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What boats cross the Darien Gap? What boats cross the Darien Gap?
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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 2 Mar 2014
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The Stahlratte seems to be highest rated but OH SO EXPENSIVE. I've heard of at least two other boats making the run. Look on ADV Rider in Latin America section. The boat captains sometimes post there as do clients.

Also there is a new Ferry running ... but it's of dubious reliability. Not sure it's in regular use or not. If they can get it together, this could end up being the cheapest option. As of now, mostly NEGATIVE comments on the Ferry. Lets hope it will improve.

If you are really adventurous, you can hire small "launchas" (15ft to 20ft outboard powered boats) These guys have to island hop and have to avoid open Ocean. This has been done, but really uncertain. Hundreds of routes in and around hundreds of islands and waterways. I did read a report on this. It took the guy about two weeks, 4 or 5 different boats, about $300 total cost. This was 3 or 4 years back.
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  #2  
Old 12 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
The Stahlratte seems to be highest rated but OH SO EXPENSIVE.
From the research I have done if you want a reliable service between Central and South America, Stahlratte is in the ball park for price considering bike and rider.

Even travelling on a budget, there are some fixed costs. I've opted to fly my bike twice, from Australia to the US and from Argentina to South Africa for a three-year trip round the world. The cost of the Stahlratte and other ferries I will need through Asia add on to the cost. All together I have calculated $10,000 for transport, over three years that's not so bad.

There are probably cheaper options such as shipping rather than flying, but after getting off the plane in LA, uncrating my bike and putting it together for an hour and a half, I rode off (albeit into the rain at night) and was away on my adventure. So easy.

I chose this because I want to take my own bike and avoid the time and hassle of buying and selling bikes along the way. I also have this romantic notion of taking the same bike all the way.

After my fixed costs I can be a cheapskate in a number of other areas but like insurance and carnets, there are some costs that are just part of the journey.

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  #3  
Old 8 May 2014
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Shipping from Colombia to Panama
Wooow, I'm getting excited!! Just contacted the Steel Rat about their July 22nd Colombia to Panama sailing. Thanks for all the info here- very, very helpful.

I'm in Peru now, heading north to the States. Anyone have boat info to get around Honduras? As a solo-girl traveler, I'd rather avoid that country at the moment if possible.

Thanks!
Elisa

TravelBugBlues.com
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  #4  
Old 8 May 2014
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Originally Posted by TravelBugBlues View Post
Wooow, I'm getting excited!! Just contacted the Steel Rat about their July 22nd Colombia to Panama sailing. Thanks for all the info here- very, very helpful.

I'm in Peru now, heading north to the States. Anyone have boat info to get around Honduras? As a solo-girl traveler, I'd rather avoid that country at the moment if possible.

Thanks!
Elisa

TravelBugBlues.com
I would read ... and possibly contact Sjoerd Bakker. Read his advice here on
crossing Honduras. post #3 and #5.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...083#post465517
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  #5  
Old 9 May 2014
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Honduras is fine. Take that for what it's worth to you, but by the time you've been riding around for a while you're very likely to wonder what all the fuss was about. If in doubt, the northern routes are a lot easier and less hassle than the PanAm.

Mark
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  #6  
Old 9 May 2014
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Yes, a lot of times I do wonder what all the fuss is about. But, I'm already a really experienced traveler, and have been since I was a teen. I've now ridden in Latin America for 17,000km, and as a soon to be solo-female motorcyclist on this trip, things are different than for a man... I was nearly kidnapped in Guatemala at 17, and sexually assaulted there at 21 (thank god I got away both times, unscathed except for some psychological trauma), and held at gunpoint in Brazil at 20, where I was born- and I'm a really careful traveler. I love Guatemala, but I hear Honduras is even worse!

I'll check out the northern routes. Any more info on that? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Honduras is fine. Take that for what it's worth to you, but by the time you've been riding around for a while you're very likely to wonder what all the fuss was about. If in doubt, the northern routes are a lot easier and less hassle than the PanAm.

Mark
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Old 9 May 2014
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Originally Posted by TravelBugBlues View Post
Yes, a lot of times I do wonder what all the fuss is about. But, I'm already a really experienced traveler, and have been since I was a teen. I've now ridden in Latin America for 17,000km, and as a soon to be solo-female motorcyclist on this trip, things are different than for a man... I was nearly kidnapped in Guatemala at 17, and sexually assaulted there at 21 (thank god I got away both times, unscathed except for some psychological trauma), and held at gunpoint in Brazil at 20, where I was born- and I'm a really careful traveler. I love Guatemala, but I hear Honduras is even worse!

I'll check out the northern routes. Any more info on that? Thanks!
Holy moses, you are a tough one!
Sorry to hear that you had all these incredible incidents!
from what I experienced -a bus ride from San Salvador to Utila, back via San Pedro Sula, then with the bike straight from the north to Nicaragua-:No problems at all. If I remember correctly (where it was) I was stopped by a cop when riding fast on the side of the road, passing others. He only advised me not to do it cause of the danger of getting a flat tire : )!
Suerte!
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  #8  
Old 10 May 2014
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Originally Posted by TravelBugBlues View Post
....things are different than for a man...I hear Honduras is even worse!

I'll check out the northern routes. Any more info on that? Thanks!
Yup, things are different. But if you're going to ride as a woman, alone or accompanied, you're already in the thick of that. And Honduras is not any worse for experienced travelers than anyplace else in particular.

The north is obvious on any map. At one end you'll enter from Nicaragua; at the other you'll exit into Guatemala. There's an option via El Salvador which might be open or not--I happen to really like that part of El Salvador, but I visited on a different trip.

Seriously: don't get unduly worked up. It's just another Central American country with cops who like to prey on moto tourists transiting along the PanAm.

Mark
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  #9  
Old 9 May 2014
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Thanks! It's so great to have so many people as a resource...!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
I would read ... and possibly contact Sjoerd Bakker. Read his advice here on
crossing Honduras. post #3 and #5.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...083#post465517
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