I was asked to do a week of consulting for a client in Bogota, Colombia and decided to do it. (The client has been very good to me over the years and I wanted to return the favor, plus it ight lead to more work in safer countries in South America.) I have read the U.S. State Department warnings and am well aware of the situation there.

I would like to hear from anyone who has spent time in Bogota recently to get more of a feel for what is going on there. Specifically, is it really as unsafe as its reputation? I have told the client that I want them to escort me to and from the airport, and to and from work each day so I can avoid problematic situations for an American. The other precaution I am planning is to take all my meals at the hotel rather than go out alone at night. Am I being overly cautious? Or are there other safety measures I ought to be thinking about?

Is anyone familiar with the hotel they have selected for me, the Dann Carlton? (It's an SRS hotel; I've never stayed in one so I am not familiar with them.) I specifically requested a place with a good restaurant; does anyone know if it has one?

How about eating down there? Any foods to avoid? Do I need to avoid the water and uncooked vegetables that might be washed in water?

Thanks in advance for your help, advice, and suggestions.

dgolds

Personally, I'd kill for your job. Sure you have to take sensible precautions and be aware of what's going on around you. But Bogota is a great city.
Your hotel is fairly central(if my memory is correct) and close to a beautiful old colonial barrio called (I think) la Candelaria. Its also walking distance to a much touted restaurant named La Casa Vieja (funnily enough in an old house) where for a huge amount of money you can eat traditional colombian food that you could probably eat in any campesino's house for a millionth of the price. But it is served on nice plates and the place does have a nice atmosphere.

As for the water, well when I'm travelling I'd drink the water out of the Ganges so if I was you I'd get someone else's advice about that!

Bogota is great and the Colombian people fantastic - do be prepared for some adventure though; nothing is predictable.

Glad you are taking appropriate precautions dgolds.

Since I've never been, I can't advise you but my friends wife is a native of Bogota. I'll try to find out what I can from her and let you know. She has always recommended extreme caution. Recently, the government plan making everyone including rich executive types take public transportation to help alleviate the traffic nightmares lead to a huge increase of mugggings on buses, etc!

And you've heard I'm sure,"they" (rebel cheiftain) have declared war on the US!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001054.html

BTW- He, her husband, has never been down there. The family, etc comes up here. I do hope things improve quickly down there!

Bogot� is fantastic and an interesting city. I even took my kids there. I spent many happy months and many trips there fascinated with its food, sights and charms. It can be dangerous, problems often arise and you will occasionally hear gunfire especially at night. But I have had more close calls, heard more gunfire, saw more arrests etc in NYC or Chicago than Bogot� and other Colombian cities both in total and on a daily basis. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE EVERYWHERE. Almost all store items are bargains especially leathers, carved wood, imported goods, unset stones or most jewelry at Sterns etc.

Some things in particular, stay off non-express busses, only ride in official taxis, watch out for gangs of homeless street kids, negotiate all taxi fares prior to riding, keep windows up at all times, do not drink the tap water or use ice cubes, beer is world-class and excellent, safe and cheap. I brushed my teeth with it. Hotel, upscale and mid-price restaurants are fine, meat is great but avoid all seafood, and avoid local or street fare no matter how good it looks, smells etc. Avoid salads and uncooked veggies. I have had my share "the revenge" so take mucho Pepto Bis, or you favorite remedy. Paregoric is effective and good to have.

Take in your own rx and medicines....many pharmacies sell faked medicines and the bars and stores commonly sell fake booze.....locals are expert at refilling and resealing bottles (or rx boxes) with world-class fake stamps and seals. If you want jewelry get it at Sterns....not the guys near the hotels or along the "Esmeralda Calle". Interesting to watch the (mostly) illegal transactions.

Lastly the altitude is 10000+ ft so it will take a couple of days to adapt, is cool most nights often wet and mostly cloudy. I always carried a can of Mace, never used it but felt more secure with it.

David- check out my website, and also, there's a link there to Trip Prep (www.tripprep.com) and look up columbia and it'll give you country specific info. If you have any specific travel health questions, drop me an email, and/or I'll email you some info as well.

Wishing you a safe trip. I'll be eager to read your trip report.

I work in sales and marketing consulting with drug (ahem, ethical pharmaceutical) companies and one of my first engagements was down in Bogot�. The client met us at the airport and drove us to and from in his Chevy Blazer. We did not need to jump any curbs, but it felt good driving through the city streets in something above the crowds.
That was back in 1993-94. We stayed in the hotel and did not venture out without the client host. He took us to a restaurant one night that had excellent steaks. Be prepared for meat dishes down there.

I went back in April 1997 to help another team with another project. This time we stayed in a more friendly neighborhood. Hotel Hamilton Court says my CC statement. The place seemed very safe at the time so we walked around a couple of blocks each direction--a nice mall was nearby and the restaurants were pleasant.

On exit from Bogot�, be ready for the big security screen. As you ARRIVE at the terminal, you go through the detector and put your bag on the belt. Expect the usual international security screening stuff, then up to the concourse to do emigration. After emigration, a friendly 18 year-old with an automatic weapon will ask you to make like a scarecrow so he can frisk you for contraband (on exit???). His buddy will search your bags.

Head down the concourse (or to the Admirals Club) and be ready for the same treatment at the gate.

Forgot to mention dgolds - if you're a coffee lover make sure you keep $US10 or the peso equivalent to pick up a 500gm packet of Mesa de los Santos Colombian Cafe in the airport duty-free shop. Something I never fail to do when passing through Bogota. If your not a coffee lover then there are always other colombian agricultural products that seem to be in great demand in The States!!!

To everyone who has written so far, thanks for the tips.

burkey: I had a look at www.tripprep.com. Thanks for that excellent link. I am not planning to get any vaccinations for my 5 days stay, does that sound reasonable? And, assuming I eat only at my hotel and fine restaurants, what dietary precautions do you think are necessary?

Well, in general the "Boil it, peel it, cook it, or forget it" is advisable for any foodstuffs.

As for the shots, for a 5 day city stay, nothing is really needed. For myself, I got the HepA vax a year or two ago, and with a booster in 6-12 months after the first, you're good for about 10 years. It's just starting to be recommened for certain high risk groups of kids, but I'm big on it for adults as well. It's just something I'd advise any traveler to get, but my own personal theory is that you could get HepA from eating at a local restraunt just as easily as from someplace overseas. (Transmission is fecal-oral, ever take a look at some of the people working at the places you eat at in the States? Think they wash their hands?) Ok, the others..

Malaria prophylaxis - only necessary if in rural aresa of Uraba-Bajo Cauca, Pacifico, Amazonia. No need in Bogota or Caribbean islands of San Andres and Providencia.

Yellow fever - officially, it's recommended, but unless you'll be in the jungle/forest with lots of mosquitos (up to 2500m), no real need for the vax, except if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting infected areas (except airport transits)

HepA - see above

HepB - recommended for long term travelers, greater than six months, or high risk travelers, ie: getting tattooing, piercings, dental procedures, and, ahem, "enjoying the local attractions"

Typhoid fever - only if greater than a month, and in really poor eating and drinking conditions

Rabies - again, only if in rural areas and high exposure risk. If I remember right, this vaccine is only about 50-56% effective.

Tetanus - if not had in the past 10 years, you should have it no matter what. Preventative measure.

Travelers diarrhea - Pepto is good for mild forms, as is Imodium, that's what to start with for mild (ie: watery, no blood) If it gets to be more than 3 times a day, fever, etc, then eval for antibotic treatment. I'll see what if any samples are laying around, and I'll bring them along to the Do. You're leaving after that right?

I love it! Words to live by...

Thanks for the very helpful advice. I will be at the Kathmandu Tu and leaving the Monday after that so any samples would be very welcome. Hey, I haven't seen you since the "Philadelphia cheese steaks" outing, it'll be really good to see you again.

And by the way, I'm not planning to get any tattoos or piercings in Bogota.

Infectious disease may be the least of your worries, sadly.

Please excercise extreme caution. At least 17 more people, including two children, died over the last 2 days in killings from sporadic firefights involving ultra-right and leftist gunmen locked in Colombia's long-running war. Now, more than 35,000 people, mostly all civilians, have died over the last 10 years as a result of this civil conflict.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/inter...l-colombi.html
http://news.excite.com/news/r/000307/08/odd-colombia


In response to your post below, glad to hear it, David!

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 03-14-2000).]

Just to allay any concerns, my plans for the week are:

Client meets me at BOG, takes me to hotel.

Client picks me up at hotel every morning and drops me off at night.

I'm planning to take meals at the hotel unless the client takes me out.

Client picks me up at the hotel the morning of my flight out and takes me to BOG.

I have already made arrangements for all of the above.

Overly paranoid? I don't think so, given what I've been reading here and elsewhere about Bogota.

It's not my preference - I would much rather go around and explore. But when the often devil-may-care Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/sam/col.htm kicks off its description of the place with "...although the violence, cocaine cartels, and guerilla insurgency are very real, they do not necessarily impact on the personal safety of travellers..." it sure makes me concerned. (I love the way they put "do not necessarily" in that sentence.)