macdaddi

It is. And it is also highly regulated with police and surveillance. In your planning process, consider that getting around Bogotá is going to be a challenge as the city runs North South (mostly) and there is no metro-subway system. So everyone gets around on cars-motorbikes-buses while fighting for access to the limited two-lane streets. Traffic is a known challenge in Bogotá. Just want to be certain that you are not limiting your options because staying north of Usaquén is going to require a 40 minute taxi ride to get down to Chapigay, and close to 1 hour to travel to the historic Centro in the south in good traffic. The Cedritos area of the city has limited its access to 2 main streets running north-south because of the very deliberate placement of the country club and golf course. It is not easy to access this part of the city for reason. So please consider that in your decision making.

A few thoughts about Bogotá, Per your research, there is both an economic and psychographic split between North and South. In fact, residents of Northern Bogotá will refer to themselves as "rolo-rola" while the South refers to themselves as "cachaco-cachaca". They both mean resident of Bogotá. You can do a small Rorschach test by asking locals where they are from as the answer for locals is generally telling. I do think you are really overthinking location since the cruising hot spots change throughout the year. Most guys that want to have sex with other men will generally head down to Chapigay for entertainment. You will see that every block in Chapigay has businesses that cater to gay men, although it sounds like things are in a decline currently. As this is your first trip, either stay in Chapinero or within a 20 minute walk of that area. That gives you Chapigay, Chapinero Alto, or potentially Palermo to the south. Chapinero includes the financial district (along Carrera 7) so much of that zona is dead on weekends. If you want to venture out to a less "touristy" neighbourhood, then look at rentals in El Chicó around Parque Virrey which is a very desirable address popular with young professionals and families. Lots of local shops, gyms (Rolos take great pride at staying in shape), cafes, and restaurants and you are a 10 minute cab ride from Chapigay. One plus here is because of the demographics, you will meet plenty of people who speak English and will be happy to chat. If you move just 3 blocks to the north, you will also find options around Parque de la 93 which is a popular zona for the technology companies in the city, which means plenty of young professionals live and work in this neighbourhood. This still puts you within a 15 minute taxi ride from Chapigay. Cheers!

Odd. I am not aware of any restrictions on drinking water in Cali. Other areas of the country yes, but the water systems for the major cities (that you are visiting in your stated itinerary) have all been upgraded and the tap water is safe to drink. So the warning is curious, to the point of being a red flag. Outside of the major cities (and this includes Cartagena) NEVER drink tap water because it is not properly treated. But in Cali this should not be an issue. Unless you are determined to stay at that listing, I would look at other options.

No. If you want an authentic experience, stay in Laureles. El Poblado has become the epicentre for remote workers and ex-pats in the city. If you follow any Medellín real estate accounts, all of those big apartments for sale is because the Colombians (including those who can afford them) avoid the Poblado neighbourhood. Getting around the city is an issue since everything is split West-East because of the Medellín river. The local boys won't care, they are used to it. They are most likely to live in an area far from Poblado so don't let that factor into your decision.

Good to be thinking about this. Short answer is yes, you can use your phone in public. However, be aware of your surroundings. You may have seen the videos of moto thiefs grabbing phones from users hands in Colombia. That is a real thing. So be discrete. Don't pull out your iPhone 15 Max in public and think no one is going to notice. As the Colombians say "no dar papaya". Don't make a show of it, don't be obvious. But don't let paranoia ruin your experiences of the city. Just keep the phone in your pocket, or go Colombian and store your phone in the crotch of your briefs. Some caleño may even ask you to retrieve his phone for him, it's a not-very-subtle pick up move there. As for public transit, you can absolutely take the bus during the day. It's the easiest way to get from downtown (north Cali) to the south and the outer suburbs thanks to dedicated bus lanes.

There are many video clubs and men's clubs in different barrios across the city. Some, like Metropolis Club, are larger spaces while most are small, multi-roomed bars where men watch the football game and cruise between drinks. It is meant to be a social space for men to fraternize together. If you want to suck a dick in between halves, then most contain a space to do that. If you search for gay spaces in Cali on Google maps, you will see these clubs spread out across most of the city's barrios.

Use good sense. There will be those who approach you purely because of a gringo fetish, because you are new and fresh to the scene, and others will be interested what cash they can extract from your wallet. Don't give into temptation; keep your wits about you and be certain that you are comfortable with the person and that they are genuinely interested in you. Finally, as discussed extensively here, remember that the security at your Airbnb is there to protect. They should be aware of your guests and most will not allow guests to exit if you are not with them. Get in the habit of exiting with your guests so the security knows if something isn't right. Just relax and keep your eyes open. I've had many occasions where I have had instant "boyfriends" who turn into personal security to keep the other punters off their new find. Just watch for the signs or being too aggressive, insistent on spending your money, or overly affectionate within minutes. If it feels too showy or fake it probably is. But if you meet some hunky caleño who wants to show you his moves in bed, I am not telling you that you shouldn't.

Stay For a first trip, I am going to suggest that you stay either in barrio Granada -- El Hayedo de Juanambú on Calle 10a Norte caters to remote workers with all the amenities onsite -- or in barrio San Antonio. Both are very central and walkable, although Granada is in the hills. In both Grenada-Versalles and San Antonio there are plenty of Airbnb options. As for horny locals, they will be happy to meet you in either area. While spread out, Cali is not a huge city. Either neighbourhood is a 15 minute moto ride from the more populous barrios in central Cali. My recommendation is when planning your stay, make sure they have motorbike parking available for guests. They will be concerned about theft, as Cali has a higher crime rate that other cities in Colombia. Just so you know. Things to Do -- Cali is surprisingly walkable because it is mostly flat. There are multiple neighbourhoods to explore and things to see and do in the city. This is the epicenter of salsa in Colombia so definitely plan to explore the clubs and bars just to watch the salsa shows. Or take lessons, there are daily free lessons at Parque del perro, close to the university. That neighbourhood has plenty of small bars, cafes and restaurants that cater to students so you will meet young people there. The riverwalk is interesting and filled with locals walking, jogging and cycling on weekends so there will be vendors and live performances along that area. Nightlife Plan a night out in Grenada which is filled with discos and clubs that are open until 2am on weekends. Then the party moves to barrio Arroyohonda for the electronic and reggaeton crowds, while others will pack the salsa clubs in Juanchito until the sun comes up. You will find a gay-presence in both. There are also multiple gay discos to choose from in Granada (RIP Queen bar) that are packed on the weekend. In fact, you will find the party spills out into the streets when many locals will split a bottle of rum on the sidewalk, hanging out until the clubs get going on the weekends. It's a social scene and you will likely be invited to join these groups for a drink. A safe way to meet some locals. Shopping If you like to shop, there are several commercial shopping centres that offer the latest kit, but I would direct you to explore some of the local boutiques in different neighbourhoods around the city. Will also point out that caleños seem to love sexy underwear and you will see men's underwear boutiques, much of it produced locally, all around the city. The markets behind the river walk are interesting but keep your eyes wide open while exploring. Stay the hell away from this area after dark. Hiking There are several hikes in the city up to the surrounding hills in El Cerro and Loma Linda. Outside the city you will also find a number of small towns and nature areas to explore. In town there are many historic sites along the river to see, and you can visit the Butterfly sanctuary in the west side neighbourhood of Cristo Rey, close to the trail up to the Christ statue overlooking the city. Hooking Up While Cali is off the beaten path, you will meet many gringos who are also working remotely or who simply married and stayed in the city. It has a strong pull for some. I don't know that I would call Cali the centre of afro-colombian culture but there is strong and important presence here since Cali is the gateway to Colombia's pacific coast. What you should know is that you will be sought out by gringo fetishists and those who simply see you as an ATM. Use your powers wisely. For this reason, I would suggest meeting in public first on all occasions and decide if you want to continue further at your place. Optionally, the city has upwards of a dozen "men's clubs" which are basic clubs where men go to drink and have sex. Beyond the macho posing, there is little attitude towards gay men in the city. Finally, re Tinder -- the issue is that it is free. Most people that have Tinder in Colombia use it contact their drug dealer (facts) so it is not the first choice for locals. Grindr is limited account usage so less abuse-scams. Scruff is also very popular in Colombia FWIW. The saying in Cali is "Cali es Cali, el resto es loma". It is a different vibe to the rest of Colombia but there are certainly lots of ways to enjoy yourself. Good luck.

jeje Sii - Palermo, was a neighbourhood settled by Italian immigrants, so not named after a spaniard.

Yes and yes. The University area is very desirable and you are within walking distance to Palmero which is a trendy and upcoming neighbourhood for cafés and restaurants in Bogotá. The area is mostly residential (the home of the original Ugly Betty is nearby and a big tourist attraction) but there is a nice scene emerging in that zona. The BH hotel chains are in every Colombian city and are a modern, comfortable option for a hotel stay. Great choice and very central if you want to explore the city outside of Chapigay. The one drawback, while not major, is crossing El Dorado is a pain as a pedestrian. Make sure your taxi driver knows what exito to take from El Dorado to arrive at the hotel before they start the meter. Other than that, enjoy Bogotá.

@Young11 Yes. Chapigay is literally how the locals refer to the neighbourhood. Chapigay colloquially is the barrio within Chapinero where all of the gay saunas, bars, discos and restaurants can be found. Chapinero barrio is everything between Calle 72 (to the north) to Calle 26 (south), and between Calle 1 (above in the the hills) to Avenida Cra 30 which is technically the main North - South transportation conduit in the city (and where the new metro line is being built). Chapigay zona is a much more condensed. You can focus on the area between Calle 66 in the north to Calle 58 Bis (precisely the street entrance to Theatrón) in the south. Everything is located between Carrera 13 and Carrera 7 to the West and East respectively. So if you book something within walking distance to these locators, you will be just fine. To be fair, there are other places outside of this neighbourhood, but this should be enough to keep you busy for a first tour. For fun I searched Google for a map of Chapigay to get you started. https://www.google.com/maps/search/chapigay+bogota/@4.6432589,-74.0606375,16z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu The best resource for events-bars-saunas is the Guia Gay Colombia but it is only available in español https://www.guiagaycolombia.com/ Good luck with your planning.

Yes @Menaughty, Escortbuk has been discussed here on other forms. Be aware that the prices are well above the going market rate for Colombia. However, they market themselves as a premium service provider (zero hassles) and all of their escorts speak English if that is a important factor for you. When you request a "date" with one of their escorts, you will be provided with full details, including a face photo. Obviously targeted at the growing tourist market, their escorts will show up at the agreed time and know exactly what they are there to do. If you are willing to pay for a no-hassle professional service, then Escortbuk is absolutely a good option.

For a first visit, stay in Chapigay. Everything is walking distance and all of the gay-ness is walking distance. There are also a few clubs and bars in Zona T immediately north of Chapinero. Yes, the buildings in the hills above Avenida 7 are considered a very desirable place to live with excellent restaurants and amenities. As for guests, this topic has been covered to death here. The vast majority of hotels will charge for overnight guests. Find out the fee in advance. Some exceptions to the rule have been shared here. If you want total access, it's Airbnb/VRBO for you and expect mandatory registration of all guests with the doorman/security. You may luck out on a building without that, but it is to your benefit as has been discussed previously. If you absolutely cannot abide either option, there are tons of love motels in the zona and multiple sauna options. FWIW When in Bogotá I stay either in upper Chapinero or in the Parque Virrey neighbourhoods. I also walk frequently alone at night because I know the city and the different barrios. For a first-time visitor, use Uber or Indriver and stay safe. Enjoy!

Glad that worked out for you. I stayed in Floresta/La Florida and the refusal to serve foreigners was noticeable (after 7 years here my Pasia Spanish is pretty damn good). Was refused service in the neighbourhood multiple times. Plus the biggest baber shop-chain in the city no longer offers manicure/pedicure service. So though I would share this place as they do an excellent job and full service. But I you can still access local nail salons it will be cheaper by 10-20 pesos.

You get one guest. That’’s it. If you change the guest and their related info then you will be charged a full night stay which was around $250 per night last week (Semana Santa is always highest rates). For this reason I normally stay in an Airbnb when you have more flexibility to entertain guests. Remember that overnight guest is usually monitored in Colombia. There are hotels in the Poblado area that traditionally have been more lenient with guests, but I am not current on status. I would recommend looking closely at the guest policy of Airbnb options in the surrounding neighbourhoods of Castropol, Manilla, or Provenza (all easy walking distance) if you need to stay in Poblado. Good luck.

It is quite common in most of Colombia for hotels to have a guest policy that does not allow admission to non-registered guests (i.e. at the time of booking). Of the three hotels listed, I can tell you that the Charlee will allow you to bring in one guest -- who will be registered at the reception desk -- but any more that that one additional name will be charged a full reservation feel for their stay, whether overnight or for a few hours. It is in their policy as of today, since I am staying here right now.

@floridarob Here in Colombia, unless delivered with a scowl and some spittle, the word "gringo" simply means "foreigner". It is very, very rarely used as a slur (they have other words for that) and has a pretty neutral emotional value. It simply means "you are not from Colombia and you are not latino". I have had some funny conversations with black friends explaining that they too are considered gringos in Colombia. Yes, I am aware that this is not the case for all Lain American countries. Worth a separate Discussion about other's experiences. But back to the statement. Yes, Colombians, particularly in the large cities, are feeling fatigued by the incredible growth in tourism over the past 5 years. They have reached the point where the novelty of seeing so many foreign faces has worn off. The cost of living and food have gotten more expensive with global supply chain and fuel issues, and everyone is feeling it here. The easy calculation is to add the two realities together. Whenever I am asked the inevitable "Where are you from?" (it will always be prefaced with some chit chat because Colombians are very formal when first meeting), I have my go-to answer ready, and you are welcome to steal this. I explain that I am part-Colombian now since I claimed refugee status to escape the inhumanity of Canadian winters, and am working towards obtaining full citizenship. That usually breaks the ice (pun intended). Yes, the language skills help, but my suggestion to anyone is that you need to be ready to help your Colombian friend connect with the human behind the gringo exterior. Once you get past that cultural hurdle, there is much to love about this incredible country.

I can't promise you anything, but I had no problems connecting several times with my grey hair intact.

The current reigning hot spot, the Black & White club is a sex club. This old building contains mazes, two dark rooms with slings, lots of low seating for those who need to be sat a low height for whatever reason, and a large outdoor smoking area with porn. They have a different dress code daily (shirts no underwear, jockstraps, boxers, etc.) The most popular day is Sunday which is totally nude. Saw lots of fucking and groups in every zone within the club, so there is no particular special room. Air conditioned with fans in all dark rooms is a nice touch for Cali. Crowed was quite young (25-35) with a few grey hairs around the space. Cali can be quite reserved so this was a nice surprise to find a straighforward gay fuck club. Open daily 3pm - 9pm (until 10pm for special events like the poster attached) Calle 14Norte #38 (the Phisicus Spa is around the corner on the same block) Tel +57 321 5068071 WhatsApp +57 318 574307 Twitter: @Bwhitecats_

Mompóx is one of my favourites, but a long trip by car. Feel free to DM me and I can discuss — have driven down to Mompóx from Cartagena and from Tolú. If you want something different, I suspect you would enjoy Bogotá scene over Medellin simply because Bogotá is in your face while Medellin takes a bit to figure out. Just pack for cooler nights. i have been spending my winters here in Medellin for the past 7 years (here now) so feel free to send me specific questions and I will try to answer quickly.

I will be in Cartagena next week (Mat 20) and can update you then. Spending a few days witth friends before winding down in the islands for some vacation. I can ask for specific updates, you may want to take a look at my club report (pre-Gemini) on the Cartagena scene. Can answer specific questions about Gabannna (I walkfrom Getsemani but can understand why others would not) City Club, and Aventura.

Re-reading original post, sounds like trip to Baranquilla is set already. Happy to share some notes on the nightlife scene there. It is a large city so there is a thriving scene to be certain.

Both. The popularity of Medellin for remote workers and tourism is noticeable -- you see foreigners almost everywhere -- and there is growing resentment for the increased costs for housing (rental market up 20% since 2023) and food. Prices are noticeably higher this year. When people get hit in the pocketbook, that hurts.

This post may help with Medellin options. Cheers

Something happening in Medellín is a growing resistance to foreigners. I found it increasingly difficult this year to get a proper manicure/pedicure in the city as many spas will tell you they don't offer their serivces to men (not true but what are you going to say/do?) I found a new barbershop that I am happy to share -- Desert Eagle Barba VIP in the Mall Gran Via (Transversal 75B #5-106 - barrio Belén) that offers a complete set of services to men in a funky and friendly environment. They offer bar service and a pool table while you wait your turn with one of eight barbers. Services include haircut, shave + beard services, facial exfoliation, manicures, pedicures, and waxing (ears, nose, eyebrows). Prices slightly higher than other barbershops but happy to pay to get everything done in one stop. WhatsApp +57 302 3427971