Shipping Across the Darien Gap Colombia to Panama

Shipping Across the Darien Gap Colombia to Panama

The biggest challenge for many travellers is their first shipping experience across the Darien Gap, shipping to and from Colombia to Panama . You can be assured with us, the process will be stress free, simple and plain sailing. We have been shipping on travellers on this route for over a decade!

You have several different options for getting your car, 4×4, Motorcycle, truck or motorhome across the Darien Gap:

• RORO Shipping (All Vehicle Types)
• Container Shipping (Limited to 2.597m door opening for a 40ft HC Container)
• Flat Rack
• Private Sail Boat (Motorcycles only)

Shipping Routes Colombia to Panama

The main shipping route is between ports on the Caribbean side of Colombia, from Cartagena to Manzanillo.

 

RORO Shipping from Colombia to Panama

RORO is the best and cheapest option for oversized vehicles that cannot fit into a container. The alternative is to go flat rack. For smaller vehicles the cost of RORO and sharing a container is comparable.

RORO shipping is less complicated than Container shipping as there is no requirement to stuff and truck the container to and from the port.

RORO Security

However, RORO does pose a greater security risk, as employees of the shipping line will have access to your vehicle. Most travellers nowadays ensure that their vehicle is secured in such a way that the rear portion is not accessible in any way, many do this by creating an internal barrier and ensuring any doors cannot be opened.

Carriers, Routes and Costs

There are several RORO carriers that go from Cartagena Colombia to Manzanillo, Panama. The prices between each of these carriers Is not significant.

Transit times I usually 1 to 2 days.

Services we offer

We offer an all inclusive stress free service which includes customs clearance and agents on the ground in both Colombia and Panama

If you are looking for stress and hassle free shipping from Colombia to Panama, we are the premier shipping agents to use to cross the Darien Gap.

Our pricing on this route is very competitive, and probably the cheapest you will find.

Instant Shipping Quotation

 

Other options

You can also ship From Cartagena Colombia to Veracruz Mexico & Galveston Tx, Brunswick, Port Everglades and other East Coast ports in USA.

Please see the following pages:

• Shipping from Colombia to Veracruz Mexico
• Shipping Veracruz Mexico to Cartagena Colombia

RORO Schedules Colombia to Panama

Read more about our Roll on Roll off service (RORO) or request a shipping quote.

Instant Shipping Quotation

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RORO Shipping rates from Cartagena Colombia to Manzanillo Panama

Size Vehicle	Rate	BL	THC Pan	THC Col
Motorbikes	$700	$75	$150	$140
Sedan	$750	$75	$150	$140
Other Vehicles	$50 per cbm	$75	$150	$140

*Minimum Freight / BL charge of $750
*Motorhomes with Gas IMO Cert $150
*Rates do not include port fees, BAF, LSL,or Booking & Doc Fees, or an agent for customs clearance.

*All RORO shippers state that they do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to personal effects or spare parts.

Motorbikes

Motorbikes do not need to be crated on this route, however, a minimum BL fee applies which means for a single bike you are looking at close to $1000 inc port fees etc.

Read more about our Roll on Roll off service (RORO) or request a shipping quote.

Container Shipping from Colombia to Panama

Container shipping from Container Colombia to Manzanillo Panama is the most secure method, provided you are present during the loading, sealing and unloading of the container.  Our local agents will be present with you whilst your vehicle is been loaded into the container in Cartagena.

You have the option to ship in 20ft containers or 40ft High Cube (HC) containers. In a 20ft container you would normally only be able to fit one vehicle, 40ft HC you can fit 2 vehicles, or one vehicle and a number of motorbikes.

The cost of a single container for one vehicle surpasses the costs of RORO shipping, however, if sharing a container, the costs become comparable.

Container Dimensions
20ft – L5.9m W2.34 Door Height 2.27m (Useable L5.4m, W2.2)
40ft HC – L12.03m W2.34 Door Height 2.58m (Useable L11.25m, W2.2)

Estimated Costs (Just an example)

Container type                 Shared  20ft       40ft      
Export                                $1,500  $1,910     $2,850
Import                                 $650     $950     $1,150

*Shared container, pricing is based on 1 x vehicle sharing a 40ft, 20ft pricing is based on 1 x vehicle, 40ft pricing is based on 2 x vehicle, additional bikes or vehicles are an additional cost

Instant Shipping Quotation

Other Resources

If you are planning to travel independently in South America this Facebook Group is a valuable resource for information, road conditions, border crossings and much more Overlanding South & Central America.