Pablo Escobar is a figure that casts a large shadow over Colombia; those that know little about the country itself still recognize his eerily penetrative eyes, and those entrenched in the history of Colombia are still angry at the troubles caused in the past. Escobar was one of the most notorious, murderous criminals in recent history and for many this still plunges travel to Colombia into obscurity. So how to get rid of this impression?
There’s a great deal of companies, individuals and positive press around at the moment promoting Colombia and we couldn’t be happier. The troubles that happened in Colombia, however, are still only generally mentioned in two ways. One as a precursor to say ‘but now Colombia is safe’; the second is unfortunately to back up the image of Colombia as a dangerous country. We believe to truly move past the issue we need to do something else, and that’s to actually discuss Colombia’s past. That’s why we’ve decided to launch what we’re calling ‘The Pablo Escobar is History Tour’, based in Medellín. Not only do we acknowledge that people are interested in this facet of Colombian history, but also that people should learn about it in order to understand the transformation that has taken place, and to realise that Pablo Escobar (and the whole episode) is history.
With the sensitivity of the issue in mind, we discussed the option of offering a Pablo Escobar tour or leaving the thing alone. The team came to an agreement when we drew upon other historical atrocities and began to see a pattern. What we noticed is that these incidents in history are all tragedies, but they’d almost all received some kind of tourism interest. We realized that this wasn’t a problem or something to complain about, but something to encourage because seeing these things at such proximity, it helps you to learn. We see what can happen and we learn not to make those same mistakes again.
It was decided, then, that See Colombia Travel would create a Pablo Escobar Is History Tour, the title purposefully implying that the whole episode is well and truly over; part of a museum of Colombian culture that is, for the most part, rich, colorful and full of life. We think the way to move on is to acknowledge the past, not to hide from it.
By taking people on a tour, we can fight back against the image that still persists. For most people in the west, the idea that Colombia is violent can come from only one viewing of some Hollywood blockbuster, from the new film, Colombiana, for example. The tour involves a visit to Escobar’s old house; the house where he died and even a conversation with Escobar’s brother, Robert. But it also doubles as a Medellín tour, since tourists will see a great deal of this strikingly modern, progressive city. This, juxtaposed with the information given, will go to show exactly how far the country has come. Tourists will marvel at the beauty of Colombia now and see for themselves that Colombia is, for all intents and purposes, not the country it is portrayed to be.
Colombia is making giant strides forward in all senses and especially as a travel destination. We at See Colombia are part of this and we want to continue helping our beautiful country to become recognized as what it is: one of the most stunning, varied countries on earth. With our new tour we hope to show once and for all that Pablo Escobar is history.
And the future is there for the making.
Proceeds from the tour go towards helping the vulnerable communities of Medellín, as well as to charities involved in HIV research.
To see the Pablo Escobar is History Tour, go here: http://seecolombia.travel/tour/pablo-escobar-is-history/
Rich on
I think if anyone has learned from the Escobar saga it is the Narcos, they now know that to keep the dollars flowing they need to be discrete and not wage open warefare against the state.
To believe that this is actually behind Colombia is naive. Yes, Escobar himself is dead and there are no longer bombs by the week in Bogota or airliners being blown up mid-flight but there is still coca, still corruption, still armed groups, still a high murder rate and still many political murders.
It might be cool for tourists to say they’ve seen Escobars crib, etc, so they can feel like narcos for a day but Colombia’s past bloodshed is greater than one man. Maybe people can go visit Mapiripán or any other number of nameless massacre sites then ask themselves if la violencia every really finished? Sit for a more hands on approach they could go hang on the streets outside Santa Marta or Villavicencio spark up a few joints and see what limpeiza social is all about first hand? I agree Colombia is better for Escobar’s death but it has merely swept alot of it underground or off the front page, the structures and impunity that supported him then still exist today.
JL on
Hi Rich,
Thanks for your message. Of course the drug trafficking is not over and of course Colombia hasn’t get rid of many of her problems; Drug trafficking is an extremely complex problem that starts with the existing demand and with humongous hidden interests that go beyond any geographical territory. However we cannot let the image of Pablo Escobar and the memories of that painful era -in which it was a risk even to get out of your house in Medellin or Cali and in which bombing was common every day – to cast an eternal shadow over everything that this country really is: a progressive country filled with good well intentioned people, with amazing landscapes, an astonishing culture and much more to show to the world that the stereotype that sadly is still in the subconscious of most westerners who wouldn’t even think about travelling to Colombia.
Here at the office we deal with that stereotype every day and with this blog fight to clean that image, our duty is not just to sell Colombia as a destination, but also to reassure to the “pioneers” international travelers that are curious about coming to Colombia that this country is safe to visit now, unlike 20 0r 15 years ago.
Does Colombia still has problems and is still dealing with corruption and drugs? ..No doubt, but as a very seasoned international traveler I can assure you that I feel much safer living in Bogota or Medellin than , for instance, in Lima or Buenos Aires. And now as a Colombian citizen (by choice) I see how this amazing people fight everyday to live in a peaceful country and change that dreadful perception that unfortunately a few keep alive. In regards to your comments about Mapiripan, I have to say there are places in Brazil, Peru, Argentina and in almost every country in the world, actually, in which, using very basic common sense, I wouldn’t dare to go, and the same applies to Colombia.
So I feel the last part of your message is uncalled for, the tour is not intended to glorify one of the most repellent murderers in South American history, at all, but to witness in person how that era is gone. A traveler is not going to come all the way to Colombia just for a 4 hours Pablo Escobar tour, and during the rest of their trip they will enjoy and witness firsthand how much of an amazing travel destination Colombia is and put that part of our country history in context. And it is history where it belongs.
JL