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AdiBoo · Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Quito, Ecuador

hey All,

So right now I'm working in Argentina (great) but my work contract runs out at the end of December and I'd really like to go back to my home of NYC without the assistance of planes. Yeah, the whole pan-American highway gig.

Of course, the big problem with the pan-American highway, it seems, is the 40 or so miles between Colombia and Panama (Darien Pass) in which there is no road and plenty of guerillas. Personally, I don't consider myself to be a safety freak, but I do like to feel comfortable and without fear when traveling. If I'm spending my time worrying about guerillas, I tend to enjoy myself a bit less. So, my questions:

1. I've heard that there is boat travel from Colombia to Panama. Anyone have any information on this?

2. I'll be coming from Quito, Ecuador... can anyone tell me how safe, really, it is to travel up through Colombia? How I can better assure my safety? My Spanish is at an intermediate level and rapidly improving, but I am certainly not latino.

3. If it is a considerable risk to travel through Colombia, anyone have any information on boating it from Ecuador to Panama? Is it possible? What town/city? How long is the trip?

Thanks for all your help. This forum is quite spectacular in the way it allows people to assist each other. Here's hoping we can make this happen too.

DainaJ · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 62

Go to Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum and do a search for "Darien Pass" - I believe this question is asked and answered frequently there. Take any advice with a grain of salt until you can confirm it yourself!

DainaJ · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 62

Sorry, search for "Darien Gap." I tried to find the link to a crazy report by a guy who crossed the Darien Gap on foot/boat, but I couldn't find it. Fascinating read.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

A fellow named Danny Liska did this back in the 50s. If you look on the internet you can find lots of info about him. He rode a motorcycle from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but had to walk/canoe through the Darien Gap.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

Just take a boat from coastal Colombia. Many do this all the time.

Darien Gap seems like a real big mistake.. I wouldn't even consider it.

As fas as traveling up from Quito to the Colombian coast. Just go during the daytime.. no buses at night. Still run a risk though.

Personally, I'd just fly to Panama.. Copa Airlines is a Panama-based airline that flies all over the region.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

Haven't heard of too many problems busing through the well populated parts of Colombia from Ecuador- I would avoid more remote regions with large Guerilla populations...

I forget where the boat leaves from, but it might be Cartagena? Anyone? Bueller? It doesn't run too often though, so do a thorough websearch and plan for it so you don't wait around for days for the next one to go...

Boating from Ecuador to Panama would be highly unusual, and as such, super expensive. (You'd probably have to charter something...and an international charter boat ain't cheap.)

Best,
Justin

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

Here are two links about the Darien Gap

http://www.world66.com/centralamericathecaribbean/panama/dariengap

http://www.motivation-tools.com/notes/darien_gap.htm

And another, probably badly outdated, about sea options

http://magliery.com/Thompson/misctext/darien.txt

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I think it would be an awesome trip. I have made the trip from Panama to the Canadian border, but wanted to do the South America to Canada trip but never got around to it. A wife and now two kids later, it just ain't possible, but I can still dream.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:58 pm Post subject:

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

You are right, why not? Gotta convince the wife. We have half thought of next year making the trip from Mexico to South America by land/boat. But our youngest just turned 3 and are oldest is turning 5. So 4 and 6 would be a little young making the trip, but it still would be fun. We are for sure planning a Brazil/Bolivia/Uruguay/Argentina/Paraguay/Chile trip hopefully next year by land. Finances to do it? Savings, savings, savings, meager savings.