By ship
There are a number of different boating options if you want to get here to or from Colombia:
'Sailing boats' to/from Colombia/Cartagena price from $299-$550 dollars for usually 5 days all incl.There are now over 30 vessels operating this route. They vary widely in safety, comfort, and price. A person would be ill advised to book an 180nm ocean passage on a vessel he hasnât inspected with a captain he hasnât met. The waters between San Blas and Colombia can be challenging at times. Donât depend on second hand information.
Vessels depart regularly from Portobelo, Puerto Lindo, Carti islands and Porvenir. Make an informed decision. Here's a check list to consider:
Safety
1. Experienced Licensed Captain
2. Life vests in good repair for all passengers and crew
3. Life raft
4. Dingy with a motor large enough to push the boat in an emergency
5. EPIRB â Emergency Positioning Indicator Radio Beacon
6. Fire extinguishers â up to date
7. Flares
8. VHF Radio
9. HF radio or Sat phone
10.GPS â more than one
11.Charts â electronic and paper
12.Autopilot â with back up, a must if the Captain doesnât have crew
13.Crew â more than one experienced person on board
14.Number of passengers vs. size of boat. many overcrowded
15.Adequate water supply
16.Man Overboard device and procedure
17.Medical Kit
18.Safety briefing
Comfort
1. Number of passengers vs. size of boat â do the math
2. Cleanliness â a spotless boat is usually well maintained as well
3. Toilet facilities
4. Refrigeration â cold drinks
5. Number of comfortable berths
6. Chef â quality of food
7. Entertainment â Music, TV, Movies, Books
8. Fishing gear
9. Snorkeling gear
10. Friendly atmosphere
Hostel Mamallena: (http://hostelmamallena.com) in Panama City has excellent contacts throughout the San Blas area and can arrange transport, tours and accommodation anywhere you need to go. They also deal with some of the best sailing boats operating private charters in the San blas islands and between Panama and Colombia.
Captain Jack's Boats to Colombia: (http://www.boatstocolombi...) Offers automated online reservations 24/7. Choose from over 15 of the finest sailboats inspected personally by Captain Jack, order, and pay using debit/credit card or Payapal. Your reservation will be confirmed by email within 24hours or you are free to select another boat. Just visit (http://www.boatstocolombia.com) and reserve your sailboat and motorcycle shipping charter to the San Blas Islands, Cartagena, Colombia, and Panama today.
Captain Jack's Hostel Portobelo: (http://captainjackvoyages.com) in Portobelo is a wealth of information and hub for backpackers and sailboat cruisers alike. Because sailboat captains frequent the hostel/restaurant/bar, it is one of the best places in Panama to meet the captain of your perspective charter, inspect the boats, use internet, eat, sleep, as well as book day tours, kayaking, scuba, hiking, and snorkeling. Enjoy a burger and cold beer while taking in breathtaking vistas overlooking Portobelo and the Iglesia San Felipe home to the World Famous "Cristo Negro" Black Christ. Captain Jack's also offers laundry & transportation services. Learn more by visiting (http://captainjackvoyages.com).
The Darien Gapster: (http://thedariengapster.com) also makes runs between Porvenir/Carti, San Blas and Sapzurro, Colombia which includes three full days in the islands for $299.
There are also cargo boats leave to/from Carti Island and Porvenir Island San Blas Island/Kuna Yala to Puerto Obaldia on the frontier for crossing into Colombia. taking anywhere from 6 to 8 days! They buy coconuts and sell . Some of them are much quicker and when we were there most seemed to know about other faster cargo boats. 50 dollars a day per person including food is a good price, but you might have to bargain.
The same can be done with small but very fast: 400hp motorized boats taking only 5 to 6 hours, often but not necessarily on fridays price about 40-80 dollar. For public motor boats no regular time schedules exist and may result in waiting around for a number of days. This is especially true, we waited in Corazon for 4 days. The best bet is to wait at the port very early morning ie sunrise and ask every single boat that comes in where they are heading. There are a lot of boats.
