Jumping a boat/ferry from Panama....

JimD says on May 23, 2008, 19:28:

Do a search on HU.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/

Lots of info of air freight or sailboat from Panama across the gap.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

durito says on May 23, 2008, 19:32:

I doubt you'll be able to find anything concrete before you go.

Your best bet is to make it to Panama City, travel to Colon and talk to people about it. You'll be able to find something there.

People do in fact seem to be making this trip these days a lot more often than before, though it passes though areas in Colombia I won't go (and i've been lots of places).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

uwscubaphoto says on May 23, 2008, 19:50:

Motorbikes or bikes ?

My buddy and I did the whole drive in our car last year. San Diego, CA to Tierra del Fuego. There is no ferry boat between Panama and Colombia that takes passengers, except you can probably get a sailboat here and there if you only have bicycles.

If you are shipping motorcycles, your best bet is to contact SeaBoard Marine in Medellin, Cartagena, or Panama City. You can get contact info in their website. www.seaboardmarine.com.

These guys are pretty organized to ship vehicles in containers between Cartagena and Colon Panama. Its a two day trip for your vehicles, and you basically fly over Panama City.. and pick up your Car in Colon. they have a hand-out sheet at their office at the port of cartagena that tells you the procedures in Cartagena. Rent a taxi for the day to take you to the different places you need to go in Cartagena, or you'll never get it done because the places you need to go are several km's apart.

I'd ask definitely ask Seaboard Marine for a name of a broker to deal with import in Panama. This is the only country I don't recommend doing it yourself.

we did a website of the vehicle part of the trip. www.fjroadtrip.com. There is a little bit of advice about borders, etc on the site, but not as much as you probably could use.

Make absolutely sure that you have 10-20 copies of everything related to your passport, driver's licenses, insurance, title, registration, everything. You'll need lots of copies and many times none are available. Make sure all the numbers are PERFECTLY legible on the original, and match your license plate and Engine number EXACTLY or you will be F'K'd! Also make sure that the Aduana people write the correct engine/registration numbers in the correct boxes on the forms at each border, or you spend days fixing it in another city.

If you're serious about doing it, I can share a bit more about how we dealt with each border. You can email me at scott at buildgc.com.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Alma del Norte says on May 23, 2008, 20:22:

Perfectly possible with motos. Done it twice and I would echo JimD's advice.

Ask at the hostels in Panama City when you get there. You can also ask at the yacht club near Colon, but be wary of straying into Colon itself. It's a very dangerous place - well, at least it was, but maybe someone like Sloopskipper can advise on that one.

My preference would be the Stahlratte; http://www.stahlratte.org/ for a number of reasons. You may be in luck because it has just left Cartagena.

My second choice would be "The Melody"; freshaircharters( at )yahoo.com

Be careful who you choose and make sure you have seen the boat and know what is/isn't included.

La vida es una rutina

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm says on May 23, 2008, 21:26:

Check the FAQ on the Lonelyplanet TT South America Branch, the marine/overland route is posted there somehwere.

EDIT:

Here is the info from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=65954&start...

it's a few years old, they may have something more recent. You;ll have to check.

COLOMBIA TO PANAMA (REPOSTED)


Link: click here

Text
Take a bus to Turbo. Its safer to travel during the day. From Medellin buses depart the caribe terminal each hour and cost 45,000 pesos ($20). Journey time is 9 hours. From Cartagena you have to go to Monteria and change there to get to Turbo.
Basic to expensive accomodation is available in the centre of Turbo. Residencia Turbo charges 7000 pesos (3) per person.
The harbour is a few minutes walk from here. Boats depart at 9am, but arrive an hour before to get a ticket as boat gets full, and to check in with immigration. Dont get your exit stamp here. Price is 40,000 pesos ($18) to Carpugana. Ride can be bumpy and takes 2.5 hours. Put backpack in binliner as can get wet.
Get your exit stamp at the DAS in Carpugana by the harbour
Accomodation is available here from 7,000 pesos ($3) per person. Hotel Uvita on the harbour is very nice for ($5). Nice resorty town to stay in for a few days.
In Carpugana launches to Puerto Obaldia cost $30. Price is for the whole boat, regardless if theres 1 or 4 people. Not many locals continuing on to Puerto Olbaldia so look out for other travellers if you are travelling alone.
At Puerto Olbaldia (the town is a military base) get your entry stamp at immigration. You will be asked for an exit ticket but can blag it by saying you have an e ticket and havent printed it out yet.
Basic accomodation is available at Pension Conde for $5, and food is limited. Nothing to see or do here, but you may get stuck waiting for the next flight. Flights get booked so arrive a few days before in Puerto Olbaldia to make a reservation at the office there, or make a reservation at the Panama city office.
From Puerto Olbaldia aeroperlas flies to Panama city at 9am Wednesday and Sunday. Cost is $57. Journey time is 1 hour. Again you have to go through immigration at the airport, but can blag it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter (Moderator) says on May 24, 2008, 00:01:

Going by boat is also easily arranged from the hostels in Cartagena.

Poor but snappy

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Alma del Norte says on May 24, 2008, 00:04:

Not if you are in Panama, Peter ;)

La vida es una rutina

0 funny, 0 helpful.

papiChulo says on May 24, 2008, 01:52:

Paul at Casa Kiwi has made the trip... http://www.motoadventures.org/

Maybe he'll could tell you over a few cervecas... interesting story.

you'll never go before your time

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bradenmiami says on May 24, 2008, 07:29:

FANTASTIC information everyone...sometimes this board is a stunning success!

Thank you!

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on May 25, 2008, 06:54:

I think there is more than one hostel here in Panamá that does the same thing, searching "hostal travel panama colombia" I found several, like: http://latinamcaribbeantravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/sailing_from_pa...

0 funny, 0 helpful.