I am planning a trip to Colombia in Jan 2009, the Area around Santa Marta and Tyrona National Park, Has anyone been there before? Are threre important things to know, what about the safety of tourists there?
Thanks for all informations

For your information, an older topic in this forum (in case you would not have already noticed it):
Pico Cristobal Colon, Colombia
The area is of interest to me but have never been there...
Suerte en tu proyecto,
Ario

I don't know the areas you mentioned, but I have been to Colombia many times and I can tell you that the safety of tourists does not sit at top the list of the Colombian government when it comes to issues to tackle.

I don't think tourists are a primary target of the local guerrilla but they are definitely a target for everyday crooks. Watch out.

Thanks for the replies, I have seen the older topic, thats exactly the area i want to visit.
Seems that i have to take more care than usually

no major safety issues in Tayrona - slept at the beach for a whole week, lots of other tourists - tropical paradise

Niederbayer wrote:no major safety issues in Tayrona - slept at the beach for a whole week, lots of other tourists - tropical paradise

Thanks for the Info

Back from my trip to Colombia I have to confess that it was a little bit different than I expected.
But in a positive way.
Of course, you have to be careful in the normal way you would take care in every other place of the world, so i can only recommend to visit that country.

Hi,
Visitors of this post please see my comments here http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43930.

I have been in the region of Cali, Popayan and around this month, the situation there has becoming more dangerous after some policemen have been killed, and theres a lot of police and military in the departments of Valle de Cauca and Cauca, the advice there was not visiting the mountains and the areas around the cities. As well, I didnt have any problems there, and a some trekkers and bike tourists have been there, crossing the area without any problems.
To take care and being very careful would be a good advice these days!!