Backpacker from Mexico to Colombia

sloopskipper says on Feb 29, 2008, 16:24:

You can not drive from Panamá to Colombia. You will have to put your vehicle on a ship and go by sea from Colón to Cartagena.

But your profile looks like you are maybe Colombian, so you know that.

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Catfish35 says on Feb 29, 2008, 16:48:

I did this once or so my friends tell me, but cannothelp you becuz I do not remember it!

"So many guns, and so few brains". sam spade

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tejasmarcos says on Feb 29, 2008, 17:15:

that's cuz catfish was smokin some hooch!

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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durito says on Feb 29, 2008, 17:20:

I backpacked for 18 months in 2003-2004 went from Guatemala all through Central America to Panama, flew from Panama City to Cartagena and went from there through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

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tejasmarcos says on Feb 29, 2008, 17:21:

sweet - got pics?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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durito says on Feb 29, 2008, 17:22:

http://www.goandleaveyourmark.com/trip.html

haven't updated that in a while, i've got a lot of new colombians ones i'll put up eventually

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Chriscan says on Feb 29, 2008, 17:52:

Stay away from the capitol cities in Central America. Panama City is ok. The cities in Colombia are relatively safe and tend to be a lot nicer so save you urban experiences for Colombia.
The best tip I can give is not to take a pack over 30 litres. Big Packs make people look lost and stupid. You don't need more than 1 pair of pants and don't really need a jacket unless you go inland in Colombia.

I usually use a 20 litre pack and it's more than sufficant for me.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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msaucey says on Feb 29, 2008, 21:03:

Do a search on here, there was a very detailed link about the travel experience from USA to Argentina.... Showed pics and had pointers for all the countries you cross....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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adrimm says on Feb 29, 2008, 23:53:

All sorts of people do it. A few years back I met this 17 yo kid from the eastern US who had somehow talked his family into letting him do it... although after chatting with him I could see why they did. Smart kid, excellent spanish. What helped him alot was that he looked very young for his age too, and by the time I met him in Bogota he could blend in anywhere as a fresh-faced mischevious teenage urchin. He was going for 4 mos..

If I ever have kids I hope they have a head like that on their shoulders, that I could trust and encourage them on such an adventure.

Here's the blog of someone else that did it while back as part of a RTW: http://www.mikethenomad.com/

Check Lonely Planet too.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 1, 2008, 02:55:

My boy is planing to do that next year with 3 friends, they're planing to go to the USA first then Mexico all the way to Colombia and if they have time all the way to Bolivia, i told them i am not happy with them doing the Panama/Colombia thing by land i rather prefer if they take a plane from Panama to Cartagena. :((( I even told them to go to Mexico skip all the other Central American countries and go straight to Colombia then all the way down to Argentina, i think it's more interesting

they all are teenagers. between the age of 18 to 20 and to keep away from prepagos on the way hehehehhe

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robi666 says on Mar 1, 2008, 03:12:

Uhm... 18? Why don't you tell him to do an InterRail instead?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 1, 2008, 03:29:

I know 18 :((( ,well some of them will be 19 next year.

Interail it's not that just for travelling around Europe?
he doesn't want to go around Europe he is been around Europe with us and he is getting bored of it.

His Cousins travelled last year Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, and some other countries in latinoamerica.
they want to meet him in Colombia they are both 22, 23. and they are both girls :))))

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robi666 says on Mar 1, 2008, 03:34:

"he is been around Europe with us and he is getting bored of it."
that's the point Kat ;)

I did the Interail four times, backpacking around Europe and to Morocco, it was fun...
But it was 20 years ago, :(
so... what do I know about new generations?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 1, 2008, 03:43:

well they want to explore the new world :))))

To me it's better as I said for him to go from Mexico to Colombia by plane....

I might send a bodyguard to look after him without him noticing heheheheh j/k

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adrimm says on Mar 2, 2008, 15:54:

I think that the euro-trip is a valuable and safe intro trip for backpackers, epecially for green ones who are heading out on their first "overseas" adventure. It's also soo full of backpackers that the range in hostels is spectacular, and everyone from the cheapo-party kid to the older history buff can find a place to stay that suits.

If you can't backpack Europe, then there is no hope for you as a backpacker *anywhere* (and some people can't - I recall a train leg from Florence to Rome consoling a somewhat poorly prepared young college grad who was in tears over how miserable he was - one week in and he was already trying to change his flight ticket to home asap)..

However for those who can hack it, there is huge big wide world out there that is also screaming to be discovered. One that is far more exotic and unpredicatble than well-documented and trod Europe. It's a challenge too good to resist.

Chriscan, 20L Wow, that's awesome. The smallest I have managed is 30L (and I thought that was ok).

Kat: Your boy will be fine - help him do his homework, connect with others that have done the trip. Work out resources for accomodation and spend lots of time asking and reading answers to FAQs on websites like Lonely Planet's Thorntree.

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Piapo says on Mar 3, 2008, 03:14:

has anyone been in Belize?

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Piapo says on Mar 3, 2008, 03:14:

Is it better to take the diving certificate in Belize or Taganga?

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robi666 says on Mar 3, 2008, 03:20:

Belize is one of the most beautiful spot in the world. Taganga does not rank up there.
Taganga is cheaper.
So I would say, take your certification in Taganga and dive in Belize.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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kalder says on Mar 3, 2008, 12:55:

adrimm- I enjoyed the link. Thanks for posting.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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durito says on Mar 3, 2008, 12:57:

The cheapest place to get certified is in Honduras (bay islands).

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Alma del Norte says on Mar 3, 2008, 13:49:

"The cheapest place to get certified is in Honduras (bay islands)."

Agreed, and Utila rocks!

La vida es una rutina

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robi666 says on Mar 3, 2008, 14:03:

Wow, that must be really cheap!

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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adrimm says on Mar 3, 2008, 23:10:

'Welcome Kalder... He had some awesome stories, and the blog is pretty interesting.

One of the other guys I met on that trip runs this site:

http://katherinehouse.com/bendan/archives/2006/02/ Feb & Mar 06 were in Colombia.

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Piapo says on Jul 14, 2008, 04:13:

Now, my question is.. as I am a Colombian I'm gonna need visa everywhere in central america. Does anyone knows if that is problematic? I mean, Mexico wants me to have a return ticket (I'm planning to travel by buss) and I imagine all the countries there want the same in order to give a tourist visa. Is it easy to get a visa e.g in Mexico when traveling to guatemala/belize or is it better to do everything in Colombia/from here in Europe?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 14, 2008, 05:52:

Catfish35 says on Feb 29, 2008, 16:48: flag

I did this once or so my friends tell me, but cannothelp you becuz I do not remember it!

i wonder why? jejeje

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jorgegdiaz says on Jul 14, 2008, 06:42:

I use this web site as a reference, among other things, for visa information; look for every country`s requierements where you want to go to.

http://www.learn4good.com/visa.htm

Funny, last week I told the missus I`d like to do that trip, but I don`t think I can get away for 2 months...

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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Piapo says on Jul 29, 2008, 07:36:

Has anyone taken a diving course in Providencia islands?

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