panama to colombia boat-up to date

[S-Mendus]

hey all,

this may or may not be of some help. at least it gives an up to date report on the boats.

I just did the crossing from Portobelo to Cart. The price seems to have gone up from the previous year, with the current rates for rider and bike at between $500 and $550. I had to pay $550, basically $275 for me and the same for the bike. Basically there isnt too much choice and its a sellers market, but worth the money for the trip I think. (5 days, 2 moored up at san blas)

Currently there seems to be about 4 boats that will take bikes. Ludwig, who I think is still the cheapest, Melody with a guy called Mark, who I went with and then an Italian guy and some other bloke who wants $500 just for the bike!!!! (no buisness for him I think!) The deal seems to be you go with who leaves first as for the price difference you may as well foot the extra rather than spending then money waiting in Panama. The hostels can ring the captains for you, but if so go to Voyager as Zulis (spelt wrong i think) takes a $20 commission for making a 1 min call. Or contact them directly yourself. The name of Captain Marks buisness is: fresh air charters. google it.

They all seem to be much the same and to be honest there really should be no concern about getting a boat. You have the money, they want the money and it seems you shouldnt have to wait more than 5 days or so to get a boat (this time of year anyhow)

Final point. There is no need (in my view) to pay a `fixer´when you get to colombia to get your bike imported into the country. Legally you arent allowed to bring it in on a sail boat as its cargo so this should be an issue, however it is not an issue. It took my 3 hours to do it by myself, and the aduana did not care. Just dont show them your bike, as the office is no where near the port, by doing this they assume is is still behind the gates in the cargo area. The main cargo port is called Mercardo (you have the choice of two places I did it at the cargo port main entrance office called Dian, or go to the main Dian building) If they ask just say the bike came in on a bannana boat NOT a sail boat, but to be honest they wont ask. If they ask for the boat name and captain name make it up there are so many boats there they dont know any better.

Hope this helps anybody who is still unsure. I met a coupe who were told to pay a fixer. They waited 3 days for their bike to be cleared rather than 3 hours, maybe they were just unlucky. At least if youre doing it you know the situation. Also dont camp at the fort in portobelo unless you want to be rudely awakend by knife wielding robbers. (well thats what happened to me anyhow, but im sure normally it is fine!)

Cheers guys. In medellin now, bike is being welded up after to many potholes for the frame, and now with a fellow rider. Anyone interested in my travels or more importantly wants a laugh at me getting robbed, my blog is at the address below.


Simon

Get The Dirt / Simon Mendus-Edwards (Mendus)



p.s if any of this is not what others found, sorry but it worked for me just fine.