From Panama City, Panama to Medellin, Colombia - January, 2008

Boat Attempts :
Hostel Mamallena could act as agent for a Captain Andres and for USD $290 for me & a further USD $290 for the bike, plus a 40km ride to get a small boat to be ferried to the larger 40ft boat.

I recall reading a HUBB posting about a Captain Andres, and this combined with having to supply my own ropes, ride 20Km along an unsurfaced mud bath of a road, and shift the bike on a dug out put me off; perhaps Im fussy, but I would have thought that anyone who had shipped bikes before would have the necessary ropes ...

I met a guy who went on a 100ft boat through Zulys backpackers hostel for around USD $300 one - although he had an adventure getting to the boat (20km on a really wet, muddy & potholed surface, dumping the bike several times), and on the boat (didnt eat for 3 days due to severe weather & sea sickness)

ATM (a pointer from the HUBB) suggested I fly the bike due to long delays with bike entry in Cartagena (to fly : USD $550, to ship : USD $350). Given that when I insisted on a boat I was given another number to call which was unobtainable, I suspect that the preferred flying method is due to commission, not to any hassle with bike import.

Air :
So I looked in the yellow pages & made a list.
Top of the list was Copa Carga, Panama City International Airport, Tocumen : 304-26-60
which turned out to be exactly what I wanted, so I went no further. Originally I telephoned to try to book a shipment from Panama to Cartagena but was told that I could just turn up at 8am when the office opened & it would fly out on the 11am flight.

When I turned up the next day at 8am there was no Panama -> Cartagena flight, although my limited Spanish detected that it might be possible if you book (I presume in person)

Panama City, Panama -> Medellin, Colombia
shipping : USD $350
dangerous goods : USD $100
airway bill : USD $28

I left the panniers on the rack, windscreen in place and forgot to turn in the wing mirrors the 2nd time, didnt disconnect the battery - Snr Chong said it didnt matter.
I got myself booked onto a flight (via Snr Chong), then completed a form in Spanish which was typed into an invoice which I then paid - by credit card :)

The bike was weighed in at 258Kg (only difference this makes is that the basic insurance will only pay out USD $20 per Kg), they looked at the fuel guage & in the tank (it was flashing on empty but probably about 0.5 gallon).

I was told that the price would be the same from Panama City, Panama to Cali or Bogota or Medellin.
Panama : All staff were helpful. Senor Renifer Chong was very helpful and he spoke reasonable English.

NOTE : Get your passport bike stamp cleared in Panama City before you take the bike for flying.
Upon leaving I realised that I hadnt cleared Customs - thats what lack of sleep & beer do to you :( & I had a hectic 2hrs trying to persuade the customs virtually at the terminal to cancel the bike form my passport. They wouldnt as I needed a PTJ form, and the only place for this was in Panama City at the PTJ (the immediately local police cant do this). Luckily on the way out I caught a customs guy at the roundabout at the outskirts of the cargo terminal, near the bus terminal - and he was a star. He reviewed the docs & the bike & as all was in order he cancelled my stamp. So back to Copa the bike went. The bike was flying early out the next, and I didnt see anyone packing it up.

Recommendations :
Visit Copa Carga before you plan to ship the bike
So, although the guy at the further away customs will review your docs & cancel your stamp, this may not always work & I would recommend going to the PTJ office in advance.
Get your bike booked in first, then get your own airline tickets. Aside from the usual Copa & Avianca, have a look at :
www.aires.com.co
www.ada-aero.com - this gives very good passenger prices but I couldnt work out how to buy a ticket ! try it & youll see, you have to register & be contacted.

Medellin :
I spent a long weekend in Cartagena & fly into Medellin. At Cartagena exit they took both copies of my customs form.
At Medellin the cargo terminal is 10 mins walk from the passenger terminal & 15 mins after arrival & 76k Colombian Pesos lighter Im ready for customs. I didnt need a tramite, and although lack of a customs form caused some consternation, customs was done in 80 minutes. All very friendly & helpful.
Bike was not damaged & looked like it had arrived by magic - but then I was so glad to see it.