I was recently in Panama (April,2000) and was looking
for a way to Colombia that didn't require paying a
$280 round trip commercial air fare to Bogota.
One reliable and legal route that I found was this.
Fly to Puerto Obaldia, Panama and then proceed by boat
to Turbo, Colombia.
Aviatur based at the downtown Panama City Albrook
irport charges $46.20 for the trip to Puerto Obaldia.
The flight is by a small signal engine Cessna that is
equipped with instruments. The plane flies along the
Caribbean coast. Several quick stops are made at Kuna
indigenous settlements located in the San Blas Island
chain.
The view of the Darien jungle, the Caribbean
and these just-off-the coast island settlements makes
the trip a tourist treat.
Puerto Obaldia is a small village that has been placed
under the control of the Panamanian National Police
because of border violence. Visitors must sign in at
the military headquarters and sign out when leaving.
An immigration officer will stamp your passport with
an exit visa and the Colombian consulate located
nearby will provide a temporary entrance visa for
Colombia which requires that visitors report to
Colombian immigration within 30 days. The consulate
did not ask for any round trip tickets or money
minimums.
Small outboard motor boats (no life jackets) offer
trips to Capurgana on the nearby Colombian side. With
the arrival of other travelers I was able to obtain a
trip for $15. The price for one person traveling alone
was $40. The swells are large and my boat managed to
leave without oil in its engine. We sputtered to just
off Capurgana and paddled the final stretch to the
dock. Colombian soldiers greet arrivals and check
luggage but don«t seem to mind visitors at the
occupied coastal resort.
Tickets to Turbo cost $17. The passage is by a larger
35-seat fiberglass boat with life jackets provided.
These radio-equipped boats leave most days around noon
and tickets are available at the boat dock restaurant.
The boat stops just outside Turbo for a military
search of passengers.
Once reaching Turbo travelers
can make bus connections to Medellin. The cost is $14
for the 10-hour bus ride. Travelers should carry
sufficient cash. No one seems to have heard of
travelers checks. Collect phone calls were also
unavailable. ATMs, however, are available in Turbo. I
hope this information will help future Panama to
Colombia travelers. The first boat problem aside it
was a great bargain.
Ronald J. Morgan (Jan 00)