South America - Safety in Bogota (Airlines and Traveling Overland)

I'm a young American woman who will be traveling to Colombia alone this year and crossing the border into Venezuela. I have been to South America before, lived in South America for a few months, and speak Spanish.

The State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel on roads at night. Is Bogota safe at night? In addition, a Venezuelan will be meeting me in Cucuta and driving me across the Colombia-Venezuelan border. Is that trip safe in non-daylight hours? During the day, are there any safety concerns?

I'm also have difficulty finding information about the safety of Colombian airlines. Avianca has a horrible safety record but is the only airline that passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit. Does anyone have any knowledge about Copa and Aires' safety records?

Finally, is it safe for me to spend the night in the Bogota airport if I arrive late one night and have an early morning flight? It seems like a hassle to get a cab and travel to a hotel, since I am assume there aren't any located near the airport.

Thanks!

The State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel on roads at night. Is Bogota safe at night?

Depends on the neighborhood, of course, just like any large city in the world, but yes, I'd have to say that generally the nice areas of Bogota are safe at night. I feel very comfortable walking around the nice parts of the North of the city at night and you will see tons of people out and about enjoying bars and restaurants.

While it's a must-see during the day, the historic center La Candelaria is said to be not that safe at night.


I'm also have difficulty finding information about the safety of Colombian airlines. Avianca has a horrible safety record but is the only airline that passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit. Does anyone have any knowledge about Copa and Aires' safety records?

I don't know why you believe that Avianca has a "horrible" safety record. That statement is not true. AV's recent safety record is good and it is a respected carrier in the industry.

Based on informed anecdotal comments (in the industry), I'd be quite concerned about flying Aires.

I've never heard any informed commentary either good or bad about Panamanian carrier COPA or its Colombian affiliate Aero Republica but if you view the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) as a bare minimum standard for flying an airline, both COPA and Aero Republica are IOSA registered.

IOSA registry can be found here: http://www.iata.org/ps/certification/iosa/Pages/registry.aspx?Query=all

Agree with what Herb687 says about safety. Some areas we had no problem walking around by ourselves. On a previous visit, I did go through La Candelaria at night, but as a tour group, on a very loudly painted bus, drinking rum (good way to see it ;)), and the locals in the group said it was not an area to get to at night.

Actually, there are some hotels located on the airport expressway, which are maybe only 10-15 minutes away. Bogota airport is a hole - particularly the domestic section and access is limited in the international section. I really would not spend the night there. I'll see if I can dig out the name of the hotel I stayed at - it was quite close to the civil aviaition building as we were attending a conference, and also was not too bad an area for walking around in - there was a shopping mall about 10 mins away which had restaurants if you didn't want to eat in the hotel.

I did fly Avianca domestically, didn't have a problem with it. While generally not as informed about cabin safety as some European/American airlines, it wasn't worse than all of them by a long shot.

On a previous visit, I did go through La Candelaria at night, but as a tour group, on a very loudly painted bus, drinking rum (good way to see it ;)), and the locals in the group said it was not an area to get to at night.A chiva? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rustic_bus) ^

Exactly! :D

Who knew rum came in cartons?! :eek:

Who knew I could salsa...

Exactly! :D

Who knew rum came in cartons?! :eek:

Who knew I could salsa...
Rum in cartons... juice boxes of Aguardiente in the grocery aisle. Who knew?? :)

http://dxrwwtpnj.s3.amazonaws.com/Aguardiente.jpg