Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
than hiring a boat privately. The best places to enquire are the islands' main jetties or fuel
depots.
Private boat hire
The further east you travel, the less frequent inter-island transport becomes
and the more expensive - in part because fuel costs are higher. You are more likely to need
to hire a private boat, which is fairly easy (with some Spanish) but you will probably need to
cover the fuel costs for the boatman's return trip.
Cartí-Puerto Obaldía
There are fairly regular speedboat services between Carti Sugdup and
Puerto Obaldía, which leave when they have sufficient passengers to cover the fuel costs
($100/person). Alternatively, contact Andutu in Panama City (Av Justo Arosemena and C 34;
6060 9104,
andutu.com
); they run trips between Carti Sugdup and Capurganá in Colom-
bia but can drop you off at Puerto Obaldía and include land transfer form Panama City in
their rates.
Types of boat
Always check out your boat transport before agreeing to a price since it may
be a customary paddled dugout (
ulu
in Guna,
cayuco
in Spanish) for short distances or even
a traditional canoe sailboat with a cotton-sheet sail attached to a rough-hewn mast and boom.
More often than not, though, transport is in a (sometimes leaking) motorized dugout with
a 15HP engine. If staying at one of the more expensive establishments on a package deal,
you're likely to travel in a fibre-glass
panga
, or
lancha
, with a bigger engine, possibly with a
roof to shade you from the sun. Otherwise, be prepared for hours of exposure to the elements
and water leaking over the bow of the boat.
