Hi guys, I was speaking to a friend and he said the Panama/Colombia boarder is closed by land, is this correct? If so can you get around by boat or do you have to fly? Also tips on Medellin/Cartagena Colombia
Hi guys, early next year (2010) I'm taking about 4 months out looking to fly in to Costa Rica and work my may by land down to Medellin (Columbia) before flying onto to Peru, Bolivia and Brazil etc... I was speaking to a friend who is also travelling later next year and he said the Panama/Colombia boarder is closed by land, is this correct? If so can you get round by boat or do you have to fly?
Also I have done allot of reading on Colombia (Because of its past I was a bit conflicted re going or not), I have decided I'm going to Medellin and Cartagena. Has anyone been before that can give first hand advice on tourist safety, does don’ts etc...
Cheers,
Snowy
Reply to this I LOVE COLOMBIA and so does everyone else who's been there in the last 5 or so years.Its fairly safe if you stick to the well travelled tourist trail.
The Panama/Colombia border isn't officially closed ,or wasn't ,but ,as the Darian Gap is swarming with FARC ,Paramilitaries and/or drug runners, most tourists are turned around at the border.I'm a pretty adventurous traveller but this is an incredibly dangerous part of the world.
You can fly from the Panama City local airport to Puerto Abaldia ,Panama,around $63, then boat to Capurgana ,Colombia ,around $12, then another boat to Turbo ,around $24.This is a great adventure I've done a few times.Plan to spend a few days in Capurgana ,it is paradise.The best hotel is in the jungle ,just out of the village,It's named Cabanas Darius and is run by Joey Silver ,a Hawaiian native and Neri ,his Colombian wife.It is a very affordable and relaxing hotel.
You will be also happy if you add San Gil and Taganga to your travel plans.In San Gil you will Bungee for around $12 ,absail $15 ,Paraglide $30 and white water raft from $40.Taganga is on the outskirts of Santa Martha.It has the 2nd cheapest SCUBA courses in the world and is the starting point to the Lost City trek.Its not my thing but you can take an extra day on the trek and visit a working cocaine factory.
Whatever you decide to do you will love Sth America.Enjoy
Reply to this Thanks Paul, The information re how to get from Panama to Colombia will be very usefull, i did hear the best method would probably be by boat but i didnt have a clue how to do this. I have also heard Santa Martha is a very popular holiday spot with the locals and there is some great beaches in the area. I already have my PADI but its good to know there is some nice dive sites in the area. I will also look into Capurgana etc as I have only really researched the larger cities at the moment.
Thanks again,
Snowy
Reply to this Not as recent as Pauls info but things will have only become easier since we were there.
We loved colombia - one of our favourite places in South America - and maybe the world and would love to go back soon beofre it becomes more well troden....
we entered from Peru by way of the amazon into leticia - then flew to bogota, from there we went north to villa de leyva and then up to santa marta and cartegena
we then sailed across to portobello in panama - about 4/5 days in total but took in the san blas islads aswell.
we just asked around in cartegena hostels about boats and eventually went to the yacht club and found one heading out when we wanted with another couple
it cost $250USD each but was well worth it - the crossing is not for the faint hearted in nbad weather but a sturdy boat will get through no problem. I impagine there are now far more options for boats and probably some geared up especially for backpackers
have a look at our blog and ask away if you have any more questions
if you have time take the trip to the amazon and enter peru up river from leticia rather than fly in - iquitos is a great little town too.
Good Karma? Colombia - Panama by Boat sailijng from colombia to panama
Mud Wrestling in Colombia - colombia
Fishing for Piranhas - Huachachina to Iquitos - peru
have fun
one of the many san blas islands!
Reply to this I did the Darien "Gap" a few years back (2001)...
Took a plane to a random San Blas island...island hopped on local fishing boats until I reached the last one (took about two weeks). Then took a lobster boat to the last Kuna village (which unusually isn't an island at all, but on the mainland). Then walked a long hard hard day through jungle and along the beach (chest high in a few rivers) to reach the border.
Convinced them I wasn't a narco-trafficker (who takes drugs INTO Colombia right?). Took a little fishing boat 5mins round the headland to Colombian side...despite popular myth to the contrary a lot of wealthier Colombians actually holiday here! Took a tourist speedboat to a sketchy town called Turbo, got my passport stamped. Then a bus to Monteria and onto Cartegena.
It is possible...if anyone genuinely wants to travel this way send me a PM for specific details; I'll be happy to help, as it'll no doubt bring back some fond memories.
Jason.
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