Info needed on boats running from Cartagena to Panama - 2007
 

I have been through and searched previous postings, picked a lot of email addresses of people running boats between Cartagena and Panama, I´ve email them all, plus I have also spoken to a few hostels owners in Cartagena, all have advised that boats are a little thin on the ground just now, many seem to have stopped running or are taking a break, I guess they´ve earned there money for a while and are off on a big trip, the nerve of it!

I´m heading down to the yacht club this afternoon, but thought it might be worth posting to see if anyone has any tips or contacts known to be still running in 2007 or late 2006.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated, as I know a few people are looking for passage with bikes in the next week or so, plus I´ll post an update from the yacht club.

Iain.

I´ve been down to Club Nautico, I´ve put an advert up on there notice board and have a couple more leads, but it does seem very quiet just now, so any advice from people would be much appriciated.

Iain.

I was told that an American called Mark Matson was the only guy to trust with your bike! Unfortunately I have given away his email address, but got it at the yacht club on the west side of the canal opposite Colon.

Thanks Ian, I´ve emailed him and will try his cell/mobile, to see if he´s about.

Iain.

I tried the two numbers listed for Mark, one is the same as from a flyer for the boat service in a hostel, but the numbers are both dead.

Cartagena - 315 756 2818 and Panama - 507 666 993 59

Email: freshaircharters@yahoo.com

Information found on HU:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kip-it-23037-2

I have sent him an email, but both numbers being down make me think he´s gone to sea further a field. I´ll keep you posted on any results.

Iain.

hey is this yamaha xt ian from cusco? its klr adam. let me know when you make it across to panama because I may have to do that route back.

I got an email from Mark Matson, re: IanC´s reply, he´s in Panama, not running at the moment.

The yacht club is quiet, a few boats are going, but they are not set up for taking bikes. It seems between now and March is the windy season, so only the bigger boats are crossing, although some smaller vessels make a break for it if there is a weather window.

No leads yet, anyone got the contact details for the German Frigate, people at "Club Nautico" seem to think that IF it´s about, it´ll big enough to cross, but no one has seen it for a while.

Hey Adam,

It is indeed XT Iain and I´ll keep you posted.

Still looking.

Iain.

German frigate "Stahlratte" is anchor in Portobelo (Panama).

There will be no shuttle to Cartagena until mid of february.

Iain.

Stahl Ratte
 

Did you get any contact info for this German boat? I have heard great things about this boat. I want to take it back to Panama in a couple of months.

I crossed from Panama to Cartegena at Christmas. I used Leonardo on Zao. He sucks, bad. If you can´t wait though...

I have contact info for the Port Captain in Colon if that will help.

Good luck

There German boat is docked in Panama until February, but is still running, this is their web site¨

http://www.stahlratte.de/

Stahlratte
 

Thanks for the info Iain. Any luck on your end?

I have put an ad up at Club Nortico, the sailing club, now it´s a case of waiting for a boat to come in, big enough to take the bike and coupe with the winds. Boats will sail if there is a weather window, but equally some boats just dock up for a few months.

Iain.

Cartagena to Panama
 

I traveled with Mark and Paola on 'Melody' end of March 2005. They know their stuff, and handled the two KLRs and 5 passengers quite well. They took us to Portobelo rather than Colon, then we rode into Colon for paperwork. I know they sometimes spend some time in Panama at the end of a run, so seems that's whats going on now. Good luck!! -- Porter