Yes, please continue to post to this thread as the story evolves. I was planning to use this sometime early next year.

Appreciate the valuable discussion far.

Regarding Panama to Colombia, the Stalhratte is booked out (May 2) or on their Caribbean tour until early August 2015.

http://www.stahlratte.de/panama_cartagena_tours_en.html

There are two boats that have transported bikes (and passenger) in the past: Jacqueline and Independence.

http://www.mamallena.com/sailboats-to-cartagena.html

With the ferry service ending there will be more overlanders shipping their cars/trucks via container. You can connect to communities on Facebook (or via web forums...that I don't know about) and ask if anyone is putting a container together with room for a motorcycle. Search on Facebook for 'overland' or try this group, 'PanAmerican Travelers: Past, Present and Future'. Its all about timing. Finding someone that will share a container, when you want to ship...

A very brave (or foolish) guy built a raft and tried power it with his motorcycle. There are posts somewhere on the HUBB about his his experience.

People have moved their bikes via coastal cargo boats that make local runs. The reports describe multiple boats and extended journeys. It has been done on the Caribbean and Pacific, but its challenge logistically and requires strong negotiating skills, where you have to piece together on deal after another...

And then there is always airlifting.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

My son and I are leaving in June to South America. The existence of the ferry is what solidified our plans, now we will be taking our chances with our luck. I have zero desire to go on a sailing trip to the San Blas islands so I guess we will be looking to share a container or something.


The problem with that ferry was that it is too big and tried to run too frequently. it also takes a while before news of it gets around, and people who plan trips because of the ferry cannot just decide to do a long trip and be in panama the next day. They have to start slowly , with a smaller ship and absorb losses till the stream of travelers gets to them.

I'm sure that a boat for 50 cars and 300 people could be viable, and would be a game changer, especially for those on 4 wheels. Riding and driving to South America would become as popular as it is to Alaska.

Vic,

I had a great time taking a boat to Colombia. Day 1, arrived at the dock and took a launch to a Kuna island for the night. Day 2, a short 2 hour trip down the coast, anchored and had beach party, Day 3 we motored for ~24 hours to Colombia. That was my trip on the Stalhratte. I imagine the other boats have a similar schedule.

Air lifting means a running around between the airport, customs, hotel, etc. in Panama and Colombia. Add paying to ship the bike(s), then paying for your ticket(s). You'll have to do the numbers and decide for yourself. I didn't see the boat as just transportation, it was part of the adventure.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Well Peter, I guess I'll think about it, problem is, we don't know when we will be in Panama as we will be going with the flow.

BTW, my name is Mitch, the Vic is for Victory, which I ride when I'm not on my V-Strom. We rode back from the HU meet in Nova Scotia together.

Mitch

Hey guys, in Panama city now catching the last ferry tomorrow. It seems like nobody knows for sure if the ferry service will be coming back but the signs aren't good. I overheard someone asking when it would start again and "maybe december" was the reply. I had some friends pass a few weeks ago and the insinuation they got from some employees they were friendly with was that it wasn't coming back.

FWIW May is the start of the rainy season so ending the season right now might actually be legit/logical, but I wouldn't base any trips off a need to take this ferry. I'll ask around on the boat tomorrow and see what I can learn.

We have been looking into ways to head north into Panama from Colombia since the demise of Ferry Xpress. It seems that the sailing boats that used to take motorcycles stopped doing so when the Ferry Xpress was around. No sailing boats are taking bikes now and apparently neither Copa or Girag are taking bikes either. Trying to contact cargo ships now. Would appreciate any tips or update from anyone currently heading north!! Tks.

UPDATE: Air Cargo Pack have quoted US$2215 for air freight Medellin-Panama and Enlace Caribe US$810 per bike for RO/RO Cartagena-Panama. There are definitely no sailing boats taking bikes through Mamallena.

As far as I know the Stahlratte is still taking bikers.

My ferry experience was arriving 11 hours for the ferry, and leaving 7.5 hrs late. They couldnt look up my ticket because I bought it online lol. Also all the motorcyclists were charged different prices with no explanation. I paid 397 for me, the bike, and a seat. A friend paid 297 for the same thing. And 2 other friends paid only 200 and had a cabin. No response from ferryxpress by email. Taking 40 hrs from arrival to leaving colombian customs, being overcharged, leaving the port at midnight and immediately getting pulled over by cops in cartagena, all was well worth it to be in Colombia.

It was a very nice modern ship but I'm pretty sure they are going under for good, but didnt get any concrete answers. The lore of the ferry goes on!

Thanks for the response but I talked to Stahlratte last week and they are not going Panama - Cuba is their next port of call. Our only option is cargo or airfreight. Still waiting for written quotes...

Our plan was to leave from NY at end of June. My son has to be back at work first week of September so, we figured he could make it to at least Ecuador at a relaxed pace if there was a ferry. I would sell or otherwise get rid of his bike and co ntinue on my way. Now it seems he may only be able to get to Panama.

This Ferry turned our dream into a reality and it really sucks that time and money constraints will limit us.

For the guy who went on the ferry and complained about the wait time and irregular prices, it seems that the Ferry at its worst was still way better than all the other options.

Someone needs to set a more reasonably sized ferry like the one to Isla Margarita in Venezuala, less party boat, more transport and I think it could work.

Mitch

I agree Mitch, see my post #14 above. Just basic A to B transport would be best, (IMO), low cost ... and should be govt. subsidized like most transport is worldwide. Keep the service small, fast and agile.

For your trip this Summer ... this is what I would do (of course, YMMV!)

Since leaving in June you would be in Mexico/Cent. America in the HOTTEST and WETTEST time of the year. I would SKIP all this and get to Miami and either fly or ship your bikes to Colombia. There is service.
Bite the bullet, pay the cost. Maybe even book a R/T? Selling off bikes can be complex ... or you could get lucky.

This would put you in Colombia with better weather and lots of time.
Perhaps take your 4 months and explore Colombia, Ecuador, Peru', Bolivia or possibly Venezuela? Or any combo of those?

Colombia alone could keep you busy exploring for at least a month or more. Same with Ecuador. Lots to do and see, great riding from high Altiplano to coastal low lands, fun historic Cities to interesting beaches, sub tropical jungles and more. Both ON and OFF road riding, even guided off road tours, very doable, even for novice dirt bike riders.

Just a thought ... good luck!

Thanks for the info Mollydog, but I don't have time or money to deal with shipping bikes from Miami and such. My son is a student teacher and I'm a retired truck driver, not rich folks. We're just going to throw some bags on a couple of old bikes I got at a salvage auction (Victorys of course) and go. Perhaps my son will just make it to Panama this time and I will try to find someone to share a container with.

We intend to spend some quality time in Mexico, my son's not been. I've spent months in Colombia, Equador and Peru. My son spent most of his summers in Colombia as my ex wife (his mom) is from Cali.

I try to stay on road, any off road is by accident.


and usually leads to an accident

That thing looks awful to pick up!

Subscribing to this thread to get updates on Panama to Columbia Ferry Service. Still in the planning stages, but looking at riding from California to Peru in 2017. Hopefully by that time the Ferry Service will be in operation!

Hi Mitch,

I would recommend a small and high quality trip. Think about riding Central America for three months (which will go by very quickly) and forgetting about crossing the Darién. Forget about crossing the gap this time anyway. You can get from northern Mexico to Panama in 10 days for semi focused daylight riding. Add at least another 2-3 days to get from NYC to the Texas/Mexico border. These are rough estimates, but knowing a little about your riding preferences when we returning from Nova Scotia, my estimates are optimistic. So if you rode there and back, its roughly 4 week of travel time alone. That still gives you +60 days to noodle around, hang out, relax... If you add crossing the gap, on a schedule, then all bets are off. At least in terms of a relaxed trip through CA. And what were you planning to do with your son's bike? Would he ride back alone or would you ship it to Colombia? What would you do with his bike in Colombia? Yes, some people sell their bikes at the end of their trip and fly home. Some people win the lottery too. Good luck.

Alternately, fly to Colombia and buy a couple of second hand dirt bikes and tear around Colombia and northern South America for three months. I suspect that you know enough people in Colombia that you could easily store them until the next adventure. My next South American adventure will follow this general strategy.

The key take away, take a hard look at the miles between here and the end of the rainbow. Then estimate the number of days you can take off from reality and live in Wonder Land. Everyone's trip is different, but minimum road time is the same.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride