End of season could also be the end of the Latin travel/summer season. In Argentina summer is the reverse of North America. Given that Central America and South America has little change in temperature year round, does travel generally slow down in May, just when it is picking up in northern climates?

Indeed time will tell and someone planning the cross the gap, to whom the topic is of greatest interest, will eventually contact the offices and share an update.

In recent years, three boats have transported bike from Panama to Colombia. Last year there was a report or two of riders having problems getting out of Cartagena on a smaller boat. The Stalhratte is the largest and has not been subject to the whims of customs officials. Ask around and see if there are current reports of problems.

The Stalhratte can transport 26 motorcycles. I believe they run out of bunk space due to back packers before deck space. In the past you could reserve a space simply by sending an email and waiting for a confirmation. Captain Ludwig posts here from time to time, correct me if wrong or policies have changed.

Taking a sail boat is expensive, cheaper that air lifting and way more fun, in my opinion. Airlifting motorcycles across the gap is for riders with more money than time. The Stalhratte was one of the highlights of my trip. I haven't taken the ferry, which is/was cheaper, but a bit institutional/commercial by the reports.

Ultimately a voyage schedule needs to match your adventure schedule. I rode a bit faster through Central America in order to sail on a certain date. Having already ridden sections of CA and with plans to ride more on the way back, I made a one month dash from North Carolina (the HU east coast rider meeting) to Panama. By most accounts that was a rushed schedule... Check their website for dates and availability:

panama_cartagena_en

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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

Even if someone suffers from extreme sea-sickness ? Very narrow minded of you Peter.

There are often more reasons than "more money than time" for an option.

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http://www.ytc1.co.uk

Guilty as charged, very narrow minded of me. I have suffered a few times from sea sickness, learned from those experiences and take preventive steps. Before a boat leaves anchor, I take motion sickness tablets. Are there people that don't benefit from motion sickness preparations? Could be. Maybe you're one of them.

Of the three long sails on the Stalhratte, I took and offered tablets to everyone on board. The passengers that did get sea sick also declined the tablets. A physician told me to take the tablets BEFORE the boat starts rocking. Sea sick tablets have little or no effect after motion sickness sets in.

Between Colombia and Jamaica one passenger couldn't get out of bed for the first three days and made spot appearances on the fourth day... He decline tablets when as we left Cartagena. The same brave soul continued on the Caribbean tour through Cuba, Mexico, getting off in Panama. He wasn't planning to change his strategy for the last and longest leg. Go figure.

A lack of time is the reason I have seen posted here on the HUBB for air lifting. Lack of time can easily mean that a traveler could not wait for the next available boat to sail.

A few years back riders sometimes wanted to avoid Colombia and would airlift to Ecuador. I forgot to mention that reason, probably because its not the issue it was. At least not in my (non-risk adverse) opinion.

__________________
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

Not me, my wife. And yes it is extreme. In fact she gets motion sickness when a car or motorcycle passenger. (Not affected when actually driving/riding).

A gentle swell can kick here off, it was somewhat amusing though that she agreed to do the Navimag later in our trip (I think it was the lesser of two evils, Ruta 40 or seasickness). Fortunately while in Santiago we stayed with an anaesthetist who was able to prescribe some anti-sickness medication (used for chemo therapy). This removed the being sick, but kept a lot of the other feelings, she slept on the floor during our night in the Pacific.

Also bear in mind that some people cannot swim, have a fear of water etc. Each to his own for the reasons to take the routes and options available.

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http://www.ytc1.co.uk

Well, I hope someone on the road in Panama will chime in here and straighten this out for us all. It'd be a shame if the company are truly gone for good. This would be like the 3rd time (in my memory) that a Ferry has been set up ... only to fail.

I'm guessing travelers alone won't make a Ferry a profitable enterprise ... it will take LOTS of locals going back and forth and LOTS of truck commerce as well.

Until politicians, entrenched bureaucrats and greedy investors get it sorted ... it may not happen. If the govts. at both ends can't skim enough off the top ... then could be impossible to operate a profitable Ferry company.

Wanna know why the Mexico/Baja Ferry works, and has worked for decades?
German boats ... Japanese ownership. Runs like a clock.

I guess in two moths I will reach this bottleneck. Hopefully there is a solution till then, too for 4x4 travelers

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

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.

Hi all,

I am in Panama and am sad to say that ALL sea crossings for motorcycles are now gone!

The ferry did it's last run on 21 April and the Panama Customs have banned further motorcycles from going on sailboats too - as they are 'cargo'

When I started my ride South a month ago all 3 options (inc flying) were avaiable but I found out 1 week in that flying the bike is now the only way. Short of a major undertaking of tracking down a cargo boat, which I am trying but my Rosetta Stone Spanish didn't quite cover this so maybe it'll mean $1500 for me and the bike to fly instead of the $300 or so by ferry 1 month ago.

If anyone is in Panama and has any info please PM me asap - I will do the same if I get lucky.