In this article I explain as much in detail as possible how to travel by fast boats from Panama to Colombia. This article is not about hitchhiking, but about paying for the boats. Hitchhiking is definitely also possible but might take way longer especially because it’s not so frequented by private sailing boats, more by touristic sailing boats which will cost 500 Dollar or more. This way which I describe will cost way less – maximum 200 Dollars, I got it even cheaper with a bit of luck.
If you want to know more about the Darién-gap and why it is dangerous for refugees, you can read here in my blog: About the Darién-gap
General Advices
1. It is possible and it’s not dangerous, you just need time and might get quite wet, so raincover is a must I would say.
2. The trip should definitely cost less than 200 $, you can even get it for less than 100 with a bit of luck or time. I’ll explain the costs below.
3. Speaking Spanish helps (like everywhere in Latinamerica), but you will also solve it without.
4. The route is from Panama City to Carti (San Blas Port), then with one or several boats to Puerto Obaldia where you check out of Panamá. Next boat to Capurgana in Colombia to get your passport stamped again and then you take a ferry to Necocli or Turbo from where you can take buses or hitchhike.
5. This whole trip can take 2 days if everything works very well, but I would at least calculate 3-4 days. Especially if you try to save money.
6. Of course you can also hitchhike on this route but I don’t know how long this will take because normally all the boats along the coast take money (except for the police). For hitchhiking you should frequent sailing boat marinas which are located in other places.
Now let’s come to the route:
Panama City to Carti
There are Jeeps which cost 30 $ from Panama City to Carti.
But you can also take a bus from the bus station Albrook to El Llano for 2,5 $ and from there you take a Taxi Collectivo or you hitchhike which worked perfectly fine for me.
Carti to Puerto Obaldia
This is the longest part which is also most expensive and complicated, because there are many options:
There are two different boats which drive every 5 – 10 days from Carti to Puerto Obaldia. If you contact them with anticipation, this is the easiest way! It should cost 100 $. Contact me, if you want their contact. (kai-echelmeyer (at) web.de)
If not with them, you have to work your way along the coast. If you find a boat to Armila, Caledonia or Coetupo, that’s perfect because from these places it’s not far to Puerto Obaldia. But not every day a boat leaves to these destinations. As Carti is only the port and people live on the islands, staying there over night is quite expensive.
But from Carti it is easy to go to Narganá, which is already 1,5 hours in the right direction. In Narganá people were super friendly to me and sleeping there is cheaper than at Carti. (Hostal Noris 15$)
Normally the boats from Carti along the coast stop in Narganá and there’s also boats starting from Narganá. Just ask your way through.
It can happen that a boat from Carti does not stop at Narganá. So happened to me. But then I got an even better option.
Two cheaper options:
1. There are merchant boats which travel from village to village. This is cheaper, maybe you can even hitchhike it. But they take several days or even longer than a week. If you have time, I think this must be amazing because you get to know the little villages along the coast.
2. The border police sometimes travels from Narganá to Puerto Obaldia and then they also take guests – for free!!! I went with them and so I saved around 80 $ 😍 For this option ask your way through to the border police station in Narganá.
Puerto Obaldia to Capurganá
Important that you first get your stamp to leave Panamá! You need a copy of your passport at the migration but there’s a copy shop in front.
Boats to Capurgana take around 20 min and leave quite often. You pay 20 – 25 per person if you go with others. And ~40 if its only you.
Capurgana – Necocli or Turbo
The last boat you have to take!
There are several ferries, quick and cost 85.000 COP.
Important again that you first get your stamp to enter Colombia. Often the electricity fails, so you might have to wait at migration office a bit.
If you have to stay in Capurgana, Marlin Azul is a quite cheap hostel.
Enjoy the trip, it’s an amazing experience and I met super nice people 😊
22 responses to “With fast boats from Panama to Colombia – without plane”
-
What an interesting article and super useful tips if you want to travel more sustainably an avoid taking planes! Thank you and it seemed like you had an amazing experience yourself! ☺️
-
Hey ! Loving your article it is super useful !!!
I would love to get the contact that you mentioned to get from carti to puerto obaldia !!Cheers !
-
Hi! Thanks for the article 🙂
I’d like to have the contact of the boat going directly to puerto obaldia
Cheers
-
-
Hola ! Great article thanks a lot 🙂 i would love to have the contact for the boat from carti to puerto Obaldia, by WhatsApp if you want : +33 7 44 81 96 31
Or my mail as you prefer : felix.lefebvre@outlook.fr
Thank you !
-
-
Hey, just a quick feedback!
I just crossed the Panama-Colombia border!
I contacted Hector who does 4-5 day Launchas tours for 455$ BUT he also has boats that do Carti-> Puerto Obaldia directly for 125$. Which, according to feedback from people who have done it with several fishing boats, is about the same price!
It really was a beautiful day! We were really in the boats used by the locals, and we made stops in several small villages!Don’t hesitate to send him a message! He his a local guy living in the last community ! It is a big amount of money but it is well spend money I think !
Hector Bonilla San Blas Experience : +507 6614-8848
https://www.hectorssanblasexperience.comI am a solo female traveller and I felt really really safe !
Enjoy !
-
Hi, Thank you for your article. I would like to receive the contacts for the trip from Carti to Puerto obaldia by lancha if possible! Thank you very much.
-
situs slot gacor situs slot gacor situs slot gacor
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to
come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?Fantastic work!
-
If yoou are going for most excellent contents like I do, just pay a visit this web
site daily for the reazson that it provides feature contents, thanks https://Www.waste-ndc.pro/community/profile/tressa79906983/ -
predator 189 predator 189 predator
189
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is
added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from
that service? Thank you! -
rajabandot rajabandot rajabandot
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually know what
you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my site =).We will have a hyperlink trade contract among us
-
If you desire to obtain a great deal from this piece of writing then you have to apply such strategies
to your won webpage. -
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this weblog’s content daily along with a cup of coffee.
-
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much.
I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
-
Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically articles I might
state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and
to this point? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular
submit incredible. Excellent activity! -
I want to to thank you for this great read!!
I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it. I’ve got you book-marked to look at new
things you post… -
I for all time emailed this blog post page to all my contacts,
for the reason that if like to read it afterward my links
will too. -
Just want to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness in your post is just cool and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to
keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep
up the gratifying work. -
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am in fact pleassant
to read all at one place. -
Also I have a 3 year old, and I can not even begin to figure out how she could be on bedrest with a 3 year old, unless maybe she was in the hospital away from her family what is priligy Get a waterproof seat cover for your car if you take your dog with you
Leave a Reply