Breaking Borders
Breaking Borders
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andrean303
4 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
We had an amazing tour this morning with this group. It was wonderful to hear about their community and have some insight into their lives and challenges of living in the Barrio . Although our Spanish was limited we could still communicate through a mixture of English and Spanish. Would highly recommend for anyone visiting Bogotá this was our favourite tour so far
Written January 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaakko
Bogota, Colombia7 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Very genuine, powerful and interesting.
Guides tell from personal experience about the neighbourhood, life amongst the gangs and the graffiti’s which were made in the area during the recent years to depict the historical events in the neighbourhood.
The guides don’t speak english (although they claimed otherwise when you book the tour) so be sure to have a translator with you.
Guides tell from personal experience about the neighbourhood, life amongst the gangs and the graffiti’s which were made in the area during the recent years to depict the historical events in the neighbourhood.
The guides don’t speak english (although they claimed otherwise when you book the tour) so be sure to have a translator with you.
Written December 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisan G
9 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We got to know the other side of Bogotá. Our English guide, Andrés, picked us up in the Candelaria and together we explored Egipto for 2.5 hours.
The tour felt very personal, as we got to know Harro and Monkey and more of the people living in the barrio. They explained us the murals and the development of the project. We drank a beer together while one of the inhabitants showed us his ankle bracelet. We were invited into Harro’s home and met one of his sons, his wife and his mother. He explained how his daughter wanted to go to France one day, which was one of the reasons why he supported France in the World Cup.
I think it’s an amazing thing they’re doing, with a lot of passion and interest.
The tour felt very personal, as we got to know Harro and Monkey and more of the people living in the barrio. They explained us the murals and the development of the project. We drank a beer together while one of the inhabitants showed us his ankle bracelet. We were invited into Harro’s home and met one of his sons, his wife and his mother. He explained how his daughter wanted to go to France one day, which was one of the reasons why he supported France in the World Cup.
I think it’s an amazing thing they’re doing, with a lot of passion and interest.
Written December 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole B
Lucerne, Switzerland7 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Something of the best to experience in Bogota. A “must” for anyone interested in the history and “here and now” of Bogota. Former gangster dropouts tell their stories combined with historical and current aspects of land and people. You can feel the emotions, but it is not at all intrusive or uncomfortable. It makes you feel honest. I can't believe what these people have experienced. My colleague and I could not speak Spanish, which we told Andres via Whats app. He organized a friend who knew how to tell perfectly translated and exciting topics himself. From the request, through the organization to the execution everything perfect. We could have listened to the people there all day. We are thrilled. Thank you for these incredible encounters.
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Written June 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pamarx2002
Hong Kong, China187 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
The tour only goes into one section of the barrio, so we didn't cover a lot of ground geographically. But what it lacked in breadth, it more than compensated in depth-- by giving the history of the barrio, and its attendant social and economic challenges. The guides explained the graffiti, and helped us to understand the signifcance of what one might otherwise just pass by as an interesting image. Worth the time spent to learn about the challenges of urban development.
Written September 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen
Calgary, Canada22 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
An incredible, inspiring experience learning about a community working towards a more positive future. We learned a lot about the area, the residents, and the murals. A great grassroots cause to support and learn about. I’d recommend this to anyone visiting Bogotá.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Torontocritic33
Toronto, Canada101 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
I wonder if we went on an off day...honestly, we were bombarded with tip requests by so many people (we stopped counting at 8). One person would talk to us for like 2 minutes about some graffiti, then ask for money (like 10,000-20,000) for school, or for their kids, or for their family, or for coffee...sometimes they were selling stuff and sometimes it was just a request for money. I'm sorry, I know we're better off, but we paid already $50 per person for a two hour walking tour, and had dropped another $50 by the end! Not to mention the constant requests for money just made us feel awkward and certainly ruined what could have been a great tour. Plus the people I had read so much about we did not get to meet, because they'd had too much fun the night before. If you do this tour, be prepared for loads of tip requests and bring lots of 5000 peso bills...we ran out and asked someone for change and she tried to take off...
Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Portland_OregonSadie
Salem, OR159 contributions
Dec 2019
My husband & I spend a week in Bogota, and this was our absolute favorite experience. We booked through Impulse Tours (minus the transportation cost), and met Andres an a cafe ran by indigenous people. It was very interesting and worthwhile. Then, we headed to Egipto where we were joined by Angela, a former gang member. We were able to meet the Jamie, the former head of the gang, and learn all about the community. It was surreal to be in an area that was once filled with violence. The neighborhood's decision to change from crime to tourism is a fantastic achievement. Highly, highly recommended!!!!
Written December 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kar2nen
Sudbury, MA12 contributions
Feb 2022
Anyone with even a shred of social conscience should take this tour while visiting Bogotá. This a perspective-shifting experience for young and old, and life-changing for the community providing the experience.
I took my boys, ages 10 and 13, on the tour on a quiet Tuesday afternoon with an incredible English-speaking tour guide, Andrés (booked with and provided by Impulse Travel), and accompanied Harold, a resident of Barrio Egipto (and formerly incarcerated person) on an incredible journey through the social classes of Bogotá and the transformation of his neighborhood.
We learned about the history of Bogotá in Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo and walked the "Street of the Mandolins" before walking up to Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Egipto and into the neighborhood.
The history lesson of this neighborhood was intense, but perfectly appropriate for my 5th and 8th graders. All around us, we could see the remarkable improvements the Breaking Borders program had provided to its residents: their first street lights. Incredible, symbolic murals by renowned artists with visual lessons in each. The textile workshop (bring some extra cash to buy gifts!). The preschool. And the soccer field.
But the most moving part of the tour is the human connection with the people. Everything you read about Colombia will tell you about the enthusiasm and warmth with which Colombianos welcome their visitors. There was no greater display of this warmth than in Barrio Egipto during our wonderful visit to Bogotá.
To be able to provide this perspective to my children and to forge a human connection to this community are experiences I will never forget.
I took my boys, ages 10 and 13, on the tour on a quiet Tuesday afternoon with an incredible English-speaking tour guide, Andrés (booked with and provided by Impulse Travel), and accompanied Harold, a resident of Barrio Egipto (and formerly incarcerated person) on an incredible journey through the social classes of Bogotá and the transformation of his neighborhood.
We learned about the history of Bogotá in Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo and walked the "Street of the Mandolins" before walking up to Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Egipto and into the neighborhood.
The history lesson of this neighborhood was intense, but perfectly appropriate for my 5th and 8th graders. All around us, we could see the remarkable improvements the Breaking Borders program had provided to its residents: their first street lights. Incredible, symbolic murals by renowned artists with visual lessons in each. The textile workshop (bring some extra cash to buy gifts!). The preschool. And the soccer field.
But the most moving part of the tour is the human connection with the people. Everything you read about Colombia will tell you about the enthusiasm and warmth with which Colombianos welcome their visitors. There was no greater display of this warmth than in Barrio Egipto during our wonderful visit to Bogotá.
To be able to provide this perspective to my children and to forge a human connection to this community are experiences I will never forget.
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UKPanda
Esher, UK54 contributions
Feb 2020
Had an extremely in-depth tour of Egipto and learned firsthand how the lives of the people were being improved thanks to the work of Jaime (Mr Pumpkin)and his associates.
From violent chaos and battles with the police and rival gangs there is now order with a school and new football pitch among other things to encourage friendship and peace.
Our great guide, Raole, translated Jamie’s amazing story from gangster and drug dealer to peace loving organiser of his area, and advised us when to tip and how much, which was very helpful.
Not to be missed.
From violent chaos and battles with the police and rival gangs there is now order with a school and new football pitch among other things to encourage friendship and peace.
Our great guide, Raole, translated Jamie’s amazing story from gangster and drug dealer to peace loving organiser of his area, and advised us when to tip and how much, which was very helpful.
Not to be missed.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.