new here. darien gap?

[long way]

hi guys,
I am new here and i am planning a trip which will pass through the darien gap. It looks like i will have to get a boat from panama to columbia. Has anyone done it and whats the best way? There will be 3 of us on Bikes heading north to south.

Thanks guys

steve

[amcwillie]

Yo Longway----I just got home last week from there. When we got to Cartagena, Colombia, the supposed home port of all the smaller boats that do this shuttle service to and from Panama, none of them were available. The seas were rough they said and the captains of the smaller boats were not running. The larger boats were not going to be available for several weeks. My running mates were out of time so we just shipped the bikes home and flew home ourselves. It's pot luck on getting the boats to take you, and if you are calm, cool and smile alot you can get it done. Don't leave anything valuable in your room even to just go eat dinner.

If you are going North to South then you will have the air shipping option from Panama to Bogata. Our south to north ride, we would have had to ride back down to Bogata to do the same.

Colombia is pretty, but dangerous. The big trucks rule the roads. Be very careful in traffic, those big rigs will be passing each other on curves and hills with no regard to you and your bike.

Curtis

[long way]

Thanks mate,I have seen the other thread now, it contains about all the answers i need!Long way

[StevenD]

2 dutch guy's are attempting it overland on 2 XT500's right now!

Henno's rally site : Henno van Bergeijk

Sane or insane?

[Stretcher Monkey]

I for one will be paying close attention to this. It will be interesting to see if it's as dangerous as we all seem to think it is. Having read their reports thus far they seem to have taken everything into account except the dreaded FARC/narcotraffickers, and I'm also wondering whether they have the blessing of at least the Colombian government, otherwise it's going to be fun and games even getting in there. That's if they find their luggage before it starts raining, of course.

Good luck Henno & Cornie!!