L0NE_W0LF

Hello!

Looking for route suggestions or websites for a tour from Cancun through Central America and into Panama. Do you guys think 35cc tires would be thick enough for the terrain? What about stealth camping along this route
? Also, if anyone has experience getting from Central to South America (I have heard of the 5-day, charter boat) I would love to hear!

Lastly, does anyone know a good website to plan out a route that will also show elevation maps for proposed rides? Google maps does this for the United States, but it lacks this information for Central America.

Thank you!

pataspen

I was wondering the same thing about getting from Panama to Colombia. There is the sailboat option, but expensive ($500) and time consuming (5 days). It's probably a nice trip, but I've already seen the San Blas Islands, so would rather spend five days somewhere I haven't seen.

Last year there was a ferry running between Colon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia. Around 100 bucks one way. But they suspended service in April and claimed they would restart in November. But their website is closed and I can't find any info on them restarting service. I'm afraid they are out of business.

Flying the big airlines is cost-prohibitive (around $700 for a one way flight). But one option might be Air Panama out of Albrook Airport in Panama City, less than $100 from Panama City to Medellin. But their website says they may or may not be able to take bikes on the small planes.

Hopefully someone on this site has more info than I do. Or hopefully someone tries Air Panama and reports back with positive news..

Chris Pringle

Air Panama, I believe, is the way to go right now. It's actually about USD $150 (w/ taxes) to fly one way to Medellin from Albrook Airport which is really close to Panama City. Bikes fly for USD $30 internationally. You risk being in a small plane on a domestic flight, but the planes they fly to Medellin are much bigger with capacity for at least 100 passengers. It's best to call in your reservation to make sure there will be space and to arrive early at the airport the day of your flight.

Chris Pringle

700c X 35mm should be good, but you'll feel more confident having a bike with 26" (ISO 559mm) wheels with at least 2" tires for off-road terrain. 26" wheels still rule in most parts of Latin America in case you need replacement tires or, worst case, new rims.

Stealth camping is strongly discouraged in most of Central America, with the exception of Costa Rica and Panama. You can always play it by ear once there. Just remember that lodging and food can be found very inexpensively that it's not worth the risk to stealth camp with snakes, tropical insects, lots of rain or anyone who might find you hidden in the forest. People in those places seem to be acutely aware of who's coming and going in their neck of the woods. From reading journals, it's a lot safer to camp at a police/firefighter station, at a school or at someone's property (e.g., front porch or back patio).

Try RideWithGPS to trace your route with elevation. I have used it all over the world.

axolotl

As far as route advice is concerned, I would suggest avoiding the Pan American Hwy whenever possible. I know that a lot of cyclists riding the length of the Americas ride on it, but I usually found it awful for cycling compared to other roads in whichever country. That was certainly true in Mexico and Costa Rica, the only 2 countries in the region you're asking about where I've biked. I found it also to be true in Ecuador & Chile.

djb

Check out cgoab and you will find trip journals of your general route. In fact just recently I read a trip journal of a couple who did this trip.
Search on the site and it will be easy to find.

axolotl

Somebody on this forum previously mentioned a google group for PanAm cyclists. I found some useful information on it. Here's a link:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/panam-riders