If adventure is your middle name, your bucket list probably includes traveling from North America and Central America to South America, maybe even all the way from Alaska to Patagonia. It's an epic journey that provides a range of unforgettable experiences and it's not that difficult to accomplish. Some people even do it by cycling, biking or driving down. When planning for your trip, however, you may have to consider the option of getting from Panama to Colombia by boat.
Between Alaska and Patagonia the main road is the Pan American Highway. However, this highway also includes the Darien Gap. The name for this stretch comes from the fact that it's literally a break in the highway which ends in Panama's Yaviza town and then starts again in Colombia's Turbo, less than 100 miles away.
The Darien Gap is one of the most difficult overland crossings in the world. The jungle here is dense and there is a high risk of contracting diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Roads are very bad, often not much more than a dirt track. Moreover, the region is teeming with drug traffickers and Colombian guerrillas who have been known to rob, kidnap and even murder travelers setting foot in their territory.
There are alternative ways to cross the Darien Gap. The easiest and most convenient is to fly. If you're very adventurous, which you probably are if you're undertaking this journey in the first place, flying may feel like a cop-out though.
The option of sailing across is much more exciting. If you're short on funds and you play your cards right, you may be able to get very cheap passage in exchange for helping out on board. This kind of deal is difficult to find, though. Much more common is a package deal where you sail across on board a yacht for more or less the price of a plane ticket.
Most of the package trips from Panama to Colombia include a visit to the San Blas Archipelago, a beautiful, remote group of islands off the Panamanian coast. Here you get to enjoy sun and sea on unspoiled tropical beaches. Moreover, San Blas is home to the Kuna people and you can learn more about their fascinating culture while you're here.
You may think that the crossing sounds easy enough except for the question of what to do with your bike or your car. This doesn't have to be a complication, though. Several companies offer a service that transports your mode of transport across on a cargo ship. You'll even be able to have a bicycle or a motorcycle flown across.
Finding an operator that will take you from Panama to Colombia by boat is very easy. Many advertise in Panamanian hostels but you can also look online. The crossing is usually quite safe and while it might be rough during the windy dry season, there is almost no risk of hurricanes.
Between Alaska and Patagonia the main road is the Pan American Highway. However, this highway also includes the Darien Gap. The name for this stretch comes from the fact that it's literally a break in the highway which ends in Panama's Yaviza town and then starts again in Colombia's Turbo, less than 100 miles away.
The Darien Gap is one of the most difficult overland crossings in the world. The jungle here is dense and there is a high risk of contracting diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Roads are very bad, often not much more than a dirt track. Moreover, the region is teeming with drug traffickers and Colombian guerrillas who have been known to rob, kidnap and even murder travelers setting foot in their territory.
There are alternative ways to cross the Darien Gap. The easiest and most convenient is to fly. If you're very adventurous, which you probably are if you're undertaking this journey in the first place, flying may feel like a cop-out though.
The option of sailing across is much more exciting. If you're short on funds and you play your cards right, you may be able to get very cheap passage in exchange for helping out on board. This kind of deal is difficult to find, though. Much more common is a package deal where you sail across on board a yacht for more or less the price of a plane ticket.
Most of the package trips from Panama to Colombia include a visit to the San Blas Archipelago, a beautiful, remote group of islands off the Panamanian coast. Here you get to enjoy sun and sea on unspoiled tropical beaches. Moreover, San Blas is home to the Kuna people and you can learn more about their fascinating culture while you're here.
You may think that the crossing sounds easy enough except for the question of what to do with your bike or your car. This doesn't have to be a complication, though. Several companies offer a service that transports your mode of transport across on a cargo ship. You'll even be able to have a bicycle or a motorcycle flown across.
Finding an operator that will take you from Panama to Colombia by boat is very easy. Many advertise in Panamanian hostels but you can also look online. The crossing is usually quite safe and while it might be rough during the windy dry season, there is almost no risk of hurricanes.
Comments :
0 comments to “How To Travel From Panama To Colombia By Boat”
Post a Comment