Shipping from Panama to South America
 

I planning to ship my bike from Panama to either Colombia or Ecquador in April. I'm currently in Mexico, riding to Argentina. Does anyone have any information about making the crossing?
Thanks, Tim

Girag
 

Girag flies into Bogota and seems to be the most popular with most folks coming down.Drop in for a pint when you get to Quito
Alberto

Thanks Alberto, would love to have a drink. Due to time pressure I may have to fly to Equador. Do you know of any carriers flying there?
Tim

Lots of Shipping Info Here!
 

Tim, see this thread of 6 Nov 2006 and the follow-up part two. Lots of detailed info there.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ta-quito-24053

Rick

Hi Tim. Dirty Deeds and i just recently shipped our bikes with a sailboat from Portobelo Panama to Cartegena. We stopped in the San Blass islands for five days due to bad weather, virtual paradise! Ate lobster and coconuts! There are a few boats that do the trip in either direction, our captain was Leonardo from Italy,just ask, hese quite infamous! The cost is $250 per person and $200 per bike. Food and water is included, but the trip south can be quite rough! You can check for info at the Voyager Hostal in Panama city, or go directly to Portobelo and ask around. The price includes all paperwork for immigration, you will have to pay a fee for an agent for Aduana in Cartegena. Do it, it's worth the extra $20. Loading the bikes will cost about $10 each time. Perpare your bike with a VERY liberal coating of WD-40, three cans should do it ;) This was the cheapest meathod we could find, and the San Blass islands are a paradise worth seeing. Bring a hammoc! Here's a link to my web sight, you can see and decide for yourself.
Welcome

Very nice!
.....

Mr Ron
Thanks for the info. I am planning my trip from Chicago to Santiago Chile and I have Just a few questions if thats ok
(1) how long was the boat trip excluding your stay on the island
(2) The hostal you mentioned, where is it located?

thanks Patrick

I shipped my bike from Panama City to Bogota in December '06. Girag charged $450usd. To Equador they charged $600usd. Very efficient and easy. To sail from Colon to Cartagena takes 5-7 days. Enjoy your ride!

Small world innit ? We're about to leave Cartagena for Portobello on the same boat Mr.Ron & Dirty Deeds took.

Details for the agent in Cartagena :-

Manfred HH Alwardt
Pie de la Popa
Calle 29E #20-141, Oficina 101
Cartagena

Phone: +57 311 400 6394
Email: manfred.al <delete-this-at> gmx.de

If you're heading this way its worth contacting Manfred, he knows where the various boats are, which ones take bikes and sorts out all the paperwork for immigration & customs.

You can usually find Manfred at Club Nautico during happy hour, look for a big ginger German. Club Nautico is at N10 24.730 W75 32.477

Thanks
 

Thanks guys. Great info. I'll be in Panama in about 5 weeks. The boat trip sounds amazing but flying the bike to Equador is the best option for me.
Tim

Sailing times depends on the weather, boat, captian, etc. Anywhere from 35 to 55 hours sailing. The Hostal Voyager is in the Lonely Planet, can´t tell you much more and had a bitch of a time finding it. Don´t go to Colon. Dirty just told me "Voyager sucks! Go next door."
:)

Hi

We´ve just arrived in Cartagena today, I´ve just emailed Manfred the big ginger German and FreshAirCharters (Captain Marcos) whos due to sail to Colon mid March. Has anyone used this crew and is there maybe another boat sailing a little sooner?

ps Smellybiker must have use this pc as his username popped up when I tried to log in!

Cheers

Thanks
 

Hi Guys, I am new here. I am planning to ride south with my wife and cousin. This was the biggest hurdle i could see. Thanks for the advice on here, all of a suddenly it looks well doable again.long way

Marcus as in Marc and Paola?
 

Hi MikeS,

If your talking about Captain Marcos of 'Melody', I sailed with him (and his wife) a while ago (Cartagena to Colon) and apart from the high waves (8 mtr) , the resulting sickness (puke, puke, puke) it was an unforgetable experiance.
Marc is a very reliable captain. Important is: He does not drink (except pepsi) and he does not rely on the auto-pilot.

Go for it !! And say hello from me.

Maarten :thumbup1:

Small world, innit....you must be in the cibercafe on Calle Media Luna ;-)

Manfred will know which boats are arriving & when, he's the marine agent there. He'll also sort out the customs papers for your bike & gets passports stamped.

If you go to Porvenir rather than the mainland you can offload onto a launch (cost $20) and go to Carti (few more $ to hire some unload help). From there there's a dirt road to the PanAm, the bridge is out but its an easy crossing.

On Porvenir you'll be able to get your passport stamped but there's no customs office, for that you'll need to visit Aduana in Panama City (N8 58.419, W79 32.822)

The Stahlratte should be sailing soon (ask Manfred), its a *big* boat so doesnt move around so much in rough seas.