This is a blog about travelling between Panama and Colombia. I’ve decided to do the trip by boat but there are three other ways to do the crossing over the border:

• The easy way: Take a direct flight from Panama City to Cartagena in Colombia (or vice verse of coarse)
• The cheap way: Take a flight from Panama City to Puerto Olbaldia, near the Colombian border, then a short boat ride (if you lucky to find someone to take you on) to the Colombian side of the border and then bus through guerrilla and drug trafficking land to the safer parts of the county.
• The dangerous way: Walk over land through the Darien Gap. There are no roads across the border and the rain forest you walk through is lawless land with Colombian guerrillas, drug cartels and rowing bandits along with all the other dangers the jungle itself have to offer. This option to cross the Panama/Colombian border is doable but considered very dangerous and a possible suicide trip.

To find a boat can you either contact a captain of any of the sailing boats that takes people between the two counties, or do it trough most hostels in Panama. If you do it through a hostel will they have information about the different boats and captain that are sailing and when the are leaving. It’s important to know that all boats are private owned and there are no fixed schedule or prices for the crossings. In most cases will you have to wait for some days before you can actually go with the boat.

At the moment is the normal price for a trip US$ 350-400. All boats include accomodation on the boat, food, water and snorkeling/swimming in that price. Same also ad a few beers a day, some soft drink and/or snacks. Most boats sail down to  the beautiful San Blas archipelago (part of an autonomous region governed by the indigenous Kuna people) where they stay for two days at different island and will then cross over the Caribbean for two more days. Coming from Colombia to Panama will, naturally, mean that you start with the crossing and finish in San Blas.

If you book through a hostel will they have information on the different boats and captains, their prices and what they include in their trip. It’s wise to ask around before you sign up for a boat. Maybe the boat leaving two days later have a much better deal?