hello i will be travelling thru all of central and south america in a few weeks and i would like like to know which is the safer and easier way to get into colombia from panama since aparently crossing thru the darien gap is highly dangerous from what i read. right now im thinking about flying into cartagena or bogota but i really need to travel on the cheap. so any info would be greatly appreciated
thanx
Reply to this Hi
The quickest and safest way is to fly from Panama City and the flight should not cost more than 200 - 250 USD depending when you book etc. We booked a flight from Cartagena to Panama city one day before we planned to travel and payed around this price. Looking for a sailing boat is another option but you will need to wait and we were told that the sea can be rough. We waited 4 days in Cartagena and there was no boat - our hostel in Cartagena although quoted in most guides was not helpful to find a passage! The price is more or less the same but you get 3days worth of food and accomodation and a stop at the San Blas Islands included. If you are concerned about safety, it isprobably better to fly. However, the sailing boat is supposed to be a really good trip and would have been my preferred option!
Reply to this thanx for the info i was already leaning towards flying from panama city to cartagena so i think that ive made up my mind now thanx
Reply to this hi im planing on traveling to south america from costa rica im my truck and really needed to know how can a pass from panama to colombia cause i know theres no roand between, ill really greatfull if some one has any info. about it thanks and peace to all.
Reply to this hola
la cosa es que estyo pensando en viajar a sur america desde costa rica pero asengun tengo informado no hay carreteras desde panama hasta colombia y yo estoy pensando en ir en mi carro, asi que ahora no se que hacer si hay alguna otra forma de pasar no se?? asi que si alguien me podria ofrecer alguna informacion acerca de como pasar de panama a colombia con mi auto le agradeceria mucho la ayuda
Gracia y pazzzzzz
Reply to this i hear its really hard to get past the darien even if u have a guide to show u the way cause if the cops see u or hear that there is someone crossing the border they will stop u and turn u around. ive heard this from someone whos tried it already.
peace and good luck
Reply to this Hi
I am planning to go from Panama to Colombia and was hoping to go by boat but have heard that the weather and sea is a bit rough around January does anyone have any advice on this?
i am also wondering if to go by boat do you have to leave from Panama City or can you depart from elsewhere. i am also travelling by myself so am after a safe way to do it.
Any info people have on this would be so great
Cheers Lou x
Reply to this In my top 10 adventures is this trip.Fly AeroPerlas ,spelling???, from Panama City local airport,near the bus terminal ,taxi should be no more $5 from Zulys Bakpakers, to Puerto Abaldia ,US$63.They have been doing up the airport at Puerto Abaldia so you may have to fly to Tubuala ,Southern San Blass, and get a speed boat ,"lancha", to Puerto Abaldia ,around $25.Here you get your exit stamp in passport,you will need 2 photocopies of your passport.Don't stop here ,get another "lancha" to Capurgana ,around $12,Here you get your entry stamp for Colombia.At Capurgana stay at Cabanas Darius with Joseph and Nery Silver.Joseph is a Hawaian native and Nery is a Capurgana local.Great people who run this small inexpensive hotel in the jungle and Nery is the most incredible cook.Joseph will organise your "lancha" to Turbo and from there you can bus East to Cartagena or Sth to Medallin but plan to spend a few days at least in Capurgana.There are many easy walksincludining about 1.5 through the jungle to La Miel ,Panama ,Joseph will walk with you .Say Hi to Joseph and Nery for me please.
This route is safe as can be and is such a gorgeous ,friendly part of the world.I am trying to buy a block of land here I loved it SO MUCH.
I did this journey 3 times and each trip I met girls travelling alone.ENJOY.I know you will.
Any Qs you have about Colombia or the rest of Sth Am please feel free to message me
Reply to this Hey all,
I have just done the crossing and am working on a sailboat that provides the passage. The best way to get from Panama to Colombia is sailing through the San Blas Islands. It is paradise and even if you are on a budget it is safe, and worth the money. If you are in Panama City head to Lunas Castle http://www.lunascastlehostel.com/ (stay for around $8 and meet others looking for a boat) or Mamallenas http://mamallena.com/ . At these two hostels you will find chalkboards with boats leaving in the days to come. You can call captains and ask around for the best boat.
Even better though is the Hostel in Portobelo, Panama which is where most of the boats leave from. Here, you can actually meet the captains and have a look at different boats. Plus, the hostel and Portobelo town are a great place to visit and it isnt a very far bus ride from Panama city. Here is their link http://www.panamashostels.com/hostel.php?idhostel=105
Captain Jack who owns the hostel knows all the ways to get to Colombia and is great for info.
Lastely I sailed on The Wild Card, I work on it now. Check out our facebook page: Sailing Panama and Colombia via San Blas for more info
Reply to this We also sailed on a sailing boat through the san blas - and it was a mistake to do so instead of visiting the san blas and then flying. It would have been a cheaper combination and a much more enjoyfull one. In our sail we actually "stayed" in the san blas beautiful islands area 1.5 days and not 3 like they calim...
See our blog about this and be careful not to use the boat we have used nor its captain!
Heaven and Hell, Our Cruise from Panama to Colombia Reply to this 
