Mellito – Turbo - 69 km
With no other option, we got on the muddy, potholed road. Luckily, the poor road
conditions merely lasted a further 20 kilometres. At Necocli, I inquired regarding a
boat to Panama without success.
Fifty kilometres of biking later, our path reached hectic, dusty, and crazy Turbo. A
room across the street from the port provided a balcony to watch life go by. The
horse and cart were still in use and seemed the preferred means of transport to and
from the harbour.
Turbo
Turbo, considered the start of the Darién Gap, marked the end of our ride in
Colombia. From Turbo, we had to make an alternative plan. Not being able to speak
the language made organising things even more challenging.
At the harbour, we enquired about a cargo boat to Panama. Still, we understood it
was illegal for cargo boats to ferry passengers. With a checkpoint close by, no one
was prepared to take us to Panama. Instead, daily boats ran to and from
Capurgana, a tiny hamlet near the Colombia-Panama border. I was sure that once
there, one would encounter boats running to Panama.