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Darien Gap Crossing Ferry-Express is now DEAD! Darien Gap Crossing Ferry-Express is now DEAD!
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  #1  
Old 2 Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by TaosTraveler View Post
It sounds as if the government of Panama is the problem with this issue. Has anyone considered bypassing Panama altogether and shipping a bike from Costa Rica to Columbia or vice versa?
Not a bad idea, BUT I've heard of no one shipping from CR to COlombia (The Colombians are sensitive about the spelling of their countries name)

Certainly worth checking out on the way down, (volunteers? ) San Jose has a good airport and there are probably flights to Bogota regularly. MAY not have much cargo capacity or infrastructure for bikes, but you never know - it might be easy!
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Old 2 Jul 2015
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The Costa Rica option could be worth looking into. Eons ago, THE WAY to get past the Darien was to go via Costa Rica. As a back packer I did this in the early 70's ... and saved a bundle over flying from Panama to Bogota.

I've NO IDEA what the situation is now, but I'm guessing bigger, better planes are being flown? Perhaps they can fly small bikes? Or ... perhaps there is ship traffic from Caribbean side of C.R. to Colombia?

I flew from San Jose, C.R. to the Colombian island of Providencia, out in the Caribbean but near to C.R. Lovely island. NO tourism back then. Stayed one day, then flew out to Bogota.

In the 70's prices (passenger only)
S.J. to Providencia : $30 usd
Providencia to Bogota: $30

It was triple that cost to fly Pan to Col ...

NOW? Who knows, but maybe worth a look as an alternative to the inflated
situation in Panama/Colombia.
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  #3  
Old 4 Jul 2015
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I corresponded with the San Blas Ferry. They are doing 2 round trips a month (about every 2 weeks). Their prices are high - they quoted me $4000 for my Unimog camper. I hope they make a lot of money and stay in business.

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Old 6 Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by m37charlie View Post
I corresponded with the San Blas Ferry. They are doing 2 round trips a month (about every 2 weeks). Their prices are high - they quoted me $4000 for my Unimog camper. I hope they make a lot of money and stay in business.

Charlie
Their prices are outrageous, sure Ferry Express was too cheap but this guy is charging 3 times the price for a piece of crap boat.
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Old 7 Jul 2015
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Their prices are outrageous, sure Ferry Express was too cheap but this guy is charging 3 times the price for a piece of crap boat.
Doesn't matter too much what the boat is like as long as it gets there. Outrageous as a superlative is only applicable if there is reasonably-priced competition to compare it with. If it is take it or leave it, some travellers might find it very reasonable.

Previous owners of our camper - 5 1/2 tonnes - paid $3500 for RoRo across the Gap a couple of years ago and a Unimog is likely heavier.
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  #6  
Old 1 Sep 2015
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The San Blas Ferry is dead in the water-
Last I heard it was bogged down in Paperwork on the Panama side. The guy that is running it, not sure he owns it, but he used to have Fritz the Cat based in Panama and it sank two years, everyone on board is okay, but the guy has a reputation of sorts.

The Express Ferry is rumored NOT to returning.
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Old 6 Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
The Costa Rica option could be worth looking into. Eons ago, THE WAY to get past the Darien was to go via Costa Rica. As a back packer I did this in the early 70's ... and saved a bundle over flying from Panama to Bogota.

I've NO IDEA what the situation is now, but I'm guessing bigger, better planes are being flown? Perhaps they can fly small bikes? Or ... perhaps there is ship traffic from Caribbean side of C.R. to Colombia?

I flew from San Jose, C.R. to the Colombian island of Providencia, out in the Caribbean but near to C.R. Lovely island. NO tourism back then. Stayed one day, then flew out to Bogota.

In the 70's prices (passenger only)
S.J. to Providencia : $30 usd
Providencia to Bogota: $30

It was triple that cost to fly Pan to Col ...

NOW? Who knows, but maybe worth a look as an alternative to the inflated
situation in Panama/Colombia.
In the late '80s I flew from Guatemala to the Colombian island of San Adres, then to Cali for very cheap. i had driven down to Nicaragua and then to Belize in an ex NYC yellow taxi that I sold in Orange Walk Belize for $300. Took the bus to Guat city and hopped a plane. Not so easy with a bike though.
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