Shipping Part 3: Tips

Panama

1)      When you enter the country make extra sure that the import document has the right information. If it is wrong you will have to get it amended before you pass the police inspection.

2)      For the Police Inspection make sure you wear proper shoes and long trousers. Sandals and shorts are not acceptable to the Police. We actually saw someone turned away for wearing flip-flops.

3)      When you are at customs at the Port don’t forget to get the vehicle stamp in your passport cancelled too.

4)      Don’t hang around in Colon. Get a taxi from the port (there are plenty around) to the bus station and then an express bus back to the main terminal in Panama at Allbrook. The express bus only costs $3 per person.

5)      The Toll Road to Colon cost us $8.80 but it’s a good road and it should only take an hour from Panama City to Colon.

Colombia

1)      When you go to the port make sure you have a secondary set of ID to give in at the security office (not your passport) to get a port security pass and don’t forget to get it back at the end before you drive off.

2)      Before you pick up your vehicle work out where you are going to park it for the night as you could be pretty late leaving the port.

3)      Have a copy of your travel insurance available as this might be requested to enter the port.

4)      There is a good car park in Getsemani right next to the convention centre. We couldn’t use this because it was closed for the Summit of the Americas but normally it would be a good option.