lundi 25 août 2014

Boat Panama To Colombia Fun Ride

By Colette Foreman


Travelling from Panama to Colombia is not possible by road because of the infamous Darien Gap the break in the Pan-American Highway. That leaves travel by air and boat. Travel by air is fast but non eventful for adventure seekers. Boat Panama to Colombia is one of the greatest journeys to make in the world.

Through beautiful tropical beaches and breathtaking islands it takes 3 to 5 days to arrive in Colombia. The main departure point is San Blas which is off Panama City and may cost you a little bit. There are other departure points in Portobello and Puerto Lindo towns. Navigating through the islands takes almost three days while it is a two day journey to Cartagena in Colombia via open sea.

When hiring, it is advisable to first make contact with the captain or book through a hostel or agency. In addition get to know the number of people who will be making the trip with you. Remember to be in the departure town in time for the sail. Have cash with you, as there are no ATM points in Carti or El Porvenir or any other point in your journey. Make the withdrawal from your bank while still in Panama City.

Fare paid covers meals taken, taxes and also fees for your departure and arrival. The captain has the responsibility of handling all the immigration issues stamping of the passport. Cash is used to pay the fare to the captain once on board. Once this is done, your luggage is taken away for safe storage. Due to this, pack a separate lighter bag to contain all the essentials you will need for the trip. These essentials may include your toiletries, tees, shorts and sunscreen.

Alcohol may or may not be allowed depending on the rules of the boat. When it is allowed however you have to carry your own. For soft drinks you will also make your own plans. There are special meals for special cases such as diabetes, vegetarians and vegans. However, you have to provide this information beforehand that is during booking. During your trip you may want to try out snorkeling or fishing and the necessary gear is provided.

Before you begin your journey, your captain will inform you of what to do to be safe whilst in the trip. Sailing can be dangerous and lives may be lost. Often there are storms, lack of food, people falling overboard even drunk captains. Do not have too much expectation, just relax and look for ways to have fun.

This trip is also an opportunity to meet the local tribes, interact with them and get to know a little bit of their culture. The Kuna Yala people in San Blas Island are an interesting social people. You may even want to try out their food or buy their handmade craft as souvenir. There are other islands also with indigenous people.

Know the credentials of your captain while booking the trip. Look for professionalism, experience and those permitted by the law to operate. Their boats should also have equipment for safety such as life jackets and a GPS tracker. Remember that Cheap does not always mean safe. Panama to Colombia boat ride is a life changing experience.




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