Expert: Juan Carlos Valencia - 8/25/2008

Question
HI, I AM MERY JANE AND I AM THINKING TO GO FROM NORTH AMERICA TO COLOMBIA,BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS FOR TAKING MY CAR FROM PANAMA TO CARTAGENA AND IF IS TOO COMPLICATED FOR RECEIVING THE CAR IN COLOMBIA WITH CUSTOMS. THANK YOU A LOT

Answer
Hey Mery Jane,

This is a very frequent question here, so browse past answers to get even more details, but here´s some of the information that you are looking for:

There´s no land road from Panama to South America. The colombian border with Panama follows an imaginary line in a marvelous but thick and unsurmountable rainforest. This area is amazingly beautiful but very dangerous because of guerrilla, paramilitaries and drug smuggler activity. There's not a real road to cross the border. Do not even think of crossing this area by land. Tourists have been kidnapped or even killed there in recent years.

So no matter where you are going, you will have to find a transportation system for your car in order to continue your journey  south. A ferry service between Colon and Cartagena that was set up in the 90’s lasted just a few years.

So how do you cross from Colombia to Panama? I´ve heard of cargo ships going from Colon (Panama) to Cartagena but I do not know the price for that nor the schedules (if there are any). You may also try to arrange a cargo ship going from Colon to the small port of Tolu (Colombia) or maybe to another port called Turbo (nearer to Medellin) but these are smaller towns and there may be even fewer and smaller ships making the journey. Safety conditions in Turbo used to be bad. Cartagena is a big city and a great tourist magnet so try going there. Check with the colombian embassy what you would have to do to bring your car through the country and not be bothered by customs and inmigration officers.

The hostels in Panama City have billboards with offers of sailboat transportation to Colombia, but there´s no guarantee that you will find one when you need it. If you dont have tight travel arrangements, you may be able to wait until a boat becomes available, but then, you may be spending more money than if you buy the plane ticket (200 U.S dollars one-way).

I was in Panama in early 2007 and came back with a list of e-mails from boat owners offering the trip. The list may be outdated but here it is:

svpico@yahoo.com
tarona28@yahoo.se
zaoezao@yahoo.com
solvelamar2000@yahoo.com

You may find newer options by checking the billboards at the Panama City hostels. Try calling Casa de Carmen (phone 2634366) or the Voyager International Hostel (2605913). They may have information about bigger ships able to transport your car.

There´s another option: going through the pacific to the port of Buenaventura (near Cali). You may be able to find a ship that moves your car from Panama city to Buenaventura but I would not recommend this option as Buenaventura has been facing some security problems. Crime has been high there for the last few years.

I would say that you should be able to find a ship that moves your car from Panama (Colon) to Cartagena (Colombia). Stay there for a few days (it`s great place).

Safety concerns around Colombia continue, but things are better than at the turn of the century. I think that you may be able to travel safely in daytime using the main roads, especially the Pan American Highway, but keep asking how things are while you travel south. Do not deviate much from Panamericana road and never travel at night.

I would recommend that you travel through Colombia as suggested, being very careful and never driving at night. Keep yourself on the main roads and try to drive on long weekends (with holidays) when a lot of locals are also traveling and the army and the police are specially deployed to take care of travelers.

I hope that this helps !

Saludos

JCV