Originally Posted by mineistaken

One of those "all American" people who probably does not have much travel experience if any and has skewed view towards the world from statistics and other "theory"

Originally Posted by timlover

Of course I live in Utah. How did you guess? I also married my first cousin and you're right. I've never been more than 5 feet outside of the city limits....I also am missing 10 teeth and there are 4 broken down cars in my front yard.....but then again, I don't have drug cartels in my town up at the local dairyqueen. Incase you're not bright enough...this is sarcasm. Truth is, I love Latin America and I have traveled to many countries. Hell my girlfriend in college was Venzuelan. None of that shit changes the fact that Columbia is a dangerous country to visit...and especially for Americans.

Lets talk some real statistics...

Crime is a serious problem in Cali. As of 2006, there were 1,540 intentional homicides in the city and 1,726 overall when including the metropolitan area. The rates for the city and metropolitan area were 62 and 63 per 100,000 respectively. By 2011 this has increased to 71 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, which has led certain commentators to declare a 'crisis of security' in Cali.[11][12]

Between 1 January and 1 June 2011 there were 923[13] intentional homicides in the inner city of Cali, which is considered a 5% increase compared to 2010.[14] The surge in violence in Cali in 2011 has partly been attributed to what has been described as an ongoing 'mafia war' between the 'neo-paramilitary' groups Los Rastrojos and Los Urabeños.[15] Los Rastrojos are considered the 'heirs' of the Cali Cartel and Los Urabeños have their roots in Colombia's atlantic coast. Los Rastrojos are accused of committing at least 80 murders in Cali in 2011.[16]

According to Colombia's most influential weekly magazine, Semana, there are over 1,700 assassins working for various groups in the city.[17] As of 2011 urban militias, known as Milicias Populares, of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are active in the city and surrounding areas.[18][19] Local civilians and foreigners have been advised by the DAS to take caution due to the risk of planted bombs and kidnappings.[20]

The metropolitan police and the Colombian Army have taken action to stop several high profile bomb attacks against military and administrative centers in recent years, such as the multiple FARC attacks against Cali's Palace of Justice in 2008 and 2010.[21][22] These FARC militias in the Cali metropolitan area are thought to number more than 1000, and have caused serious concern among the authorities as they have stepped up activity in 2011.


So thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather go to Vegas to see a bunch of dirty whores and get mugged by a bunch of meth addicts before I'd travel 2600 miles to get thrown in a shitty broken down 1980s truck and held for a bunch of worthless pesos.

Lets not forget that Colombia is also on the Travel Warning list of the US government. I pay these fuckers enough taxes, so...I'll take their word for it that in some instances....they are doing their job...

Originally Posted by beaner

Is columbia like cuba? I hear great things about cuba that likely wont last much longer