Is bottled water safe there?

[Junfan]

Just curious if it is safe to drink the bottled water in Cartagena, don't get me wrong, I plan on sticking with beer but....as they say,'man cannot live on beer alone'

TIA
Mike

Mike, I've drank bottled water without a problem in four Colombian cities including Cartagena.

Yes, they wash the fruits in vegetables in tap water I'm sure, however I never had a problem like I did in Mexico (I was on & off the hopper much too much during that trip)

BTW: I wonder what brand of bottled water Bill Clinton will be drinking when he arrives in Cartagena tomorrow?

[Junfan]

All I know if slick willy is going to cartagena I must be on the right track...he loves las mujerers....

[Kent]

If you get sick in Cartagena unlike here you can go directly to the pharmacy and buy cipro and lomitil. take 2 500mg cipro for 5 days and you will be fine. Do not eat anything that is not cooked and do not eat from the street venders. Its ok to go to the street venders and buy raw fruit like mango's and peel and eat. The Mangos there are at least 5 times the size they are here. On my last trip there i got sick because i broke the rules and ate from the street. If you want agua[water] only drink from a commericial bottle that still has the seal in place. Some hotels say they purify there water. DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER!!!! 8,16 and 32 and 64oz. bottles of water are everywhere and at all store supermarkets cold.Do not drink only beer while in Cartagena. Beer will dehydrate you after drinking only beer for that long a period of time. In Cartagena it is very hot and you will be thirsty many times during the day. Last but not least the beer and water at the supermarkets is 50-75% of what you will pay at the hotel and off the street. It is worth its weight in gold to stay in a hotel that has a mini bar in each room for your use. The first thing I do when I arrive is take all of the mini bar items and put them all in the closet. Then I go to the supermarket and restock it from there. One soda or one water from the hotels mini bar could be as high as 2 american dollars each. Most hotels send a bell boy to your room each day to check the mini bar for there profits. Those Bozos hate it when I stay in there hotels in Cartagena. Upon leaving the hotel of your choice make sure you give yourself enough check out time to allow for the counting of the mini bar. Your dreaming if you think they will forget. I call these refrigerators, A BANDIT WITH OUT A GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Choa

I say it's hopeless. Both my trips to Colombia and Brazil I got the runs BIG-TIME. I stuck by all the rules too and I still got messed up. My next trip I am loading up with pepto,Immodium AD,prep-H,anal medicated pads. Better safe than sorry. You will get sick down there.

Kent,

Your post was excellent.

Mike,

What Kent said was right on the money. However, even if you follow everything that Kent recommends, you may still get a dose of "Montezuma's Revenge" that will knock you out - literally. Every time that I go to Latin America I get a nasty dose of "M.R." without fail. It's just a matter of time.

Now, I always take a jumbo "econo-pack" of Imodium with me. Guess what? Even Imodium won't be strong enough. On your very first day in Cartagena, go to the pharmacy. Do NOT wait until you are sick. Show the pharmacist your box of Imodium and tell him you need something stronger. As Kent said, you won't need a prescription from a doctor. (Actually, you can get a lot more "interesting" stuff from pharmacists in Latin America without a prescription.)

I have no idea what the name of the medicine is, but the pharmacists always know what is needed and sell the same thing no matter where you are in Latin America. Don't worry.

As soon as the "M.R." kicks in, start taking the pills from the Cartagena pharmacist. The stuff works.

[DCNUPE/Eddie]

I agree with all the above!!!!!

As many times as I've been to Colombia, this last time, was my first with the runs. But to my rescue was my new friend Paul from S.A. Texas, (who some of you vets may know). Paul by profession is a reg. nurse and he went to the pharmacy and brought me some cipro and something else which work within hours. It was expensive, but it worked!

While I'm thinking about some of the other Americans I met during my last trip: Where is my man from Az, who I met at the new Lat Dest ofc (sorry, your name and email is at home). He says he reads this forum often. Just wanted to check-up on you.

Anyway, Kent's post on right on target! So was Biave points. I also, rinsed my cups and fruits off with spring/bottle water. My second day normally, I would go to the supermarket Olympia or Maglia Paris (sp) and stock-up.

Peace/Cuidate
Eddie

[desertdan]

don't know anything about Colombia but have traveled a hella of alot in mexico piting for the S.C.O.R.E. racer's. I have a bad habbit of eating anything that looks good ! this does create a problem from time to time, I have learned that the day I leave to Baja I start eating pepto bismal (before I leave)! no mater how carfull you are you still will be subjected to the germs that give you the stomache cramps and the loose as a goose syndrom. the beer will be iced down with guess what ? the same water you don't want to drink!, the dishes the fruit the vegetables all with the same water!. I have called my Doctor and he says there is nothing wrong with starting out with the pepto before you get the bug!, the pills are the best way, but taste pretty nasty. hope this helps, no fun sitting on the throne while the other guys are haveing a beer with the Gals !. good luck