Finally, the moment has arrived: Mabul is heading through the Panama Canal. Ahead of us lies the final leg of our journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The Panama Canal transit will take two days. Together with an Advisor from the Panama Canal Authority and our three linehandlers Nico, Dries and Jani on board, we set course for the famous locks.
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After our time in Portobelo, we sail into the Rio Chagres to spend the time waiting for our transit date through the Panama Canal. As soon as we enter the river, the landscape changes. Instead of the rugged cliffs along the coast, we are suddenly surrounded by dense jungle. We drop anchor in a bend of the river and lie perfectly still. There is not another boat in sight.
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After more than a year and a half and countless jobs, we finally leave Panamarina. For our first trip, we only plan to cover a short distance. After the long refit, we want to make sure that everything is actually working as it should. Our destination is Portobelo, already on the way to the Panama Canal.
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After launching Mabul, it turns out that replacing the entire rigging is unavoidable. A closer inspection reveals fine hairline cracks in the swaged terminals of the shrouds on the deck side.All we actually wanted to do was bend on the sails, finish a few small jobs, put away the tools, clean up and provision Mabul.
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We originally plan to use this boatyard stay for just two projects: applying a fresh coat of Coppercoat to the hull and installing a folding arch for our dinghy davits. The plan is to be back in the water within four to six weeks—but in the end, the project stretches to more than four months.
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During our break from life at sea, we rented the little Casa Pajero cottage, with a balcony so close to the treetops that you could almost pick tamarinds and papayas. I spend many hours here birding in Santander, Colombia, on the lookout for new feathered subjects. But it’s not just an incredible variety of birds that show up: an iguana regularly comes by to warm itself in the morning sun on one of his three favorite trees, and a tree frog takes a siesta in our open bathroom during the day. The hummingbirds, on the other hand, come and go so quickly that I start to lie in wait for them. A certain flower in the front yard seems to attract them particularly – and with a little patience, I manage to take some beautiful close-up shots. All shots were taken with my Sony Alpha 7 IV and the Tamron 150-500mm lens.
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During our short vacation a few weeks ago, we already knew that we wanted to return to Colombia for a longer period of time. Now Mabul is safely resting on land in Panama during hurricane season, patiently waiting for us. We, on the other hand, are enjoying our sailing break in Colombia – at Casa Pajero, a small rented cottage in the countryside. It is located right on the edge of a cliff and offers a breathtaking view of the forest, almost like a bird’s eye view – a perfect place to watch birds and take pictures with my camera. We are spending three months here – long enough to even receive two spontaneous visits from friends. This finally allows us to explore the surrounding area. We are particularly impressed by the Chichamocha Canyon. But most of the time, we live an almost unspectacular, but wonderfully slow-paced country life. Our excursions are often limited to walks in the surrounding area – and that’s exactly what makes this sailing break so special.
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Freshly rested and full of new energy, we return to Mabul from our vacation in Colombia. But in addition to beautiful memories, we also bring back a far-reaching decision: after three intense, exciting, and at the same time exhausting years, we need a longer break from life at sea to finally find peace again. So the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal will have to wait another six months until we and Mabul are ready for the next adventure. To prevent further mishaps, we decide to park Mabul in the dry dock of the Panamarina during hurricane season – at least there she can’t sink herself. The coming weeks will therefore be dominated by a special task: putting our sailboat into winter storage in the tropics.
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While birding in Colombia, I traveled through the regions of Antioquia and Santander—two areas known for their extraordinary bird diversity. On my walks through misty mountain forests and remote trails, I encountered fascinating species such as the highland motmot, the azure-headed tanager, and the colorful masked trogon. Tiny hummingbirds flitted through the scene again and again – barely bigger than a thumb, but full of life and energy. I particularly remember encountering two wild yellow-breasted macaws, which were grooming themselves extensively high up in a tree – completely calm and seemingly unobserved. This gallery brings together my most beautiful bird photos from several locations in Colombia’s species-rich Andes. All shots were taken with my Sony Alpha 7 IV and the Tamron 150-500mm lens.
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The Boat Break in Colombia is a mixture of relaxation, small adventures, and new impressions. We hike through the mist-shrouded mountains, explore emerald green valleys full of wax palms, listen to the splashing of the Santa Rita waterfalls, and enjoy the warm springs of San Vincente. Every now and then, small bugs disturb our hikes, but with a little mosquito spray, that’s no problem. There are details to discover everywhere: the humming of hummingbirds, the rustling of leaves, the scent of freshly roasted coffee beans in Salento, the colors of the mountains in the morning light, and the rich local cuisine. The result is a mix of nature, culture, and culinary experiences. The pictures capture not only landscapes, but also encounters, surprising details along the way, and moments of tranquility—impressions that you can only get when you immerse yourself in the country. Read more about it in the full blog post: The Vacation
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