My experience last fall was that Columbia was one of the easier countries to deal with on border, insurance, and there police were friendly and appeared to be honest. I doubt there will be any problems in those departments once the ferry gets established. If your stuck in Cartagena there are some ideas of things to do over at the US Secret Service website. Dave
I posted that post and link on Ride Reports ... where a Ferry thread had just popped up. Now it's here? Things happen fast here! Youzer's Inspector Gadget!
PanamaPassage, Very good and we appreciate your findings . It is the same feeling of what I been saying on previous entries. I wouldn't waist my time on trying to figure out when the Ferry is going to happen. It is not going to happen soon the way they say, passengers, trucks,bikes and even containers (ahahaha!! containers?). Colombia have strong regulations on imports and exports all missed with their own weird ways of work at a port . To my standards and experience is not going to work. You cannot mix apples and pears in these countries with all the complications of their ways of operation. Somebody mentioned above that it could be like the Spain-Morocco ferry. Yes it could but, that's is another story. Spain knows on how to treat the system and Morocco needs tourism. There is a well established treaty there and Morocco was a Spanish colony back in the days. What I don't understand, Colombia have issues on mixing passenger and cargo on the same vessel. Well, this the nature of a Ferry right? then why they didn't figure out that before when the project was presented in a big fair/convention in Bogota?. hmmmmmm!! sound a really bad organization to me.
More info from this thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770001 This was posted yesterday... Either the ferry actually started and is all booked out, or they just say it's booked and have "tentatively" postponed the maiden voyage for June 4th...
It has been almost a week since I was at the Aventuras2000 office and from what I have heard elsewhere, the possibility of a ferry is messing everything up. The officials at the Cartagena port have turned back at least one sailboat with tourists crossing from Panama, they are getting strict and being a-holes. I am poking my nose around in Portobelo to see what needs to happen to make the crossing. Basically the brokers in Cartagena (the guys who help the sailboats with paperwork) have said yes than no than yes for motorcycles. The sailboat captains may not want to risk taking a bike on board only to get turned back once reaching Colombia. If that happens you can either try to get dropped off in Puerto Obaldia and take a Lancha to Turbo ($50) or you can go back to Panama and try again, $900 bucks later, I am going to have a drink tonight with Michel, the captian of the Independence. He has been in Panama City working out the details of his Visa and is back in Portobelo with some information and some "news" for me. 2 months of riding just to arrive in Colombia with my motorcycle, I'm so close! Something good better happen soon or I am going to get crazy. Thanks moderators for merging my earlier post, I did not mean to be that guy. If anyone is in Panama trying to get to Colombia with thier bike, PM me and we can figure it out together.
I forgot to mention, the confusion is due to the fact that motorcycles are considered cargo and its difficult to mix cargo with passengers which the sailboats have been doing sort of under the radar for years.
I vote that you go try to find that "Mad Dog" character with the DC-3. That sounds way too weird to pass up.
I was at the La Palma airstrip and hopped a flight back to Allbrook via some islands in the Pacific. If this was the right La Palma I didn't see any evidence of a DC3, but I did see some significant damage to the control tower so maybe MadDog finally crashed out Not much else out on that strip: John in Bogota, passport menyana Damn crazy Colombian holidays.
Here's another perspective on the possibility of May (or June) ferry sailings: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/south-america/crossing-darien-gap-new-service-63720 Scroll to last couple of posts for photo rumored to be the ship in question. Mark
This just in:Immigration Will Be Monitoring The Ferry From Cartagena to Panama Monday, May 07 2012 @ 11:57 AM COT Contributed by: Don Winner Views: 81 The National Immigration Service will designate officials to work aboard the new ferry that will link Panama to Cartagena. A source from the within Immigration said they have deployed a group of inspectors who will check and verify the immigration documents of travelers aboard the ship. The source said Immigration has also hired 100 new staff inspectors who will be deployed to areas where more personnel are needed. The ferry will make three trips per week between Panama and Cartagena. (Prensa) Editor's Comment: I expect this new ferry service will become the method of choice for perpetual tourists to renew their immigration status in Panama. A round trip ticket will cost $99 dollars, and there will be another $95 dollars in port fees and taxes, for a total of $194 - still less than half the cost of flying. There will be three round-trips between Panama and Cartagena per week. The ferry will travel mostly at night, leaving at about 6:00 pm from either Colon or Cartagena, and arriving at about 6:00 am. The company operating this service will be providing a bus service from Panama City to the Colon 2000 port, so you don't have to worry about leaving your car parked and unattended (in Colon). I think this will turn into a sort of "party boat" with people making the trip just to have a good time - and to meet the hundreds of Colombian chicks who are bound to become regulars of this floating hootenanny - it's going to be a "trip" in more ways than one.
Apparently, Panama gets their immigration enforcement policy ideas from adventure rider. I'll require compensation as a consultant. Airfare to Medellin would be acceptable. Thanks.
Many people had contacted the ferry company and apparently a R/T ticket to be mandatory . There is another thread at DRIVE THE AMERICAS, regarding this matter. An today is May 10th, WHERE'S THE FERRY? Also there is a PDF file from the company at the Horizons thread , where are mentioned details for passengers, allowed luggage, meals etc... Never mention anything about Ferry matters such vehicles, etc.. It is clear that the vehicles issue is not being resolved yet or clarified. If the company is selling R/T , why a flying ticket for foreigners is required ? hmmmmm!!!
Apparently one guy (from another forum source) made a reservation on the Ferry. When you do a reservation the Ferry must comply with. We'll see how is going. His statement: Booked! Paid and reserved my spot May 31 for the first voyage across....here is the beakdown for a 2001 Xterra 9smaller vehicles are cheaper) Person roundtrip 100 + 100(tax) 200 Truck 225 + 225(each way 450 .03 charge for visa 19.50 deposit for food (refundable) must be paid at departure there will also be an insurance charge while on the boat. I took a plunge trusting it should not be that hefty, and at this rate, its already saving a bundle. I should know the insurance cost soon. At this time, no one way tickets are sold....maybe if they develop a one way downt he road, the rates could become cheaper..... I used VISA and paid the ridiculous extra fee solely because I wanted visa on my side if these guys don't come through as promised. But maybe paying cash you could save 20 bucks... This is a coach seat only, you pay major upgrade if you want a room. Wish me luck!
We have just received from a source, the FULL CONDITIONS AND COSTS from' Panamerican Ferrys' organizing the Panama -Colombia service. You could see it at our THREAD at the bottom of the page. We don't want to publish it here because possible conflicts with ADV policy. On this link: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=741582 We do not endorse or share veracity from Panamerican Ferrys notices . However we do share with ADV their notices.
$85 for a bike, $170 for bike+rider. Direct link to Gaston's post: http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18666377&postcount=15