Getting from Colombia to Panama by land, and vice versa, is nearly impossible. In fact, it’s probably one of the hardest crossings on earth. If you want to cross the continent, you need to either fly, or take a boat. The problem is, both have been rather expensive, and neither very convenient. This year, budget flights were introduced to make travel for locals and tourists easier. And now, with the opening of a new ferry route, traveling by boat will become easier too. Although sailing through the San Blas islands is already available, trips are usually done on sailboats, and take 3-5 days. Practical ferry transportation hasn’t been available for around 15 years. However, with the addition of a new ferry, called Ferry Xpress, the trip by sea just got much easier.
Where does the ferry go, and how much does it cost?
Ferry Xpress is owned and operated by a group called Colon 2000. The company, which had previously done a trans-continental ferry in the 90s, is rejuvenating the route with a new boat, and new business plan, and looking to take advantage of a booming tourism market between Colombia and Panama. The ferry brand is called “Ferry Xpress” and the ship, “Adriatico”, was built in Norway, and operated for nearly 30 years in Europe, before making its way down to Central America to start its new route.
The ferry is scheduled to make regular departures from Colon, on the northern end of the canal, to Cartagena, Colombia, and Bocas del Toro, in the northwest of Panama. The standard fare for one person to Cartagena will be $99 each way for a seat, around $150 per person in a cabin of four people, and $400 per person for a suite. To take your car, it will cost around $300. For trips to Bocas del Toro, one way will cost $75 in a seat, with cabin access around $275 each way. Service to both locations is expected to be launched in the next few weeks with multiple trips per week to each destination, although the Ferry Xpress website is unclear about exact times and dates prior to its launch. A one way trip to Cartagena lasts about 18 hours, and a trip to Bocas around half that time.
Why take a ferry?
With newly announced budget flights to Colombia costing relatively the same, many are wondering what the benefits of taking a ferry would be. For the casual traveler, the practical benefits may not be as obvious as one would think. However the experience of crossing the Caribbean by sea is slated to be one of the company’s big draws. Another big draw, mainly for residents and long distance road travelers, is that you can take your car. Previously, traversing the Darien gap between Colombia and Panama was impossible by car, and shipping a vehicle is very costly.
The new Ferry Express route allows motorists to traverse continents for a relatively cheap price. It is also an affordable way for people to relocate to Panama from South America, as well as shipping basic goods back and forth from the Panama to Colombia. Ferry Express also promotes itself as a cruise ship of sorts, offering more of a luxury experience than a typical ferry, and a way of cruising in style, rather than just utility travel.
For more information on Ferry Express and updates on service, fares, and destinations, check out their website and Facebook page.
