Options for crossing the Darrien:

Air lift
Fast, but not cheap. I have read many posts of people using Girag Air Cargo. Prices fluctuate, but expect to part with between $1200 and $1300 for you and your bike. Don't quote me, contact Girag for exact prices. Add cost of taxis to and from the airports and customs offices...

Sea container
Cheaper, not as fast. If you are riding with a group it could be your best option. Talk to a shipping agent prices for a 20 foot dry container. Alternately taking to a freight forwarder about loose cargo.

Open cargo boat
A French guy who rides with a side car got his rig on a (tug?) boat... I can't find the post, but its here somewhere on the HUBB. It is possible. Talk to harbor masters about boats going to Turbo or Cartagena.
Another guy spent many days and several hand offs working his way up the coast from Colombia to Panama on local cargo boats (not recommended unless you are up for an extended low budget adventure.) I recall it took him 13 days.
Another guy took multiple local boats down the Pacific Ocean side. The reports were not pretty. Multiple captains, multiple negotiations, gun to the head prices were encountered.

The "new ferry"
Ferry Express stopped service and a new one started recently, but its not cheap. Search around, you'll find it.

RORO (roll on-roll off)
I am not aware of this service between Panama and Colombia.

Sailboat
I took the Stalhratte and loved it. The price was ~$950 in 2012 for me and bike. Had a blast and consider it one of the highlights of the trip. Captain Ludwig runs a safe and well oiled service. Recent post claim that all of the other sail boats that service backpackers are currently barred from transporting motorcycles. The Stalhratte is much larger and sails without these restrictions. Check their schedule and make a reservation. Leave enough time to get to Panama comfortably.

__________________
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

Planning to do the trip.. still undecided about if will go to Alaska but if I can get my bike ready sometime this week or early next week then I'll probably ride up to Alaska first week of August.. if I can't get my bike ready by end of next week then I'll leave south from NC toward Central/South America with Ushuaia as final destination before heading north through Brazil crossing into Peru or Ecuador to Colombia and most likely living in Medellin after the trip with my bike with me there. Would really like to do Alaska, though!

Wouldn't mind riding partner in Central America to help with safety and split some costs (hotel). Planning on crossing the gap on Stahlratte. Once in Cartagena, I plan on riding solo because I have few friends in Cartagena and Barranquilla I'd like to visit before heading south to Medellin and see other friends then head south to Ushuaia.

I currently have one riding partner from FL who would like to ride with me in Central America and think he has few friends that can host during the trip. I'm sure he won't mind extra one riding partner. 2 beside myself would be enough for me. I don't like to ride with more than 2 riders.. unless it is for few hours then I will be ok with that.. not all day or few days.

I'm in Taos, New Mexico. My riding partners, who I met in the Hubb are in BC and Alberta, Canada and El Paso, TX.

Mtncrawler, my brother-in-law and I are doing a trip from C. Springs to Telluride on all dirt roads except about 50 miles of pavement starting July 26th to about the 30th camping along the way if you are interested. Perhaps you are interested in going to S. America this fall too?

Kelly