The Plan
10/26/09
So, we’ve come to the end of the road. Literally. What to do?
Due to the impenetrable Darien Gap, we have four options:
1. Turn around and drive back.
2. Sell the van.
3. Ship the van to Colombia.
4. Ship the van to the states.
Our beloved van at the Panama Canal
We don’t want to drive back. The thought of crossing all those borders again is enough to make me go fetal. Not to even mention Honduras.
We don’t want to sell the van. It’s been a good vehicle for us and appears to have a lot of life left in it. Plus we don’t really want to get involved in the legalities of selling a car in a foreign country.
We don’t want to ship the van to Colombia. As much as we want to do a South American tour, we have concluded that it is not the right time or vehicle for that type of trip. South America isn’t going anywhere and we want to go there appropriately prepared and in the right frame of mind, rather than forcing the issue simply because we are in (relatively) close proximity.
Which leaves us with the fourth option. Shipping the van and its contents back to the states. Combined with the above reasons, we want to ship the van back so we can continue travelling. Why not continue in South America, then? Because our van is outfitted for camping. And we love camping. And miss camping. While we have loved Central America, the truth is that our current configuration is not that appropriate for most of these countries. Camping spots are few and far between, and even then are generally not ideal and/or peaceful. We long for national and provincial parks, where we can pull in, pick a camping spot, take a hike and cook a meal. All in blessed blessed quiet. I want to be woken up by birds (roosters not included), rather than blaring radios, circular saws, or a marching band. I swear if I hear yet another homemade M80 go off in the middle of the night, I might lose my mind. What we wouldn’t give to hear a loon call across the lake in the middle of the night. We have this awesome camping set-up in the van – two types of tents, a bed in the van, three kinds of cookstoves, chairs, lanterns, binoculars, walking sticks, even a compass – the list literally goes on and on. But ever since we left Mexico, we have been driving this big vehicle around tiny city streets with all this stuff that we rarely use. I would love to use my sleeping bag in a tent, rather than to protect myself from potential cooties atop a hotel mattress. Don’t get me wrong, we have loved this trip, and quite frankly, have loved both Central America and Mexico. We realize that South America is not either of those places, but after 11 months south of the border, we are ready for a change and also some predictability. We want to get back to our roots, get out into nature (without a required guide), and use our excellent set-up while it is intact and available. (And speak English. English. English. English.)
So we are attempting to ship the van and its contents back to the states (and Canada!). Without exceeding the value of the van, or its contents. The two options seem to be to rent a container from a shipping company or use “Roll On Roll Off” (RORO) shipping. We intend to ship from Colon to Miami, so all price points, time estimates, etc. are based on those assumptions. Renting a 20’ container seems to run between $1600 – 2500. Whether you are allowed to keep items within the vehicle is a matter of much debate. Some shipping companies seem to allow this, however we just heard a report from a man here in Boquete who shipped his car inside a container and had to empty it of the contents plus drain all the fluids. We have researched countless options and solicited quotes from everyone from cargo consolidators to the Dole pineapple boat. The responses have been wildly all over the board, in terms of price, logistics, helpfulness and simply conflicting information. However, we finally think we have found a good option that we are pursuing. $600 to ship the van from port to port, RORO, and a contract with the same shipping company for $62 per cubic meter of loose cargo. Of course we fully expect extraneous charges to appear, on both the shipping and receiving ends, not to mention potential “missing items”. But considering we have gotten quotes of $1800 for the cargo alone, we think (hope!) it’s a good deal.
So we are now attempting to figure out how to consolidate and prepare our “loose cargo” as well as the van, along with the required paperwork. Let the fun begin….
So, we’ve come to the end of the road. Literally. What to do?
Due to the impenetrable Darien Gap, we have four options:
1. Turn around and drive back.
2. Sell the van.
3. Ship the van to Colombia.
4. Ship the van to the states.
Our beloved van at the Panama Canal
We don’t want to drive back. The thought of crossing all those borders again is enough to make me go fetal. Not to even mention Honduras.
We don’t want to sell the van. It’s been a good vehicle for us and appears to have a lot of life left in it. Plus we don’t really want to get involved in the legalities of selling a car in a foreign country.
We don’t want to ship the van to Colombia. As much as we want to do a South American tour, we have concluded that it is not the right time or vehicle for that type of trip. South America isn’t going anywhere and we want to go there appropriately prepared and in the right frame of mind, rather than forcing the issue simply because we are in (relatively) close proximity.
Which leaves us with the fourth option. Shipping the van and its contents back to the states. Combined with the above reasons, we want to ship the van back so we can continue travelling. Why not continue in South America, then? Because our van is outfitted for camping. And we love camping. And miss camping. While we have loved Central America, the truth is that our current configuration is not that appropriate for most of these countries. Camping spots are few and far between, and even then are generally not ideal and/or peaceful. We long for national and provincial parks, where we can pull in, pick a camping spot, take a hike and cook a meal. All in blessed blessed quiet. I want to be woken up by birds (roosters not included), rather than blaring radios, circular saws, or a marching band. I swear if I hear yet another homemade M80 go off in the middle of the night, I might lose my mind. What we wouldn’t give to hear a loon call across the lake in the middle of the night. We have this awesome camping set-up in the van – two types of tents, a bed in the van, three kinds of cookstoves, chairs, lanterns, binoculars, walking sticks, even a compass – the list literally goes on and on. But ever since we left Mexico, we have been driving this big vehicle around tiny city streets with all this stuff that we rarely use. I would love to use my sleeping bag in a tent, rather than to protect myself from potential cooties atop a hotel mattress. Don’t get me wrong, we have loved this trip, and quite frankly, have loved both Central America and Mexico. We realize that South America is not either of those places, but after 11 months south of the border, we are ready for a change and also some predictability. We want to get back to our roots, get out into nature (without a required guide), and use our excellent set-up while it is intact and available. (And speak English. English. English. English.)
So we are attempting to ship the van and its contents back to the states (and Canada!). Without exceeding the value of the van, or its contents. The two options seem to be to rent a container from a shipping company or use “Roll On Roll Off” (RORO) shipping. We intend to ship from Colon to Miami, so all price points, time estimates, etc. are based on those assumptions. Renting a 20’ container seems to run between $1600 – 2500. Whether you are allowed to keep items within the vehicle is a matter of much debate. Some shipping companies seem to allow this, however we just heard a report from a man here in Boquete who shipped his car inside a container and had to empty it of the contents plus drain all the fluids. We have researched countless options and solicited quotes from everyone from cargo consolidators to the Dole pineapple boat. The responses have been wildly all over the board, in terms of price, logistics, helpfulness and simply conflicting information. However, we finally think we have found a good option that we are pursuing. $600 to ship the van from port to port, RORO, and a contract with the same shipping company for $62 per cubic meter of loose cargo. Of course we fully expect extraneous charges to appear, on both the shipping and receiving ends, not to mention potential “missing items”. But considering we have gotten quotes of $1800 for the cargo alone, we think (hope!) it’s a good deal.
So we are now attempting to figure out how to consolidate and prepare our “loose cargo” as well as the van, along with the required paperwork. Let the fun begin….
Good luck on this exciting plan! I love the idea of North America National Park camping for you gals! Sounds divine. xoxo
Reply to this
FELICITACIONES!!! I am so proud and amazed at you both! What an excellent adventure you have had, and you have done a tremendous job of sharing it on your blog. Your blow-by-blow photojournal of transiting the Canal was especially poignant to me, and you're right, it's just "hard to describe". For the last several months your pictures from Central America have enabled me to reminisce the sights, sounds, smells and feel for that place, including the muggy air, the "no see'ums" the food that gets to be pretty much the same everywhere. It's not all bliss and wonderment, and I can certainly relate to how you are longing for quiet. The loon-on-the-lake sounds like a good plan! For what it's worth, we think you've made the right decision to ship your beloved van back to the states. If you intend to travel on, I bet you would kick yourselves for letting it go! Best wishes for a safe trip home!
Ciao. C.
PS If time permits, have you considered a jaunt, by plane, to Cartagena? Esta ciudad fabuloso y muy hermoso!
Reply to this