Bus Travel in Colombia

[DCNUPE/Eddie]

Although, I utlize this form of travel almost all the time, be careful when riding the bus between cities in Colombia. Speed limit - there is one, but please it ain't like the Colombian National Police (CNP) are out there using radar guns. Not trying to scare anyone, but the below article describes a bus accident early this morning outside of C/gena where one canadian and a 7 yr old died. I only travel on the brand name buses, but it appears that this bus was an affliate of the larger well known comapny.



Mueren una canadiense y una menor de edad en accidente cerca de Cartagena


Cartagena.

Más de 15 personas heridas dejó el accidente esta madrugada de un bus intermunicipal que cubría la ruta Bucaramanaga-Barranquilla-Cartagena, afiliado a la empresa Brasilia. En el siniestro, ocurrido en la carretera La Cordialidad, perdieron la vida una ciudadana canadiense de 40 años de edad y una menor, de siete años.

El accidente se produjo entre la ciudad de Cartagena y el corregimiento de Bayunca.

Hay varias versiones sobre las causas del siniestro. Unas apuntan a un exceso de velocidad por parte del conductor, otra, a que éste se habría quedado dormido, y la tercera a la supuesta intromisión en la vía de un motociclista.

Un médico de la clínica Madre Bernarda, donde fueron llevado varios de los lesionados, dijo que presentan politraumatismos y heridas en diferentes partes del cuerpo.

Los otros heridos fueron trasladados a la clínica Laura Carolina, donde se encuentran, por lo menos dos, con heridas graves.

La menor fallecida fue identificada como Daniela Castillo.

[LastLion]

DC, when I watch the news there , it is like there is at least one major bus accident a day! It is way to common! They drive those curvy mountain roads, like they are Pablo Montoyo, It aint cool!

[Sailover]

We have taken the bus from Cali to Cartagena and back, and Bogota several times. It can indeed be frightening. These are full sized buses which are driven like sports cars. Passing on curves is just one of the things you learn not to watch. We have come so close to other traffic that I literally didn't know how we missed. Commonplace. You just have to hope the averages are with you, or fly. And even then! Did you see the Centurion accident in Bogota?

[Zorro]

I've often said, if you stay out of areas where you shouldn't be, the most dangerous thing in Colombia is the traffic.

Z

[Flaco]

Originally Posted by Sailover

We have taken the bus from Cali to Cartagena and back, and Bogota several times. It can indeed be frightening. These are full sized buses which are driven like sports cars. Passing on curves is just one of the things you learn not to watch. We have come so close to other traffic that I literally didn't know how we missed. Commonplace. You just have to hope the averages are with you, or fly. And even then! Did you see the Centurion accident in Bogota?

Aside from colombian style drivers, is it presently Farc safe to travel from bogota to Cali and Cali to Cart ? I was pricing air, 345 rt Cali to Bogota ? I have found cheaper fares going from LA to NY. Is that the standard fare, or am I not looking in the right places ?

[LuckyGirl]

That is the right price!
Colombia has the expensive price´s tickest!
And two days ago this prices up 25%!!

Hummm

[Sailover]

And that's why we take the bus. Sure, it's 9 hours from Cali to Bogota, in a FREEZING cold bus playing a Sylvester Stallone thriller at top volume, (in Spanish of course) but each time it stops you can buy delicious pastries and coffee while you save $275

[Airto]

Originally Posted by DCNUPE/Eddie

Although, I utlize this form of travel almost all the time, be careful when riding the bus between cities in Colombia. Speed limit - there is one, but please it ain't like the Colombian National Police (CNP) are out there using radar guns. Not trying to scare anyone, but the below article describes a bus accident early this morning outside of C/gena where one canadian and a 7 yr old died. I only travel on the brand name buses, but it appears that this bus was an affliate of the larger well known comapny.

Some of the bus drivers may not be regular employees and get paid per trip which would cause them to rush trying to make more money. This is Dangerous.

[Sailover]

Have you been on a CITY bus lately? Sometimes you really can't quite believe it. I did see one on its side with bloody passengers spread out on the street the other day. And the drivers blocked by the carnage? Honking their horns in annoyance before skirting around the bloody feet to get by and on their important way.

[DCNUPE/Eddie]

Originally Posted by Sailover

And that's why we take the bus. Sure, it's 9 hours from Cali to Bogota, in a FREEZING cold bus playing a Sylvester Stallone thriller at top volume, (in Spanish of course) but each time it stops you can buy delicious pastries and coffee while you save $275

I am litterally LOL........you are so right about Sylvester Stallone.......just a few weeks ago I saw a bootleg copy of some shoot-um up movie that I never seen starring Stallone and it was loud as hell. But I didn't mind, I had my ipod on and sleep most of the way. OMG, how do I love those seats - I mean you can almost stretch all the way out.

And you know something else I was wondering......the vendors who come on the bus - how do they get back to their original spot. I assume they just hop on the next bus going the opposite direction. And another thing, why can't they sell sodas in cans instead of glass bottles? I always feel that I have to rush to drink the soda so I can give the bottle back to him. And another thing.....although I am use to this.....but can I ever get enough napkins to eat my greasy empanada? Oh and the last and probably the funniest.......OMG, have you ever tried taking a piss on the moving bus? I hope you have dark pants on!