SAIL BOATS: It is our pleasure to introduce our exclusive online Panama/Colombia sailboat reservation system for your convenience & safety (http://boatstocolombia.com/ ). All boats on www.boatstocolombia.com have been inspected by Captain Jack personally and meet our 17 point safety checklist. You can choose your hotel, sailboat, reserve your motorcycle shipping, and reserve online securely using your credit/debit card or PayPal account today. We encourage you to shop around and contact the boat directly but you will find our prices are the same quoted by the boats themselves. We also strongly encourage you to reserve your space using our system as boats are currently being booked at a rate previously unseen. We will confirm your place with the captain him/herself for your assurance as seats do not last long.
And YES, you can inspect the boats and meet the captains before you walk the plank!
There are now over 30 vessels operating this route. They vary widely in safety, comfort, and price. A person would be ill advised to book an 180 nautical mile ocean passage on a vessel they haven’t inspected with a captain they haven’t met. The waters between San Blas and Colombia can be challenging at times. Don’t depend on second hand information from 3rd parties. Vessels depart regularly from Portobelo, Puerto Lindo, and Porvenir & Carti. Make an informed decision.
If you need more information on any of the boats, accommodations, or motorcycle shipping please contact: captainjackvoyage@gmail.com or info@boatstopanama.com and be sure to visit: www.boatstocolombia.com
PORTOBELO
Portobelo is a thriving harbour not just with boats taking travelers to Colombia but also many private boat owners who decide to make this beautiful part of the world home for a time. More and more Captains are now departing for their trip to Colombia from here because of it’s many advantages. No immigration and port captain fee on arrival for the captain and only a $20 Zarpe fee on departure makes Portobelo a cheap option to base themselves. A cruising permit is also good for one year. Diesel, gas and supplies for the trip are also easier in Portobelo and more specialist items for the boat and repairs can be found in nearby Colon. For travelers the main advantage is obviously being able to meet all the captains and view the boats before handing over any cash. The vast majority of departures are also in the late afternoon/evening therefore you will awake in the San Blas islands on your first day! The town itself is a hugely popular attraction for tourists who after viewing the 400 year old fort ruins of the town can keep themselves busy with canopy tours, jungle hikes, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing or simply relaxing on one of the several nearby beaches.
Travel Costs from Panama City – $4.50
PUERTO LINDO
Puerto Lindo is a short bus ride from Portobelo and shares many of it’s advantages because of it’s close proximity. Less boats depart from here however there is still a good amount of captains to be found, and again most importantly travelers can meet the captain and view the boat in advance. Like Portobelo the surroundings are beautiful and it is also a short distance from Isla Grande, a popular destination for Panamanians looking to escape the grind of the City at weekends.
Travel Cost from Panama City – $6
CARTI
Carti is now another option as a departure point after being unaccessible for some time after heavy rain washed away the road from the mainland. The only way of getting here is by 4×4 vehicle from Panama City which is arranged by hostels and tour agencies who book travelers on certain boats prior to departure. The current price for this transport to Carti is approximately $38 with fee’s included. It is worth checking with the captain whether this day of travel and finding the boat is classed as the 1st day of of the trip though! It is generally not possible to inspect the boat in advance here so if you are unsatisfied with the condition of the boat on arrival and choose not to travel then you will forfeit your deposit and have to make your way back to the mainland to find another boat. As provisioning is either extremely difficult or expensive in San Blas, many captains will ask for you to buy supplies for them in advance and bring them with you to the boat.
Travel Cost from Panama City – $38
CAPTAIN JACK’S CHECKLIST:
Safety
- Experienced Licensed Captain
- Life vests in good repair for all passengers and crew
- Life raft
- Dingy with a motor large enough to push the boat in an emergency
- EPIRB – Emergency Positioning Indicator Radio Beacon
- Fire extinguishers – up to date
- Flares
- VHF Radio
- HF radio or Sat phone
- GPS – more than one
- Charts – electronic and paper
- Autopilot – with back up, a must if the Captain doesn’t have crew
- Crew – more than one experienced person on board
- Number of passengers vs. size of boat. (many overcrowded)
- Adequate water supply
- Man Overboard device and procedure
- Medical Kit
- Safety briefing
Comfort
- Number of passengers vs. size of boat – do the math
- Cleanliness – a spotless boat is usually well maintained as well
- Toilet facilities
- Refrigeration – cold drinks
- Number of comfortable berths
- Chef – quality of food
- Entertainment – Music, TV, Movies, Books
- Fishing gear
- Snorkeling gear
- Friendly atmosphere
Captain Jack, a USCG 100 Ton Master and Circumnavigator, operates the sailing vessel Fantasy. Visit Facebook Group: “Captain Jack Voyages”, www.captainjackvoyages.com 
A new boat sevice has started. This a fun filled three full days in the islands. It departs from Miramar, a little further up the coast from Portbelo Hostel. Travel with The Darien Gapster Panama – Colombia Ferry, and tour through the San Blas. www.thedariengapster.com 
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