Change of plans: Sending Tana to the U.S.

Change of plans: Sending Tana to the U.S.

Since the beginning of planning our trip, one of the most critical points would be the crossing of South America to Central America. This was the first question raised as there was a crazy idea to drive to Alaska. It would be possible to drive the whole way to the extreme north of the continent? Crossing the Darien Gap, national park that connects Colombia and Panama by land is not a viable option. There is a road that crosses the park and the region is very dangerous, since it is used as a hideout for drug traffickers and the FARC. Thus, Today the options boil down to sending the car by sea.

But how? In our initial roadmap, counted with the operation of a ferry from Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) and Columbus (Panama). The governments of both countries have official notes highlighting the importance of this project, I was scheduled to open on 10 May 2012. So, crossing between the two countries would take about 12 hours and cost somewhere around $ 350 for the car and $ 99 per person (ida and time). It was a perfect solution, whereas the export process of the car, would be the only alternative, is extremely bureaucratic, expensive and slow. The same path as the ferry be done in a matter of hours, would be expected to arrive in about two weeks when it comes to temporary export. And yet to be counted with possible delays of cargo ship.

It has been over two months since our departure and ferry do not know why, but still does not work. Thus, we must continue the hard way, exporting the car to ship – na initial ideia, Panama and Cartagena pro, so, across Central America. No entanto, without the agility of the ferry, lose of 15 the 20 days compared to what we had previously planned to address all of bureaucracies, await the arrival of the ship and even cross the Central American. Since our calendar to Alaska before crossing the ice to prevent our passage (end of September / mid October) was very tight, we had to consider alternatives as soon as possible. Also in Brazil, began to examine options. We contacted several agents who work with this type of export, we quote prices and raise all the information needed to make the decision of where and how we would send our car beyond the Darien Gap. We had a number of points to be taken into account;

1) Where to send the car? Since the ferry Cartagena was not an option, Why not send the car directly from Venezuela? Maracaibo, for example? The answer was simple, Maracaibo would send much more expensive due to logistic. Another option would be to try to find a boarding Tanajura small cargo ships depart regularly carrying coffee and other agricultural products of Santa Marta, Colombian cidade 230 km from Cartagena, ate or Panamá. Because there is core business these companies was difficult to find any information that had the correct dates and cost. No. we will be sure of anything before you arrive wool, which would be relatively late. So also ruled out this option. The boat would Tanajura Cartagena same.

2) To which? This was the most critical point of discussion. Depending on the route of travel, some adventurers usually do this shipment to the port of Colón, in Panama where follow through Central America and Mexico, to the United States; others send directly to the U.S., normally for the city of Miami, Florida. We had many factors to take into account, but in general, We can summarize them in two groups: cost (As would spend to send the car to Panama and then heading to the U.S.? What would it cost to send directly to the U.S.?) and time (When you leave the ship? How long would it take to reach? Getting to Alaska with the roads open?).

After some preliminary research and analysis focused our efforts on two shipping options, all starting Cartagena. The first consisted in most travelers on wheels is: send the car to Colon in Panama and continue its journey through Central America and Mexico. The second would be sent directly to the United States. In this option, raise the possible destination ports: Miami-FL e Houston-TX (more usual), além de Los Angeles-CA ou Seattle-WA (on which no limos no reports of travelers). We believe in our path and timing over power to drive to Alaska. As we are very sensitive to time, think the best solution, in the case of sending directly to the U.S., would be to export the car directly to the west coast, Where are our points of interest focused on the script. Thus a few days and would win not only could reach Alaska in a timely manner, we might as well enjoy the late summer in California.

Considering Costa Oeste, Los Angeles or Seattle would be the best solution? With the dates of arrival and departure of ships, addition to the shipping costs in hand, further narrowed our options. The idea of ​​sending to the U.S. east coast was to export the ship Tanajura, and while it was on its way (something like 20 days, Sendo em 10 them the ship would be stopped in the Panama Canal), alugaríamos an alternative vehicle to the west coast until the return to our lap Tanajura. Em thermos logistics, Seattle made more sense, since they could fly to Southern California and then travel in a rental car there, while in Los Angeles would have to return part of the way. Thus, as the difference in cost did not justify the loss of time, we exclude Los Angeles two planes.

And now, Panamá ou Seattle? In terms of cost, send to Panama would much cheaper in the end. Would spend about U.S. $ 890 to ship or truck, while sending to Seattle would leave $ 2,200. Moreover, In the second case we would have additional costs for more expensive tickets and rent another car. In terms of time, send directly to the U.S. makes much more sense. The time it will take to cross Central America and Mexico (estimate between 12-15 days, which basically would spend sleeping, driving and crossing borders), but the time it would have to KNOW the west coast, also run, undermine our arrival to Alaska. While in another option, however the vessel to reach the very delayed Seattle, we take this time to know the U.S. West Coast. There is always the risk of delaying the ship, but this would be present in both cases.

Overall, pointed to the cost in one hand while the gain in time and its benefits pointed to another. We did the math and prefer not to compromise our passage to Alaska and still enjoy the summer in California, even if a paying a high price for that. We send to Tanajura to Seattle.

3) As? Finally, with starting point and destination set, we only had to decide if we would send our car for RoRo or within a container. For RoRo car traveling in the open field subject to any kind of external influence, while in the container, apparently, is safer. It turns out that the cost difference is quite significant between the two options (+- US$1.000). As I talked with export agents, RoRo usually does not cause problems or serious damage to the vehicle. We decided to save money and take this risk.

We changed plans and we traveled, Expedition can not stop. We will send a ship Tanajura Cartagena to Seattle, on a journey that should last 20 days. Meanwhile, voaremos to Los Angeles, where rent a temporary replacement for Tana, and follow the road to Seattle enjoying the summer on the west coast of the U.S.. Mexico and Central America will be back to, When will pass outside of the rainy season!!! What makes even more sense!

We will miss Tanajura these days without it and we are confident that her side the feeling is the same. But all for the sake of travel, after all, we have to maximize.