Jun 28, 2011

Border Crossing & Shipping info

Border Crossings
We will be crossing anywhere from 12 to 20 (maybe more) borders on our drive, depending on which countries we decide to include. Each border presents it's own challenges and the more prepared you are, the better your experience.  Check out BorderHelper and WikiOverland for the latest info on each border crossing.

Shipping Around the Darien Gap
the Panamericana roadway system stops in Yaviza, Panama and then reappears 150km south in Colombia. While others have braved the infamous Darien Gap by vehicle, the region is filled with narcotraffickers and bandits so most travelers avoid the potentially suicidal trip by shipping their vehicle.

We were contacted by a French couple who we first met in Guatemala, and decided to share the costs of a 40' freight container with them. Vehicle shipping can be a lengthy and complicated process, which is usually considered the worst part of a Pan-Am overland journey but overall it wasn't that bad for us.  We shipped our vehicle with Evergreen Shipping via Tea Kalmbach (tea.kalmbach@gmail.com).  While waiting for the vehicle to arrive in Cartagena, we decided to sail to Colombia via the San Blas islands on an 85 foot boat called The Independence. After calculating the costs of hotel rooms, food, and transportation, sailing ended up costing the same as just flying directly to Cartagena.  If you decide to sail to Colombia, be sure to do lots of research because not all boats are created equally and sailing is not for everyone.

Ferry Service Around Darien Gap
There has been much buzz the past few years about a ferry that was rumored to begin voyages between Panama and Colombia, shuttling travelers across.  This is honestly an impossible task to pull off, since the company involved has a ton of red tape to hurdle between both countries.  Pan-Am travelers were crossing their fingers with high hopes, the rumored maiden voyage was scheduled to be May 31, 2012.  Err, nevermind.  Don't hold your breath, this will probably never be a viable option.

For more information...

Helpful Websites

These sites were helpful to us 2010-2014 so there is likely a million other resources available now.  Another incredible resource that came out after our PanAm journey is the PanAmerican Travelers Association on Facebook.  This is a great community, but be sure to use the search function and do some research before asking your questions! 
Drive the Americas

Toyota Technical Research:

Toyota Parts & 1st Gen 4Runner Vendors
ToyotaPartsDeal - OEM parts
4xInnovations DIY kits for roll cages, off-road armor & fabrication
https://killertoytops.com/ the best products  & service  for 1st gen 4Runner soft-tops
Yoda Jim’s used parts
Yota Yard - used parts
The 4Runner House - used parts
https://blazeland.us/ Blazeland N8 sells the WIY Long Travel kits for early Toys
Total Chaos Fabrication sells ready to go Long Travel kits