Ferry to Colombia!!!

[nightflyer]

Am I the only one thinking it is the end of an era?
It is like if ruta 40 was paved all the way from La Quiaca hasta Patagonia (which is bound to happen one day, isn't it?).

I am just glad I was able to do the crossing when it was still a rip off on a rotten beat up sail boat with a crazy lunatic of a captain at the helm, where you'd spend 7 days throwing up overboard while being hit by 3 consecutive storms... Good times!

Less and less adventures left... I gotta stop lurking and find myself a new place to go to before it disapears

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by nightflyer

I am just glad I was able to do the crossing when it was still a rip off on a rotten beat up sail boat with a crazy lunatic of a captain at the helm, where you'd spend 7 days throwing up overboard while being hit by 3 consecutive storms... Good times!

I got all of that PLUS we ran aground on a reef. Ha! Then again, you did more time in Rio Gallegos than I did, so I guess we're even. Plenty of adventure still to be had around Almaty last I was there, especially if you go south into Kyrgyzstan. If you actually are there now, I'm jealous. Go say hi to my big green ural that I abandoned over at Club Sport. They were talking of hanging it over the bar when I left.

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by nightflyer

...Less and less adventures left... I gotta stop lurking and find myself a new place to go to before it disapears

It's true.
From cromag man going forward...thru all time...never stopping...
Define prgress...

[nightflyer]

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

If you actually are there now, I'm jealous. Go say hi to my big green ural that I abandoned over at Club Sport. They were talking of hanging it over the bar when I left.

Yep, just moved into my appartment on Furmanova last friday after a month in a hotel on Dostyk. you can come and crash on my sofa anytime, we'll talk about good ole Rio Gallegos til we puke.
I'll send pics of your Ural if I find it, no worries

[luciosiq]

Yeap. I've read the El Llano - Carti road is now all paved.
As you said, it is progress reach the Kuna People.
I don't know if they are happy with such a "progress". They probably are, as there will be more tourists crossing their land and paying the toll, which they used to charge right in the middle of the jungle.
I wonder what the sailing boat captains' will do for living, with the start of this new Ferry Service between Panama and Colombia.
It might be the beginning of a new lifecycle across the Darien.
Let's see.
Maybe, it's time to explore new routes to cross the Darien........Cruthas ???

Next week we are off to Uruguay for a 7 day ride.......very straightforward paved trip........nice country though.......nice parilla and beer.
Take care.

Originally Posted by bananaman

Your Mileage May Vary is, here, an understatement!

Somehow, by luck, experience, and design, you and Paula had an almost perfect attitude to go with your great experience. Others... not so much!

Did you know that the road you took- that horrible "road" from El Llano to Carti- has been paved, and there are bridges over the rivers? You can now drive a sedan to Carti. This is what I lament, for us "adventure riders," but the reality is that "progress" is helping the people who live there.

Whether or not non-Indians should be living in the jungle is an argument I'll take up over a beer some time.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by luciosiq

Yeap. I've read the El Llano - Carti road is now all paved.
As you said, it is progress reach the Kuna People.
I don't know if they are happy with such a "progress". They probably are, as there will be more tourists crossing their land and paying the toll, which they used to charge right in the middle of the jungle.
I wonder what the sailing boat captains' will do for living, with the start of this new Ferry Service between Panama and Colombia.
It might be the beginning of a new lifecycle across the Darien.
Let's see.
Maybe, it's time to explore new routes to cross the Darien........Cruthas ???

Next week we are off to Uruguay for a 7 day ride.......very straightforward paved trip........nice country though.......nice parilla and beer.
Take care.

Cruthas's route was the most fantastic.

[trailtrick]

Originally Posted by luciosiq

Yeap. I've read the El Llano - Carti road is now all paved.
As you said, it is progress reach the Kuna People.
I don't know if they are happy with such a "progress". They probably are, as there will be more tourists crossing their land and paying the toll, which they used to charge right in the middle of the jungle.
I wonder what the sailing boat captains' will do for living, with the start of this new Ferry Service between Panama and Colombia.
It might be the beginning of a new lifecycle across the Darien.
Let's see.
Maybe, it's time to explore new routes to cross the Darien........Cruthas ???

Next week we are off to Uruguay for a 7 day ride.......very straightforward paved trip........nice country though.......nice parilla and beer.
Take care.

I just got back from uruguay(rocha),I be back in 5 weeks .weather was beatifull.Iff you need a place to stay in la paloma I have apartments with space for park you bike inside at good rates for inmates .

[yellowbirdrs]

it's official!!!





Colón to Cartagena by sea for $99

Ferry to Colombia will begin service May 10



A look inside the ‘Nissos Rodos’ at the $99 seats that have aroused great interest.
On Thursday, May 10, the company Pan American Seaways will begin a game-changing new ferry service that will connect the Caribbean cities of Colón and Cartagena de Indias, in Panama and Colombia, respectively. The ferry, called the ‘Nissos Rodos’ has room for thousands of passengers as well as hundreds of cars and shipping containers aboard.
An introductory rate has been set at $99 round trip. Travelers will leave the Colón 2000 Port in Panama at 6:00 p.m. and arrive in Cartagena, Colombia 12 hours later at 6:00 a.m. The fare, according to the ferry’s exclusive tour operator Aventuras 2000, has been set to attract travelers en masse.
Aventuras 2000 reports that the recent announcement of this service, has caused a fervor of interest, principally among Colombian residents in Panama. Colombians rank first in the number of foreigners residing in Panama, and given the $99 rate, the ferry service should do well, competing with the several airlines that offer connections between Panama and its South American neighbor. There is no land route existent between the two countries.

About Cartagena

Cartagena de Indias, located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is this nation’s fifth largest city with a population of 892,545. It is a popular tourist destination as well as a centre of economic activity in the Caribbean.

About the service

The ferry will leave the Colón 2000 Port on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Aboard, travelers can enjoy a theatre, bar, restaurant and shops. The $99 introductory low season rate will afford travelers the most basic seat – in the “deluxe” category. Other options for seat upgrades cost up to $119 for a “coach” seat.
Cabins are also available, with rates fluctuating between $214 and $294 per person, double occupancy.
The return trip from Cartagena leaves at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Panama at 6:00 a.m. the following day.
All fares will incur port taxes, which for the $99 seat are somewhere between $70 and $80, according to Aventuras 2000.
The ship has a capacity of 1,484 passengers, 500 automobiles and 2,000 meters available for express cargo and capacity for 175 shipping containers.

The ‘Nissos Rodos’ has capacity for nearly 1,500 passengers per voyage.

Getting to and from Colón

Aventuras 2000 reports that by Monday, April 17, it will have established a fare for the transfer service to be provided between Panama City and the Colón 2000 Port so that travelers do not have to take their vehicle or a bus to the Caribbean in order to complete the journey.
Tours options on both sides

Travelers who arrive in Cartagena de Indias, as well as those from Colombia who arrive to Panama, can count on the support of Aventuras 2000 to arrange tours in both destinations.
Aventuras 2000 is the exclusive tour operator affiliated with Pan American Seaways and both companies are owned by Colón 2000.
Contact information

Reservations and information requests are taken at 209-2000 or 380-0900. Visit PanaFerry.com or write reservas@panaferry.com.



http://www.focuspublicationsint.com/...15/second.html

[nomadicbear]

I just found more information about the FERRY Service. This is from the website EXPEDITION PORTAL:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/reso...-columbia.html

This is a Google Translation from Spanish:

and it might not be what we are Hopeing for after all so hould your breath a bit longer.

(( Crossing the Darien Gap: Ferry Service to Start Between Panama and Colombia
Friday, 13 April 2012 08:48 Matthew Scott

With each day that passes it really seems like the world is becoming more and more interconnected; starting May 10th, Panama and Colombia will also be making that step as Aventuras 2000 will be starting a ferry service between the ports of Colon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia. Yes, that ferry service includes vehicles. For the longest time the biggest hurdle for overlanders wishing to drive the PanAmerican highway has been the Darien Gap. Some have tried to penetrate the jungle between Panama and Colombia, and with the exception of explorers such as John Blashford Snell, many have failed. It's natural that this ferry will quickly become the transport of choice for Overlanders, replacing the container or RO-RO (Roll-On, Roll-Off) methods of shipping.

Traveller's will initially have the choice of three departures from each port. The ship will leave Colon on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and from Cartagena on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Prices for the overnight journey will range from $99 to $508 for a presidential sleeper cabin. ***There's no word yet on what it will cost to transport your vehicle, or if motorcycles will be allowed. ***

More to read on the website...

I have sent an E-mail to asking for more information, might I suggest that we start an E-Mail campaign! This is the contact site:

http://www.aventuras2000.com/en_contactenos.php

[GastonUSAChile]

Well well, the idea sound good.
Today is April 19th and we are about 3 weeks when the Titanic suppose to make its maiden voyage. The page that was link above, it is not a page that you could clap on that . I mean! were in the world you buy tickets to get at least one seat?. 500 trucks , containers, etc etc...?.
Sorry but , this thing smell fishy to me. No transporting company in the world start like that.
Still I don't even hear from the other side (Cartagena). A clear manual of regulations already should ber published , at least on how Customs issues are going to be resolved when there is a police inspection with you and your vehicle included and by appointment only. When you are required to have insurance in advance to be inside the port with the police ...... mmmmmm!!!, to complicated for people that have no idea how that process work and where to start.

Listen, whoever have a ticket already, feel lucky and let us know. There is plenty of seats available!

I don't want to speculate here and I wish to have a Ferry there, but owned by NYK or Wallenius , even by Lan or Lufthansa, but run by a really organized company.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by GastonUSAChile

Well well, the idea sound good.
Today is April 19th and we are about 3 weeks when the Titanic suppose to make its maiden voyage. The page that was link above, it is not a page that you could clap on that . I mean! were in the world you buy tickets to get at least one seat?. 500 trucks , containers, etc etc...?.
Sorry but , this thing smell fishy to me. No transporting company in the world start like that.
Still I don't even hear from the other side (Cartagena). A clear manual of regulations already should ber published , at least on how Customs issues are going to be resolved when there is a police inspection with you and your vehicle included and by appointment only. When you are required to have insurance in advance to be inside the port with the police ...... mmmmmm!!!, to complicated for people that have no idea how that process work and where to start.

Listen, whoever have a ticket already, feel lucky and let us know. There is plenty of seats available!

I don't want to speculate here and I wish to have a Ferry there, but owned by NYK or Wallenius , even by Lan or Lufthansa, but run by a really organized company.

It sounds like you're preparing a spiel to get people to pay you to do nothing.

It's possible to be simple- no reservations, just show up and buy a ticket.

[kantuckid]

The Greeks need to make some money someplace and quick, so it seems.

[tedder]

Originally Posted by GastonUSAChile

Sorry but , this thing smell fishy to me. No transporting company in the world start like that.

Want to run a bet? I say $50 it runs by the end of May.

[GastonUSAChile]

This thread should be treated to inform people where to get tickets and export their vehicles with all the specifics.
Panama -Colombia is not like France-England. Yes , for a passenger sure you can walk buy an get in, with all passport and documentation cleared . Something that could be simple and straight forward. At least couple of hours on that process
However, for vehicles, containers etc.. it is a different matter, there is a strong process in there about police (anti drug search), paperwork , private ports issues and payments for terminal handling, storage, etc..

It was a Ferry in the pass but because of traficking and a serious cow disease plague made the service finish.

All we are trying to find is a clear picture about that Ferry and a transiting service that work and it is available for booking. All I see is the same announcement everywhere in the published world.
Nope I am not going to buy the tickets for you. This is a free world for everybody to chose and buy their own trip. Ferry tickets are for travel agencies, Cargo is for exporters.
Somebody offer a $50 bet for the Ferry service in May. Yes, it could happen with passengers but cargo? trucks, containers, bikes and strollers, mmmm! donno.

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by GastonUSAChile

However, for vehicles, containers etc.. it is a different matter, there is a strong process in there about police (anti drug search), paperwork , private ports issues and payments for terminal handling, storage, etc..

Mmmmm. No. I can say that not one person from the Colombian government even saw my bike or searched its contents when I entered the country in Turbo. They saw the title and that was it... and even that was only because I actually spent 20 minutes riding around town looking for the customs office. I could've easily just hit the road without any sort of inspection. I wanted to have the right documents though so I spent the extra time and did the leg work. Not exactly a strong or thorough process.