Travelers wishing to cross between South and Central America have to find a way across the treacherous Darien Gap, a strip of dense jungle between Colombia and Panama which presents a tricky obstacle between the two continents.
There has never been a road through the Gap, and the area is currently only traversed by drug runners, FARC guerillas and a few courageous adventurers. Mere mortals luckily have a number of options which they can choose from in order to make the hop from Colombia to Panama, or vice versa.
One of the most popular is to take a sailboat from the Colombian port of Cartagena to Colon in Panama. The trip takes five days and travelers stop off in the beautiful San Blas islands en-route. Another seafaring option is the Ferry Xpress, a car and passenger ferry service introduced in November 2014, but it has suffered from problems with reliability.
A third option is to take a series of short trips by speedboat, starting in the Colombian port of Turbo. After a bumpy ride across choppy seas, travelers arrive at the picturesque village of Capurgana, which is not accessible by road, and from here can travel over the border into Panama, arriving at the tiny village of Puerto Obaldia before continuing the journey to Panama City (by plane) or Colon (by boat).
Those not interested in the romance of sea travel can, of course, take one of the numerous flights from Cartagena, Medellin or Bogota to Panama City and other destinations in Central America. Popular airlines include TACA, Copa and Avianca.
Read This Next
Indigenous Markets of Ecuador
Trends / Unique Itineraries & Tours
Dec 14, 2014#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Apr 26, 2024A New Pickleball Entertainment Concept Opens in Atlanta, Georgia
Attention pickleball fanatics! Atlanta-based hospitality brand Painted Hospitality debuted its latest entertainment concept: Painted Pickle. Located in Atlanta’s Armour Yards, the space serves as a pickleball, dining, drinking and entertainment venue, coined a “compeatery.”
Sponsored Content
Fill Your Heart with Ireland
Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?
Destinations / North America
Apr 26, 2024You Can Soon Glamp in Yosemite Thanks to This Brand
As soon as next spring, you can glamp near the beauty of Yosemite National Park with Under Canvas. The leading, upscale, outdoor hospitality brand debuts Under Canvas Yosemite May 22, 2025, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to take in the park’s beauty across 80 acres.
Peace of Mind Walking Your Dog with Sniffspot
If you don’t have a fenced yard and it’s difficult for you to get out of the house to walk or run with Fido, then you know just how difficult it can be to get all that canine energy out, but not taken out on your couch or cabinets. If your dog isn’t the best around other dogs or people, your problems are even more difficult to overcome.
Sponsored Content
Experience Ireland’s
Wild Atlantic Way
From the windy tip of Malin Head in County Donegal to the colorful harbor town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way amazes at every turn. Feel the blast of fresh sea air with a lighthouse walk. Get up close to history, grab a fireside seat at a traditional music session, experience the world-famous Irish hospitality and explore some of Ireland's most exhilarating coastal scenery. It is a place that inspired dreamers and travelers, poets and painters with a landscape filled with stone walls, thatched cottages, deserted beaches and breathtaking views. Charming towns and villages, 1,500 miles of soaring cliffs, incredible landscapes and unique experiences await.
Destinations / North America
Apr 25, 2024Celebrate May at Memphis in May International Festival
With May around the corner, it's time to put some last-minute, can’t-miss activities on your radar. Memphis, Tennessee, “Home of the Blues,” is set to host its annual Memphis in May International Festival, featuring the World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest and a marathon along the Mississippi River and more.
ShareThis