Difference between revisions of "Darién Gap"

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=== Stories ===
 
=== Stories ===
 
There are some stories, from people who passed the Darien Gap:
 
There are some stories, from people who passed the Darien Gap:
* [http://www.digihitch.com/article1821.html themodernnomad] crossed for free from north to south by boat hitching. Great story.
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* [http://www.digihitch.com/article1821.html themodernnomad] crossed for free from north to south by boat hitching. Great story. (on his [http://hitchtheworld.com/2010/02/13/rough-seas-rainforest-and-being-marooned-crossing-the-darien-gap/ website]
 
* [http://boards.bootsnall.com/panama-to-colombia-via-puerto-obaldia-t39751.html Isa and Natasha] did it with payboats and planes.
 
* [http://boards.bootsnall.com/panama-to-colombia-via-puerto-obaldia-t39751.html Isa and Natasha] did it with payboats and planes.
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=== Other ===
 
=== Other ===
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_Gap Darién Gap] in Wikipedia
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_Gap Darién Gap] in Wikipedia

Revision as of 00:09, 16 May 2011

The region between Panama and Colombia is called Darién Gap.

Here the Pan-American Highway is interrupted so classical hitchhiking by car does not work.

There are several stories of Hitchhikers passing by this region on the Pacific Ocean from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador. On the Caribbean side exists a high exchange of goods between the Kuna Yala territory and Colombia so you might be lucky and hop on a commercial boat.

Crossing by dinghy

There is several stories of people crossing by dinghy on the Argentinian hitchhikers forum. You still have to pay but look still expensive but more affordable than the classical boat from Colon. Itinerary from Colombia:

  1. Reach the port of Turbo, this can be done hitchhiking
  2. From there, take a dinghy to Capurgana, the last town in Colombia, it take 3 hours and around 25 dollars
  3. Then you take another dinghy to Sapzurro, the last place in Colombia, 20mn, around 5-10 dollars

From Panama to Colombia

To hitch a boat get to the San Cristobal Marina in Colon, boat hitching is never easy so be prepared to wait days or weeks. There are 2 marinas (including balboa marina) in Panama City but chances for Colombia are lower. On both sides many boats go to the South Pacific and you also may get a ride through the canal as linehandler.

From Colombia to Panama

To get to the marinas in Panama City take a minibus from Plaza 5 mayo toward Amador and hitch back. In places east of Colon like Portobello you find payboats ($280).

An alternative way of crossing in this direction is to head to the port city of Turbo, where you might manage to hitch a free ride in a boat to Capurgana if the sailors like you enough. After that, the same applies for travelling from Capurgana to Puerto Obaldia, a small island that works as a border between Colombia and Panama, where you will be stamped your passport. Once you're in the island, you might either pay about 50 dollars to fly to Panama in a small plane, or find one last boat into Panama coast. Still, you should beware that since there are no passenger boats doing that last section of the trip, hitching your boat ride may be much harder than in the other parts. It is a feasible and enjoyable adventure nonetheless, especially if you manage to hop into a merchant boat heading for the Kuna Yala islands, where they will trade with the natives before heading to Panama. Dargeron crossed the Darien that way for free on 2008, after befriending the passenger boat sailors in both Turbo and Capurgana, and it was a great experience, so it should still be possible for anyone.

External references

Stories

There are some stories, from people who passed the Darien Gap:

Other