To get from Panamá to Colombia, and vice versa, you can either fly or sail. Learn more about these options in this guide to help plan your journey.
You have 2 choices to travel from Panamá to Colombia and vice versa. You can either join a multi-day San Blas Islands-hopping boat tour before crossing the Caribbean Sea, or you can fly.
These are very different experiences with different price points and, depending on your time and budget, 1 will suit you better than the other.
In this quick guide, I get into the key information for both of these options so you can decide whether to fly or sail between Panamá and Colombia.
Firstly, can you drive from Panamá to Colombia?
You can’t drive from Panamá to Colombia. The Darién Gap, a 160-km long, dense jungle, spans the border region between the countries. There’s no road infrastructure in the Darién Gap making it practically impassable.
The Darién Gap is also the most dangerous migrant route in the world. Hundreds of thousands of migrants each year risk its harsh conditions on foot in the hopes of reaching Central America and later the US. Many migrants die during the journey.
How to get from Panamá to Colombia
To travel between Panamá and Colombia you need to fly or sail. There are pros and cons to both of these options and also different costs and timings involved.
Flying – the cheapest way to get from Panamá to Colombia
The cheapest way to get from Panamá to Colombia is to fly. You can find return fares (without luggage) from Panamá City to major Colombian cities such as Bogotá, Medellín and Santa Marta starting at around $150 US. Skyscanner is great for finding the best deal.
Flying is also the fastest option and you can do the journey in half a day. For example, it’s just a 1 h 20 min flight from Panamá City to Medellín. Of course, you’ll need to factor in a few hours at the airports too.
Keep in mind that to fly into either Panamá or Colombia you need to show proof of onward travel. While immigration officers might not ask for this, airlines typically do.
There’s a chance you might not be allowed to board in the departure country if you can’t provide a flight ticket to leave the destination country before your tourism permit expires.
Getting from Panamá to Colombia by boat
Sailing takes at least 4 days, but the route, which is for tourism and not general public transport, is via the beautiful San Blas Islands. There are 2 options to sail from Panamá to Colombia and vice versa: with a speedboat or a sailboat.
Taking the speedboat
The speedboat trip is the cheaper and faster of the 2 options lasting 4 days. The departure/arrival point in Panamá is usually Cartí, 1 of the San Blas Islands closest to the mainland.
And in Colombia, the departure/arrival point is either Capurganá or Sapzurro, 2 port towns close to the border with Panamá.
Prices for the speedboat tour start at around $450 US including the cost of transport to the departure point, accommodation, 3 meals a day, snacks and immigration fees. The main providers are:
- San Blas Frontera (these guys look to be the cheapest)
- San Blas Adventures
- San Blas Dreams
Speedboat pros
The benefit of going by speedboat is that you only spend a couple of hours a day on the boat, meaning more time on the islands enjoying the stunning beaches and turquoise sea. Also, you sleep on the islands in cabins, which I think is much nicer than sleeping on a boat.
Speedboat cons
However, the downside to taking the speedboat between Panamá and Colombia is the location of the departure/arrival points.
Getting between Cartí and Panamá City means taking a 4×4 taxi for a few hours and then a boat taxi. And in Colombia, Capurganá and Sapzurro are far from the usual destinations in the upper regions of the country such as Cartagena, Santa Marta and Medellín.
You need to figure out how to do these legs of your journey and prices can be expensive, especially between Panamá City and Cartí.
Another con is that when the sea is choppy the sailboat can be painful and you can get really wet.
I’ve been told by people who did the journey that the waves bump the boat around violently and that you need to wrap yourself and your bags in plastic ponchos else everything gets soaked.
Taking the sailboat
Traveling between Panamá and Colombia with a sailboat takes the best part of 6 days. There are several departure/arrival points in Panamá including Puerto Lindo, Portobello, Linton Bay Marina and Cartí. In Colombia the departure/arrival point is Cartagena.
If coming from Panamá, then you island hop in the San Blas Archipelago during the first 3 days before crossing the Caribbean Sea to Cartagena over the final 2 days. If coming from Colombia, then you do this journey in reverse.
Prices for the sailboat trip start at around $650 US including the cost of transport to the departure point, accommodation (the boat), 3 meals a day, snacks and immigration fees.
There are 2 main companies operating the sailboat route: Wildcard Sailing and Blue Sailing.
Wildcard Sailing has just 1 boat, Wildcard, while Blue Sailing is a middleman working with the owners of various boats.
Blue Sailing is a parent company and has incorporated former competitors into its brand. If you find a San Blas sailing company that isn’t Wildcard Sailing, there’s a good chance it’s part of Blue Sailing.
Sailboat pros
The upside to taking the sailboat is that you get to enjoy the sea at a slower pace. It’s a great experience if you like boats or are dipping your toes into sailing for the first time.
Sailboats usually have top deck space so everyone gets to hang out on the boat too. The departure/arrival points are also much better so there’s less hassle getting to your next destination either in Panamá or Colombia.
Sailboat cons
The downside of the sailboat is that you spend a lot of time aboard, including 2 full days crossing the Caribbean Sea. If you get seasick, then it can be a long 5 days, especially as you sleep on the boat too.
The sleeping conditions aren’t great either and you might have to pair up with another traveler to share a bed. If your sailboat is full, then expect it to be cramped.
How I got from Panamá to Colombia
I sailed from Linton Bay Marina in Panamá to Cartagena on the Wildcard. For me this was the best option as I wanted to experience being at sea for a few days. Also, traveling by boat was environmentally friendlier than flying.
Exploring the San Blas Islands with a sailboat was a unique and incredible experience. We ate delicious meals on the tiny islands, swam in crystal clear water and saw marine life including nurse sharks. I was with a great bunch of people and the weather was brilliant.
That said, your experience traveling between Panamá and Colombia by boat is heavily dependent on the weather. I only recommend taking the speedboat or sailboat during the dry season (December – May) to maximise the chances of calm waters and blue skies.
I’ve written a detailed guide about my experience sailing from San Blas to Cartagena with all the info you need to decide whether this option is for you.
More Panamá and Colombia travel guides on A World Over
So that’s how to get from Panamá to Colombia and vice versa. If it’s the rainy season (May – December), then I’d fly. But if you’re traveling during the dry season (December – April), then I highly recommend taking either the speedboat or sailboat – exploring the San Blas Islands is a once in a lifetime experience.
You can find all of my travel guides to Panamá here and every guide I’ve written to Colombia here. And here are things to check out in Panamá City and Cartagena.