macdaddi

Relax. There is always an emerging "new" panic around Colombia travel. You wouldn't believe the "expert" opinions shared with me when I first traveled to the country and fell in love with Medallo. Perhaps because Narcos on Netflix was popular at the time? Medellín as a whole is less dangerous that most similarly sized cities in North America. The barrios where there are higher rates of violent crimes are ones you are highly unlikely to visit during your first trip. Skipping this city will leave a big to-do on your travel list. Don't let a few negative stories detract you from visiting the city. There is much to see and do, and the paisas are certain to charm the pants off of you. Literally. Cheers. Edit - BTW, if you are still planning to be there in early January 2025, I am around. Happy to meet up and introduce you to some locals and the main spots.

Very -- they sponsor a large number of club promotions and Grindr (paid account) is too expensive for most Colombians.

Just wanted to note that @Latbear4blk is correct, dulces refers to drugs, but in Medellín it quite specifically is used to refer to cocaine or tusi, a pink mixture of several stimulants that is very popular in the club scene. Both would be referred to as dulces, which I have never heard used to refer to the cannabis family.

I typically use "passion" or "into it", which we both know is know is not the full explanation. It kind of feels like estrenar or sobremesar where there isn't a comparable word, just an explanation of what it means culturally.

Doy / buscar liga = paid sex. You may be prepared to pay for sex (doy liga) or are looking to be paid (busco liga). There are other uses certainly but this is the discrete way of saying you are an escort in Grindr and not be explicit. chupar ya roc looks like a misspelling or a shorted word. Note that Colombians insert ya into just about every second sentence, this looks very to be a colloquial use.

Black + White Club Cali is hosting their inaugural finca party in Rozo (northeast of Cali) next weekend if you are around. The event will take place August 24-25th from 6pm-11am with return transportation available. Dress code is bathing suit/briefs. There will be special guests including interactive stripper shows. Contact the club for more information/ticket purchase. Reservation cut off is 22 August 2024, firm. WhatsApp +57 318 5743070 X @bwhitecast_

That's the thread, ¡muchas gracias!

Yes. This has been discussed extensively here but I can't find the start of the exchange. I have been there personally several times, but there are better options. The street is Calle 57a between Avenida Oriental and Carrera 47. The main bars are El Machete and Kanahan's bar. The old restaurant where the boys worked right on the park closed during the pandemic and was non-operational as of this month. I don't recommend visiting as this barrio is not particularly safe after dark. Others here have argued against that so do with that what you want. Here is a map of the Calle del pecado in Medellin. Happy hunting.

Prices drop post-Christmas as everyone is broke and things are mostly quiet in January and don’t begin to pick up until the religious holidays and Valentine’s Day (a big deal in Medellín) happen in February. The paisas in particular have made gringo holidays very fashionable in recent years.

Do consider the timing -- if you did your search within the last week, it is La Feria de las Flores currently (until Sunday, August 11) and prices go up as the city is packed with tourists right now. FWIW. There will be plenty of horny paisas wiling and ready to hook up when you arrive in Medallo.

Nothing, although I prefer the quiet of Belén in Medallo. But clearly I am not very cool, since Time Out designated Laureles the coolest neighbourhood in the world last year, a fact that the locals will proudly repeat. https://www.timeout.com/news/its-official-this-is-the-worlds-coolest-neighbourhood-right-now-101723 I will add @Birmingham boy you may want to check out Medellín Guru blog for insider tips. It's a collective of resources for ex-pats who have relocated/are considering Medellín. They are good about keeping the information up-to-date.

Eso es todo :)

It is. And it is also highly regulated with police and surveillance. In your planning process, consider that getting around Bogotá is going to be a challenge as the city runs North South (mostly) and there is no metro-subway system. So everyone gets around on cars-motorbikes-buses while fighting for access to the limited two-lane streets. Traffic is a known challenge in Bogotá. Just want to be certain that you are not limiting your options because staying north of Usaquén is going to require a 40 minute taxi ride to get down to Chapigay, and close to 1 hour to travel to the historic Centro in the south in good traffic. The Cedritos area of the city has limited its access to 2 main streets running north-south because of the very deliberate placement of the country club and golf course. It is not easy to access this part of the city for reason. So please consider that in your decision making.

A few thoughts about Bogotá, Per your research, there is both an economic and psychographic split between North and South. In fact, residents of Northern Bogotá will refer to themselves as "rolo-rola" while the South refers to themselves as "cachaco-cachaca". They both mean resident of Bogotá. You can do a small Rorschach test by asking locals where they are from as the answer for locals is generally telling. I do think you are really overthinking location since the cruising hot spots change throughout the year. Most guys that want to have sex with other men will generally head down to Chapigay for entertainment. You will see that every block in Chapigay has businesses that cater to gay men, although it sounds like things are in a decline currently. As this is your first trip, either stay in Chapinero or within a 20 minute walk of that area. That gives you Chapigay, Chapinero Alto, or potentially Palermo to the south. Chapinero includes the financial district (along Carrera 7) so much of that zona is dead on weekends. If you want to venture out to a less "touristy" neighbourhood, then look at rentals in El Chicó around Parque Virrey which is a very desirable address popular with young professionals and families. Lots of local shops, gyms (Rolos take great pride at staying in shape), cafes, and restaurants and you are a 10 minute cab ride from Chapigay. One plus here is because of the demographics, you will meet plenty of people who speak English and will be happy to chat. If you move just 3 blocks to the north, you will also find options around Parque de la 93 which is a popular zona for the technology companies in the city, which means plenty of young professionals live and work in this neighbourhood. This still puts you within a 15 minute taxi ride from Chapigay. Cheers!

Odd. I am not aware of any restrictions on drinking water in Cali. Other areas of the country yes, but the water systems for the major cities (that you are visiting in your stated itinerary) have all been upgraded and the tap water is safe to drink. So the warning is curious, to the point of being a red flag. Outside of the major cities (and this includes Cartagena) NEVER drink tap water because it is not properly treated. But in Cali this should not be an issue. Unless you are determined to stay at that listing, I would look at other options.

No. If you want an authentic experience, stay in Laureles. El Poblado has become the epicentre for remote workers and ex-pats in the city. If you follow any Medellín real estate accounts, all of those big apartments for sale is because the Colombians (including those who can afford them) avoid the Poblado neighbourhood. Getting around the city is an issue since everything is split West-East because of the Medellín river. The local boys won't care, they are used to it. They are most likely to live in an area far from Poblado so don't let that factor into your decision.

Good to be thinking about this. Short answer is yes, you can use your phone in public. However, be aware of your surroundings. You may have seen the videos of moto thiefs grabbing phones from users hands in Colombia. That is a real thing. So be discrete. Don't pull out your iPhone 15 Max in public and think no one is going to notice. As the Colombians say "no dar papaya". Don't make a show of it, don't be obvious. But don't let paranoia ruin your experiences of the city. Just keep the phone in your pocket, or go Colombian and store your phone in the crotch of your briefs. Some caleño may even ask you to retrieve his phone for him, it's a not-very-subtle pick up move there. As for public transit, you can absolutely take the bus during the day. It's the easiest way to get from downtown (north Cali) to the south and the outer suburbs thanks to dedicated bus lanes.

There are many video clubs and men's clubs in different barrios across the city. Some, like Metropolis Club, are larger spaces while most are small, multi-roomed bars where men watch the football game and cruise between drinks. It is meant to be a social space for men to fraternize together. If you want to suck a dick in between halves, then most contain a space to do that. If you search for gay spaces in Cali on Google maps, you will see these clubs spread out across most of the city's barrios.

Use good sense. There will be those who approach you purely because of a gringo fetish, because you are new and fresh to the scene, and others will be interested what cash they can extract from your wallet. Don't give into temptation; keep your wits about you and be certain that you are comfortable with the person and that they are genuinely interested in you. Finally, as discussed extensively here, remember that the security at your Airbnb is there to protect. They should be aware of your guests and most will not allow guests to exit if you are not with them. Get in the habit of exiting with your guests so the security knows if something isn't right. Just relax and keep your eyes open. I've had many occasions where I have had instant "boyfriends" who turn into personal security to keep the other punters off their new find. Just watch for the signs or being too aggressive, insistent on spending your money, or overly affectionate within minutes. If it feels too showy or fake it probably is. But if you meet some hunky caleño who wants to show you his moves in bed, I am not telling you that you shouldn't.

Stay For a first trip, I am going to suggest that you stay either in barrio Granada -- El Hayedo de Juanambú on Calle 10a Norte caters to remote workers with all the amenities onsite -- or in barrio San Antonio. Both are very central and walkable, although Granada is in the hills. In both Grenada-Versalles and San Antonio there are plenty of Airbnb options. As for horny locals, they will be happy to meet you in either area. While spread out, Cali is not a huge city. Either neighbourhood is a 15 minute moto ride from the more populous barrios in central Cali. My recommendation is when planning your stay, make sure they have motorbike parking available for guests. They will be concerned about theft, as Cali has a higher crime rate that other cities in Colombia. Just so you know. Things to Do -- Cali is surprisingly walkable because it is mostly flat. There are multiple neighbourhoods to explore and things to see and do in the city. This is the epicenter of salsa in Colombia so definitely plan to explore the clubs and bars just to watch the salsa shows. Or take lessons, there are daily free lessons at Parque del perro, close to the university. That neighbourhood has plenty of small bars, cafes and restaurants that cater to students so you will meet young people there. The riverwalk is interesting and filled with locals walking, jogging and cycling on weekends so there will be vendors and live performances along that area. Nightlife Plan a night out in Grenada which is filled with discos and clubs that are open until 2am on weekends. Then the party moves to barrio Arroyohonda for the electronic and reggaeton crowds, while others will pack the salsa clubs in Juanchito until the sun comes up. You will find a gay-presence in both. There are also multiple gay discos to choose from in Granada (RIP Queen bar) that are packed on the weekend. In fact, you will find the party spills out into the streets when many locals will split a bottle of rum on the sidewalk, hanging out until the clubs get going on the weekends. It's a social scene and you will likely be invited to join these groups for a drink. A safe way to meet some locals. Shopping If you like to shop, there are several commercial shopping centres that offer the latest kit, but I would direct you to explore some of the local boutiques in different neighbourhoods around the city. Will also point out that caleños seem to love sexy underwear and you will see men's underwear boutiques, much of it produced locally, all around the city. The markets behind the river walk are interesting but keep your eyes wide open while exploring. Stay the hell away from this area after dark. Hiking There are several hikes in the city up to the surrounding hills in El Cerro and Loma Linda. Outside the city you will also find a number of small towns and nature areas to explore. In town there are many historic sites along the river to see, and you can visit the Butterfly sanctuary in the west side neighbourhood of Cristo Rey, close to the trail up to the Christ statue overlooking the city. Hooking Up While Cali is off the beaten path, you will meet many gringos who are also working remotely or who simply married and stayed in the city. It has a strong pull for some. I don't know that I would call Cali the centre of afro-colombian culture but there is strong and important presence here since Cali is the gateway to Colombia's pacific coast. What you should know is that you will be sought out by gringo fetishists and those who simply see you as an ATM. Use your powers wisely. For this reason, I would suggest meeting in public first on all occasions and decide if you want to continue further at your place. Optionally, the city has upwards of a dozen "men's clubs" which are basic clubs where men go to drink and have sex. Beyond the macho posing, there is little attitude towards gay men in the city. Finally, re Tinder -- the issue is that it is free. Most people that have Tinder in Colombia use it contact their drug dealer (facts) so it is not the first choice for locals. Grindr is limited account usage so less abuse-scams. Scruff is also very popular in Colombia FWIW. The saying in Cali is "Cali es Cali, el resto es loma". It is a different vibe to the rest of Colombia but there are certainly lots of ways to enjoy yourself. Good luck.

jeje Sii - Palermo, was a neighbourhood settled by Italian immigrants, so not named after a spaniard.

Yes and yes. The University area is very desirable and you are within walking distance to Palmero which is a trendy and upcoming neighbourhood for cafés and restaurants in Bogotá. The area is mostly residential (the home of the original Ugly Betty is nearby and a big tourist attraction) but there is a nice scene emerging in that zona. The BH hotel chains are in every Colombian city and are a modern, comfortable option for a hotel stay. Great choice and very central if you want to explore the city outside of Chapigay. The one drawback, while not major, is crossing El Dorado is a pain as a pedestrian. Make sure your taxi driver knows what exito to take from El Dorado to arrive at the hotel before they start the meter. Other than that, enjoy Bogotá.

@Young11 Yes. Chapigay is literally how the locals refer to the neighbourhood. Chapigay colloquially is the barrio within Chapinero where all of the gay saunas, bars, discos and restaurants can be found. Chapinero barrio is everything between Calle 72 (to the north) to Calle 26 (south), and between Calle 1 (above in the the hills) to Avenida Cra 30 which is technically the main North - South transportation conduit in the city (and where the new metro line is being built). Chapigay zona is a much more condensed. You can focus on the area between Calle 66 in the north to Calle 58 Bis (precisely the street entrance to Theatrón) in the south. Everything is located between Carrera 13 and Carrera 7 to the West and East respectively. So if you book something within walking distance to these locators, you will be just fine. To be fair, there are other places outside of this neighbourhood, but this should be enough to keep you busy for a first tour. For fun I searched Google for a map of Chapigay to get you started. https://www.google.com/maps/search/chapigay+bogota/@4.6432589,-74.0606375,16z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu The best resource for events-bars-saunas is the Guia Gay Colombia but it is only available in español https://www.guiagaycolombia.com/ Good luck with your planning.

Yes @Menaughty, Escortbuk has been discussed here on other forms. Be aware that the prices are well above the going market rate for Colombia. However, they market themselves as a premium service provider (zero hassles) and all of their escorts speak English if that is a important factor for you. When you request a "date" with one of their escorts, you will be provided with full details, including a face photo. Obviously targeted at the growing tourist market, their escorts will show up at the agreed time and know exactly what they are there to do. If you are willing to pay for a no-hassle professional service, then Escortbuk is absolutely a good option.