From NH to Argentina in a Defender 110 - Norte A Sur Aventura

[lostworldexpedition]

I am glad to hear that you guys will be shipping to Cartagena soon.

You will truly love Colombia. I have a good friend in Barranquilla that you can stop by and visit if you are not in a hurry. If you are lucky he might take you on a nice road trip to La Guajira peninsula. He is a member of the forum and owner of a 4x4 shop called Iguana 4x4. There is also a member of the forum in Bogota that will definitely meet you at the pub

Are you going to sail to Colombia? If you are, find out if the Stahlratte is sailing on your days... Hope to see you in South America, good luck and keep us posting.

 

[Christian P.]

Luis

the Stahlratte sailed last week with 15 bikes...I don't think it's coming back for a couple weeks at least. I heard it's a great boat to take but I am trying to convince Ryan and Shaun to do something a bit more adventurous and unique...take a small flight to a Kuna village near the border and hop in a water taxi across to Colombia...

 

[ExploringNH]

I am glad to hear that you guys will be shipping to Cartagena soon.

You will truly love Colombia. I have a good friend in Barranquilla that you can stop by and visit if you are not in a hurry. If you are lucky he might take you on a nice road trip to La Guajira peninsula. He is a member of the forum and owner of a 4x4 shop called Iguana 4x4. There is also a member of the forum in Bogota that will definitely meet you at the pub

Are you going to sail to Colombia? If you are, find out if the Stahlratte is sailing on your days... Hope to see you in South America, good luck and keep us posting.

I always have time to stop and meet someone new! Side trips are very welcome.

Sailing is too expensive for us and not enough adventure. There are something like 40+ boats making the trip now. I have something else in mind that I think will prove to be a little more fun and wills till let us experience a little of San Blas.

Luis

the Stahlratte sailed last week with 15 bikes...I don't think it's coming back for a couple weeks at least. I heard it's a great boat to take but I am trying to convince Ryan and Shaun to do something a bit more adventurous and unique...take a small flight to a Kuna village near the border and hop in a water taxi across to Colombia...

I think that is our main plan, but I have begun to modify it to be a bit cheaper. No flights required. Hopefully my Spanish is good enough to get me to where I need to be!

 

[Ruined Adventures]

I am trying to convince Ryan and Shaun to do something a bit more adventurous and unique...take a small flight to a Kuna village near the border and hop in a water taxi across to Colombia...

Details?

Sailing is too expensive for us and not enough adventure. There are something like 40+ boats making the trip now. I have something else in mind that I think will prove to be a little more fun and wills till let us experience a little of San Blas.

I think that is our main plan, but I have begun to modify it to be a bit cheaper. No flights required. Hopefully my Spanish is good enough to get me to where I need to be!

I can't wait to hear more about the more exciting alternatives! Sailing thru the San Blas Islands sounds incredible, but a water taxi is on my "list" for Central & South America!

 

[lostworldexpedition]

We know quite a few backpackers that came down on the coast and through the jungle into Colombia, problem is this alternative can take time and you have to make it back before or at least WITH your rig. Otherwise you have to pay storage fees at the port... Keep that in mind.

Whatever you do have a blast and keep in touch.

 

[n_maher]

Glad to hear that you are back on the road and looking forward to following the rest of the adventure!

 

[Christian P.]

We know quite a few backpackers that came down on the coast and through the jungle into Colombia, problem is this alternative can take time and you have to make it back before or at least WITH your rig. Otherwise you have to pay storage fees at the port... Keep that in mind.

Whatever you do have a blast and keep in touch.

Luis

How much are the storage fee? Typically our guests need to drop their cars in Colon on Wednesday or Thursday, and the cargo boat does not sail out until Friday and Saturday. So in any case, the earliest they have a chance to get to their car in Cartagena is the following Monday, which gives them a free 4-5 days already. And that's the very best case scenario, boats seem to have an habit of coming late...

And I think that even if they have to pay for a couple days of storage, it is well worth the adventure!

We have heard that there is guy downtown who can take you to Carti for $35, then from there you catch a water taxi. it is 5 hours to Playa Chicon, where we stayed, which is about half-way in the San Blas.

From there it can't be more than another 5 hours to get to the last village in Panama.

I am pretty sure it can be done in a few days...and I am strongly encouraging our guests to do the San Blas, one way or another. Most people who flies directly across end up spending a few days waiting around at either end - we even had a couple who waited 12 days because their boat decided to head to Costa Rica first....

the San Blas are probably one of the highlights of Central America!

 

[lostworldexpedition]

We dropped of in Colon Thursday afternoon and the container was on ground at the port in Cartagena Monday evening. I agree that San Blas islands are definitely the preferred option, if not a must... but I am just letting folks know that an unscheduled "self guided" tour may take a little longer than the charter sailboats which have a known schedule.

I believe once the ship with your container drops off at the port, you have anywhere from 2 to 5 days of free storage depending on your "contract." I am sorry, but I do not know the daily rate. Also keep in mind that the car that shares the container with you is stuck in the port until you are both there... (at least that was the case with us, everything is fluid when it comes to "rules" in Latin America)

I say go for the adventure and share the story

 

[ExploringNH]

Our truck is back in action and we took a little weekend trip up to Portobelo, Nombre de Dios, and beyond. Everything seems good so far. Today I am trying to get new insurance for the truck and work out our import paperwork, since we have been here for over a month.

 

[Christian P.]

Matt/Ryan,

I just received these "instructions" from one of our agent about how to do the transfer to Colombia. Sorry for the English, I did not have the time to correct it.
I think it would be good for future reference:

A-) Take a plane from the airport of Al brook, Panama City, the ticket is between USD57.00 to USD75.00 here a departure to Puerto Obaldia, by Aero Perlas Panama or another line. Wednesday and Sunday flights.

B-) From Obaldía Port, is a military port, Panama, while boat to get Capurgana, Port of Colombia, U.S. $ 30/40.00). you can stay in Pension Conde for $ 5. Maybe you take one day, two or more if necessary. After get the boat and you need to get the Immigration seal or Stamp on your passport giving you the output.

C-) You arrive to Capurgana, Colombia. have to put an entry stamp into Colombia in the office of DAS. This place has very nice beaches ... so if you have time you can stay there. The Hotel Uvita on port costs $ 5 per person per night. Capurgana salts, to Turbo, Colombia. They are about 2 hours by boat Price USD20.00 / USD25.00

D-) You arrive to Turbo Colombia. There are cheap hotels in Turbo (such as Turbo Private leaving about U.S. $ 5 per person). You take a Micro Bus From Turbo to Monteria to Cartagena, Colombia.

 

[MattScott]

The guys are still here at Panama Passage! Here's a picture of them crawling on the 110!

 

[ExploringNH]

And another picture from this weekend!

 

[Streakerfreak]

The guys are still here at Panama Passage! Here's a picture of them crawling on the 110!

Dear lord! They have now been there longer than I was.

 

[Christian P.]

Dear lord! They have now been there longer than I was.

I know, they are about to run Panama Passage themselves..



Hey Ryan, where is that last picture on the beach from?

 

[MattScott]

I know, they are about to run Panama Passage themselves..



Hey Ryan, where is that last picture on the beach from?

They're stealing my job!