Does anyone know if it is safe for an American who stands out like a sore thumb to take a bus or mini-bus from Medellin to Pereira? I am mostly concerned about terrorists, not so much road conditions and such.

AJ

I did it 2 or 3 years ago, but I was with my Paisa novia. Even though I have lived in Colombia for over 5 years now, I am still leery of leaving the bigger cities without a local that I know well.

However, that should be a pretty safe ride.

Thanks, maybe I will just play it safe and cough up the money for a plane.

I wouldn't even worry about it. There is not much happening in that part of the country these days. I've done that trip 2 times and never felt any kind of threat.

In March I took the bus from Bogota to Cali, stopping in Ibague to spend the night, and never had any problems.

Bus travel in Colombia is OK, but not near as good as Mexico. Mexican bus companies clearly post destinations and prices on the board right behind the ticket counter. Not in Colombia.

Bus travel in general in Colombia is not okay. It depends on the route. And it depends on the day of the week and time of day. Between Cartagena and Santa Marta is generally safe during the day. Rides in the interior can be problematic.