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Another option that worked smoothly for [[User:Dargeron|Dargeron]] on 2012 is to travel to the small town of Portobello, not too far from Colon, where most of the sail boats heading for Colombia stop at some point. The main advantage of taking this route instead of hitchhiking in Colon is a sailor hostel and bar called Captain's Jack, where you can easily find and talk to almost every captain who stops in Portobello (mostly at the evening/night). That offers an invaluable help to anyone attempting to hitch a boat ride, as instead of a tense, two-sentence request at the port, you can actually meet the captains, talk to them, perhaps invite them to a drink, and slowly gain their acceptance.
The same is true for the small village of Puerto Lindo, where quite a few of the "backpacker boats" are anchoring and you might get to know Captains in need of crew once you're sitting in the café frequented by yachties and gringos. You reach this village (which [[User:Cha|Cha]] found to have two hostels in 2013) from Colón via Portobelo, from where you can hitchhike easily or take the bus going to Guaira and get off in Puerto Lindo (ask driver).
Of course, the reverse of the method discussed above also works. To catch a plane to Obaldia go to the aiport in Panama city. To get to Carti ask for the road to the Kuna Yala national park. From there boats into the San Blas are eratic but existant, although I'm not sure they would take anyone for free as they do come there specifically to pick people up. To find the trail you would have to follow the Panamerican as far south as it goes, and then head north to the coast in the comarca Kuna Yala. Then you will still need a boat to reach Obaldia (there is no walking there unless you fancy being kidnapped by FARC...)
User [[User:lukeyboy95 |lukeyboy95]] tried to cover the gap in March 2014 and had considerable difficulty leaving from Carti Island, and as such, would recommend against going here. Tourism has also caused the native people to develop a slightly ugly side. They wouldn´t allow me to camp, or even take photos. Much more preferable El Porvenir for larger cargo boats. Having sadly given up, lukeyboy95 took the paid speed boat which was priced $115.00 all the way to the Capurgana. This was non negotiable despite numerous attempts. Took 9 hours. Please note that you can go almost the whole distance towards Caledonia, which the locals paid $50.00, and from there it may be easier to pick up passing boats. Another update was from Capurgana to Turbo is now priced at $30.00 and the pier area has restricted access and immigration check passports, making it difficult to find rides from here too. Perhaps head towards Acandi, as it is less touristic. :''I Hitchhiked from Portobelo to Capurgana. The best bar to meet captains is called "Casa Vela", just ask the locals and you will find it. It might takes days/weeks but is doable. You can read the whole story on my blog https://searching4sal.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/an-island-called-south-america/'' - [[User:Diastema81|Diastema81]]
== Crossing by dinghy ==
There is several stories of people crossing by dinghy on the [http://www.autostopargentina.com.ar/labanquina/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=11274&p=78235&hilit=+Panama+darien+darien+miel#p78235 Argentinian hitchhikers forum].
=== Stories ===
There are some stories, from people who circumvented the Darien Gap:
* [https://searching4sal.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/an-island-called-south-america] crossed from Panama to Colombia by boat hitching
* [http://www.digihitch.com/article1821.html themodernnomad] crossed for free from north to south by boat hitching. Great story. (read it [http://hitchtheworld.com/2010/02/13/rough-seas-rainforest-and-being-marooned-crossing-the-darien-gap/ here] on his website)
* [http://boards.bootsnall.com/panama-to-colombia-via-puerto-obaldia-t39751.html Isa and Natasha] did it with payboats and planes.
* [http://www.velabas.com Chael777] spent a few days on Carti Sugdub after arriving there with some Kuna natives, eventually meeting a Colombian boat captain who took him across.
* [[User:Dr.Keith|Keith]] crossed via the San Blas into Colombia in 2014, and wrote about it on [https://keithirwin.us/blog/2014/03/portobelo his blog].
=== Other ===
