ome or 2 guys for a few days. Bought meals, bought movies etc etc and just chilled and the bill was ludicrously low. Ok thats all i can write on the ipad. Any questions or comments let me know. And if anyone is heading there soon i can certainly give a heads up as to who to meet.. Bluboy

For those of you that I may have piqued your interest in visiting Colombia. The boy I met who speaks perfect English would be very interested in providing guide services or more. He is the last 2 pics in my report. I have told him to talk to friends who might be interested in meeting visitors and if possible to take some photos. He lives in Bogota but is familiar with Medellin , Cartagena, Cali. I will also soon ask him to jot down any knowledge he has of good bars , saunas etc . And by the way he gets 5 stars in the Sex department!!! I am sure than anyone who likes Brazil will like Colombia. If you have any questions feel free to PM me and I will ask him if I don't have the answer. I am definitely not an expert after one trip but I am quite sure with a little pre-planning anyone can have a great time in Colombia. Hopefully in the near future I will have some more photos of willing boys. I am also sure that our spanish speaking poster (episevilla) is quite correct in boys being available without much in compensation if you speak Spanish. Something for everyone and a fairly short flight from many US cities compared to some other popular destinations. By the way a recent search finds some great vacation apartment rentals at 1/2 the price of Hotels and less then Brazil and apparently much more modern. No personal experience yet but next time probably a good idea.

I stayed in the Hilton in Bogota and Poblado Plaza in Medellin. No problem in either Hotel/

Some additional thoughts about prices. In Bogota I was staying in a brand new Hilton on a special rate. The would be regular rate will probably be in the $200 range but I saw some nice looking older Hotels where the rate would be in the $100 range. In Medellin I stayed in a nice older Hotel with a rate of $90 (Poblado Plaza). This hotel was in the section of all the malls, restaurants etc. I have to admit that I like Malls. They provide lots of eye candy, restaurants and something to do after the sightseeing. The malls especially in Medellin are spectacular. The designs are different then any I have seen and make the boring malls in the USA look pretty ordinary. The food courts are a great way to sample Colombian restaurants and staying away from the same old USA companies such as Mac and Burger King. Taxis are relatively cheap. Bogota airport to the Hotel is 30 minutes and about $17. Medellin is 45 minutes and about $30 but worth every penny for the scenery. The airport is on top of a mountain and the entire drive is through wonderful hills and fields that remind me of Switzerland. Taxis around town will cost $3-$10 depending on distance. There are casinos in both cities. I did not go inside having lived in Las Vegas for 6 years , I hate them but some may like the additional diversion. Both cities are relatively new to tourism. Their visitors in the past have been more business oriented but since the Drug Cartels have been beaten back tourism is on the rise. Just don't expect a tourist infrastructure of the type you might find in Rio or Bangkok. It will happen I am sure. Most of the visitors I encountered were from Europe or South America. I never saw another American and from watching people in the Customs line there were definitely no USA passports.

From a discussion with brasilian friends in Brazil, I understood that many Brazilians go to Columbia to find cheap and good boys. Bogota is presented as a safe place to go to, which was not at all the case when I visited it long time ago. It seems that boys are available in the saunas also

From today's Times: Colombia NONSTOPS FROM Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New York, Washington and Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. WHAT YOU GET Tropical beaches; Amazon jungle; snowcapped Andes mountains. WHY GO NOW? Having made great strides in safety, Colombia is back on many travelers’ wish lists. Last year, the number of visitors from the United States rose 10 percent, according to Proexport Colombia, the nation’s tourism promoter. Though the State Department continues to caution United States travelers of violence by narco-terrorist groups in some rural areas and big cities in its Travel Warning on Colombia, it also notes that security has “improved significantly” in recent years in tourist destinations like Cartagena and Bogotá. International hotel chains have taken note. Next year, Colombia expects 42 hotels to open, adding 7,287 rooms to the country. Still, prices remain low, even at the high end. The JW Marriott Bogotá, which opened last year, was recently offering last-minute weekend rates from $209 on its Web site. Oasis Collections, a boutique rental agency with design-oriented apartments in Latin America, has several affordable Colombia options including a three-bedroom on a private island in the Rosario Islands for $2,880 a week.

This is from the United States - Department of State web page as of 11-5-2010. After reading even a portion of this, would anyone feel safe visiting Columbia? SAFETY AND SECURITY: While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas as well as large cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country. In recent months there has been a marked increase in violent crime in Colombia. Murder rates have risen significantly in some major cities, particularly Medellin and Cali. Kidnapping remains a serious threat. American citizens have been the victim of violent crime, including kidnapping and murder. Firearms are prevalent in Colombia and altercations can often turn violent. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime also remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Colombia. The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Kidnapping in rural areas is of particular concern. On July 2, 2008, the Government of Colombia rescued 15 hostages, including three Americans, who had been held for more than five years. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government's ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited. U.S. government officials and their families in Colombia are permitted to travel to major cities in the country, but normally only by air. They may not use inter- or intra-city bus transportation, or travel by road outside urban areas at night. All Americans in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs' web site. It contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad. Back to Top CRIME: Although the threat of terrorism has decreased in most of Colombia’s cities, they nevertheless experience much of the same crime that is seen in comparably sized cities throughout the region. Robbery and other violent crimes, as well as scams against unsuspecting tourists, are common in urban areas. Generally speaking, if you are the victim of a robbery, you should not resist. Some of the most common methods used by criminals in Colombia are noted below: Robberies of ATM customers: Tourists and others have been robbed after using automatic teller machines (ATMs) on the street. In some cases, robbers have used motorcycles to approach their victims and later flee the scene. Americans are urged to use ATMs only inside shopping malls or other protected locations. Driving to and from the location – rather than walking – provides added protection. When using an ATM, you should be on the lookout for anyone watching or following you. Robberies of taxi passengers: Robbery of taxi passengers is a serious problem in Bogota. Typically, the driver – who is one of the conspirators – will pick up the passenger and then stop to pick up two or more armed cohorts, who enter the cab, overpower the passenger, and take his/her belongings. If the passenger has an ATM card, the perpetrators may force the passenger to withdraw money from various ATM locations. Such ordeals can last for hours. In almost every case of taxi-related crime, the victims have been riding alone and have hailed taxis off the street. Rather than hailing a taxi, you should use the telephone dispatch service that most taxi companies offer. Many hotels, restaurants, and stores will call a taxi for you, and the taxi usually arrives within minutes. When a taxi is dispatched by telephone, the dispatcher creates a record of the call and the responding taxi. Robberies of tourists departing airports: U.S. citizens arriving at major Colombian airports have occasionally been victimized by armed robbers while en route from the airport to their hotel or home. The perpetrators typically scout out victims at the airport and then follow their vehicles before robbing the occupants at a stoplight. Travelers should remain vigilant at airports and report to local airport police if they suspect they may be under surveillance.

If you are going to travel to Colombia I can assure you that there is no need to hire .. the boys there are handsome, sexy and many of them are always happy to meet Americans or Canadians. They will be the most faithful friend, lover, travelmate that you could possibly desire. If they like you they will never, and I mean never(up to 20 years!!) forget you or leave you alone! The downside is that most of the boys will not speak any english.. and of course Colombia has had a bad reputation for the last fifty years for its kidnappings, drug killings and crime. Bogota and Medellin are beautiful cities that will surprise you. The security situation has improved greatly in the last five years however, for those daring to go.

I am glad to see that you were able to enjoy the company of one of Colombia's finest. The boys there are great, and if they fall in love with you ..well start registering at Bloomingdales. Colombia while beautiful and diverse, is not tourist friendly. They have been through a 50 year de facto civil war, drug war, right wing death sqaud war,kidnappings, etc. which has resulted in the extensive security measures that you experienced. It is too bad because the country has so much to offer. The capital, Bogota and Cali, to the south are also nice places to visit with active gay scenes where you can get an overdose of cute Colombian guys. Colombia surprisingly has recently seen more progress with respect to gay rights than we have here in the US(or not surprisingly with our current administration). Its Supreme Court in Feb granted certain property rights to gay couples, and gays are able to serve openly in the military. I have never seen any overt prejudice against gays there. If you are wiling to tolerate the many inconveniences that come with being a non spanish speaking tourist, your trip may be full of pleasant surprises.

Medellin is like most other major cities in the world, it has its nice areas and it has nieghborhoods that you would not want to stray into unless you are riding in an armored tank with your heavily armed bodyguards. Medellin may be the nicest city in Colombia, it has a pleasant year round climate and is surronded by mountains. The people you will most likely find to be agreeable. They are not particularly used to tourists, with a 50 year civil war going on, so service may not be what you would experience in Costa Rica for example, a country which relies heavily on tourist income. As for the boy scene, I have not been there in a while, but there are nice places(ie bars) to go and a lot of the boys love Americans. I find it easier to meet guys on the street or in parks, They are very cruisy and it is not hard to strike up a conversation with a cutie after the requisite initial eye contact. A lot of the Colombian boys are good looking and you should have no trouble finding someone to suit your tastes. I am not talking about boys who are necessarily escorts or charging for their company. English is not widely spoken however, so if you do not speak spanish, carry your english-spanish dictionary. In the past I dated some guys from Medellin and they are the best bf's you can have. If they really like you, you are really going to be spoiled. Cali and Bogota are also great places to visit and make new friends. Have a great time..