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How to get to Panama City from Ecuador or Columbia

HI Im a hungarian traveller, I will travel South and Central America next year (like 6 months) but I realised that almost impossible to get o Panama City from Columbia on land.
Even worst that among all South and Centra American countries only Colombia requesting visa from us...
Well planes from Lima or Quito are of course expensive...
Im looking for help in ths:
- If I dont have the visa, from where and for how much I can go to PAnama City from any part of Ecuador?
- IF I get a visa, what is the cheapest way to go through Colombia, is there and buy that takes you throught the jungle, or are there ships, and if so, how much and ho can I find them? I suppose that the locales also travel somehow to Panama...if needed
Im waiting any good idea
Thanks
Vik

By skankee on Nov 17, 2004, 08:19 in Friendly Talkzone.

Chuck says on Nov 17, 2004, 08:52:

It is not impossible. I've done it!

If you are in the colombian coast you should follow this route:

Cartagena - Montería - Turbo by bus or Colective Taxi, then take a boat to Capurgana (about a 2 hour trip in a boat with a 200 HP outboard). You can stay and enjoy Capurgana for a few days, then by boat continue to Puerto Obaldía in Panama (about 1/2 boat ride). Now you are in Panama! You may take a plane directly to Panama City or continue by boat through the beautifull San Blas Islands.

If you are in Bogota, then go to Medellín and continue to Turbo. You should take the earliest bus to Turbo, it is safer.

One word of advice! Contact the Panamanian Consulate in Cartagena or Medellín and ask them to write a letter of recomendation. I guess you don't need a Visa.. but the letter may help you at the border.

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sydneygirl says on Nov 17, 2004, 10:12:

thanks good info for me too thanks chuck.

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Chuck says on Nov 17, 2004, 21:32:

This is important too. You don't have to hire a boat from Turbo to Capurgana. There's a scheduled departure every day in the morning. You take the boat at "EL WAFFE".. that's the local name of the port. You should spend the night in Turbo before departure. Turbo has a couple of descent hotels.

A little history. Turbo used to be a very important airport during the late 20's and 30's. Most of the flights between Argentina, Brasil... all south America, had to land there to refuel. From Turbo the flight continued to Havana all the way to NYC.

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