Getting from Central America to South America with a bike (cross post)

I am on a bike tour through Latin America. I am trying to get my bike and myself over to Colombia from Panama. Has anyone done this trip? Do you have any tips?

As I see it there are six options, all of them with some problems.

Option 1) Fly from Panama to Colombia. Avianca seems to be the cheapest these days at approx $360 one way. (AIRES the cheapo company that used to fly this route apparently now no longer exists). Problems here are: (a) baggage allowance. Avianca will let you take a bike onboard but their total baggage is only 23 kgs. My bike alone weighs 15kg! This could get expensive. (b) the onward ticket stipulation: The Colombia insists that you have an onward ticket when you arrive in the country. This doesn't actually seem to actually be enforced when you arrive in Colombia, but the airlines may insist when you check in. I don't want to buy an onward ticket. It tends to be only expensive tickets that are refundable.

Copa Air also fly the route but their tickets are even more expensive and they charge $100 to take a bike on board.

Option 2: Travel along the Caribbean coast in small hops to Colombia. This is the cheapest option, but from what I can gather it's done mainly on small boats-speed boats some of them. How easy will it be to transport my bike on them? I read one backbacker's account of this trip and he said he had to cling on to the speedboat for dear life. It's going to be even trickier with a bike as well. Furthermore, most people fly the first leg of the journey to Puerto Obaldia . Probably not an option for me because I'd have problems with weight restrictions, as in Option 1). Has anyone actually done this trip with a bike?

Option 3: Take one of the yacht trips via the San Blas Islands. Downside: is expensive. $500 at least and sme of the companies charge more for bikes. The other disadvantage is that I would be at sea for a long time and I get sea sick :-(

Option 4: Find a private yacht willing to take me. Downside: Too uncertain and unpredicatable.

Option 5: It is apparently possible (according to the Lonely Planet guidebook) to get a cabin on a cargo ship going down the Pacific side. This seems cheaper than some of the other options. Downside: Has anyone actually ever done this?

Option 6: Abandon the bike trip.

Help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Albert

Whatever you do, do not fly with Copa Airlines. They rip you off at the counter for an extra charge of US$100 for your boxed bike although we were under the total weight limit. For some reason they also insist plastic wrapping the box as well. Never experienced that anywhere in the world!

Sorry to hear about your hassles. You are doing well if your weight was under with the bike included. How do you manage to travel so light? I checked the Copa site before and I saw that they charge for bikes. Avianda are bit better because they include the bike as part of your free baggage allowance. If you go over the weight limit (23kgs) they'll let you go up to 45kgs for $30 extra. That's a bit kinder. My worry now with the flights is the onward ticket rule. Did you have an onward ticket out? What do you think my chances are of getting on the plane without one? I do have a ticket back to the UK, but that's in December and from Mexico. Enough to fob them off?
I contacted the people who are (alledgedly) going to be setting up the ferry service between Colombia and Panama. They said that'll start up in a month's time. They charge 200 and something dollars for the ticket but then an extrotionate $100 for taking the bike as well. (It's a big ferry! There'll be plenty of room). Won't work out much cheaper than flying.
Where are you now? Still cycling? How's it going?
Thanls for taking the time to answer my message.

There's a lot of Americas travelogues, so you can read what lots of people did. Crazyguyonabike is the best known source, but here's another specialist source. http://www.transamazon.de/links/

We flew from Panama to Cartagena in 2012 part of our trip from San Fransisco to Quito. We had booked flights out of Quito. No one asked for any onwards tickes ever at any border crossing. Even then there was talk about a planned ferry crossing soon. There have been attemps before but all failed, mainly due to politics. We always managed to sneak in with around 24 kg check-in with quite a bit of carry-on weight. Mind you, it helps if there are 2 off you, which is more efficient. We are soon off to a 3 month trip in Africa. Good luck with your trip. We considered Columbians the friendliest and most helpfull people in South America.

@Cheerfullpedaller: Thanks for reply. What concerns me are the people at the check-in desk at the airport. I don't have any doubts that they'll let me through when I arrive in Colombia, but airline staff can cause problems. You boarded your plane OK? No one mentioned an onward ticket at check-in when you were leaving Panama? Debating whether to just go ahead and buy a ticket online.

I did write to the guys with the ferry. Apparently it already made one crossing, but then got stopped by red tape. They didn't have anywhere to dock the boat in Colombia. (At least that's what they told me). Now they say they've found somewhere about a 150 kilometres out of Cartgena. Wouldn't count your breath though. :-) Two years ago, I think that was actually a different boat. That one was supposedly a Greek boat, right?

I have heard very good reports about Colombia and Colombians. Looking forward to getting there(if I do!) To be honest I have a great experience all the way through Latin America. People seem to like cyclists.

Good luck with your trip to Africa. Whereabouts you going exactly?

Thanks for the reply.

Hi Albert

I would just by a ticket. As I mentioned, no one asked for any onwards travel documents at the check in. Be aware that the airport is quite some distance fron Panama City. Should tell you that cycling is the second biggest national sport after football in Columbia, they turn out by the hundreds in the weekends. We have even seen sport cyclists in the motorway lanes and no one took offence. Try that in New Zealand! Big hills there though. We plan to bike from Capetown to Dar Es Salam (in Tanzania).

Cheers, mate.
Some more quesions, if you don't mind: Where did you get your bike sorted for the flight? Can you recommend anywhere I could get a box or bag for the bike? Bubble wrap easy enough to get hold of out there? How did you get the bike to the airport? Could I take it on the bus? I imagine the bike in a box will be too big for a taxi and, also, that a taxi'll be expensive if the airport's a long ways out.
Your trip sounds great. I don't think there are quite as many guys touring out there as here. Very adventurous. How long do you think it'll take you?

Hi Albert

We could not find a single bike box in Panama City. Bought tape and string and went to a whiteware shop and got boxes of large fridges and cut them up and formed them into a bike boxes. The hotel arranged a pick up truck for us to take us and the boxes to the airport. Yes, not cheap but you do not want to miss your flight! Did not book the bikes but it may pay to phone your airline beforehand.

What a blinking hassle! Bikes shops in Panama City couldn't help you out?

I have exchanged a few messages with the airline. When I asked them how it should be prepared for flight they said 'the item must be carried disarmed on it's corresponding case that must not pass the limits that are stated'. You guess is as good as mine as to what that means.

Do you remember much the pick-up was?

Hi Albert

Sorry, cannot remember the cost of the mini van.

I took a boat from Portobello to Cartagena three years ago - $400 - nothing extra for the bike.. I went in February when trade winds make for rough seas. You could check on current conditions. I thought it was a great trip. The San Blas Islands were worth a bit of puking.
Cheers
Will

@Cheerfullpedaller: Thanks anyway. If I fly, I may attempt to cycle to the airport and then package the bike there.
@Will: Cheers, mate. I think prices have gone up since then. Not found anyone who'll take the bike for free yet. One company wanted $100 to take the bike on board! If you go the small boats along the coast route (and not with a yacht) apparently you get charged double: once for the bike, one time for you. That's what I was told it would be for the Colombian border to Turbo leg of the journey anyway.

Seems want ever route you choose it's going to be a fair bit of hassle. Really don't fancy the puking.