Bottleneck Darien Gap by speedboots Sep 2023
 

Hi all,

this is a short write up about my journey from Turbo (Colombia) to Puerto Cati (Panama) on three speedboats along the coast.
I took my Suzuki DR650 along.

1. Speedboat: Turbo to Capurgana (Colombia)

- Cargoboat from Turbo for the bike, about 24 hours. 80 Usd.
- Speedboat for passengers, about 2 hours. 25 Usd.
- I had no problems in Turbo, but its not a nice place and maybe dangerous.
Lots of migrants sleep in the streets.
- Custom clearance in Turbo for the bike, about 2 hours.

2. Speedboat: Capurgana to Puerto Obaldia (Panama)

- Speedboat with bike inside (bring your own tie downs) 45 minutes 170 Usd.
A local would have paid 80 Usd for the same service.
- Migration exit stamp for Colombia in Capurgana
- Migration entry stamp for Panama in Pto Obaldia
- Custom entry paper for Panama for the bike in Pto Obaldia.

3. Speedboat: Pto Obaldia to Puerto Cati (Panama)

- Shared speedboat with lots of problems. All day, from 7am to next day 7am with two hours
of sleep. It should have been 8 hours. 400 Usd.

- TIP has to done in Panama City or Colon with the document you got in Puerto Obaldia.

Do not unload your bike in Pto. Obaldia. Very difficult and expensive to find a boat.
Not a nice place to be, lots of scammers and liars. Organize your transport
for the bike, so you are not unloading in Pto. Obaldia !!!! Yes, its possible, whatever
they tell you.

Choose your speedboat on the Panamenian side well, lots of drunken Indios with
boats that are not seaworthy. Or they just kick you out half way, what nearly
happened to me.

Advise: This way of crossing the Darien Gap is an adventure. Dont try it
if you are not fluent in Spanish. It seems cheaper then flying your bike, but
it can end up costing you a lot more.

Watch on YouTube: The Dutch rider, i dont know her real name, Itchy boots and
the Argentinean rider Pablo Imhoff for more info.

For shipping your bike in a container or flying it, contact the guys at
Overland Embassy in Panama City. Young and very professional company, that
helped me with getting the TIP in Panama City.

Enjoy your ride

mika