Sailing from Colombia to Panama

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After spending my last weeks in Colombia partying in Santa Marta, then relaxing and diving in Taganga, I parted ways with Pascal & Julien, and returned to Cartagena with Andy and Emma, a couple I had met about 3 weeks previously in Quito. They had the same plan to take a yacht from Cartagena to Panama, so our itineraries fit perfectly..

Back in Cartagena we headed straight for the marina to find out about potential yachts, and the first one we saw didn't exactly fill us with hope. It was small, cramped, and only sailing in 5 days.. Luckily a family saw us asking around, and told us they had just booked on another ship, sailing in two days. So we called the captain, he showed us the ship, and that settled it.

The ship, called 'Stahlratte' (steel rat), is a 100 year old, 40m long steel sailing ship, with a german crew of 3 (www.stahratte.org). They took on 18 guests, so we were 21 ppl on board in total, and it was a good mix. since the boat is quite big, there was also plenty of space for all of us, without beeing cramped.

So the first day we immediately set sail for the San Blas islands, jsut of the coast of Panama, and they are your stereotypical Carribean islands. Perfectly white-sand beaches, palmtrees and turquoise water. Most of the islands are quite small, and uninhabited, so you can swim to them, relax there, and have the island to yourself..

So after about 40hrs of sailing we arrived at the islands, and spent 2 full days there, snorkelling, swimming, jumping off the boat, swimming to islands, or just relaxing onboard and reading a book. One night we had a nice braai on one of the islands, sitting around the fire and drinking rum.

After living on the yacht for a few days, having a great time, it was time to head for the mainland and to Panama City, which involved a short trip upriver by canoe, and then taking a 4x4 through the jungle to Panama City.

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Comments

[Simone]

you've truly arrived in paradise!! I'm liking the short hair.. wish I had some exciting news from London.. hmmm- saw a pack of wild dogs today..and wild pig.. and ER is on TV tonight.. beam me over Scottie! xxsimone