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THE WORLD BY THUMB
100% hitchhiking - 100% world tour - Since 2013 - By Florence Renault
THE CARIBBEAN SEA
from September, 12th to 17th 2014
After the first year of my hitchhiking world tour in South America, I arrive in Cartagena ( Colombia ). I am looking for a sailboat to reach Central America . The rainforest between Colombia and Panama is controlled by drug traffickers, so it is not possible to cross it. A blog follower-traveler puts me in contact with two Italian sailors in Cartagena. They organize cruises between the two countries, with a passage through the San Blas Islands and agree to take me for free (I just have to pay for my food). In exchange, I clean and cook for ten people for five days on board.
Photographies Of The Caribbean Sea
 No road connects Colombia to Panama. After a week of researching sailboat-hitchhiking in the port of Cartagena, I finally set off on the boat of friends of friends. The two Italian sailors decide to take me at the last minute, as they have an open spot. In exchange, I help with the cooking and cleaning, and I only pay my portion of drinks and food. |  Many sailboats organize five-day cruises to cross from Colombia to Panama. The cost of the trip for a normal customer is $500 in September 2014. |  Margaux is French, a solo traveler for two months, and an acrobat in the Circus School. She has planned to come back here for a circus tour on sailboats! |  Sunset |  Jose & Julieta This Argentine couple has been traveling for two years in South America. A doctor by training, Julieta now makes her living through crafting (knitting). During a six-month stop in Ecuador, Jose worked as a cook. They travel by hitchhiking or by bus, sleep in youth hostels or in a tent. They want to travel as far as Mexico, or maybe even the U.S. They’ll see, anyway – they don’t have a return date scheduled. |
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 Jose and Julieta |  Rico is Italian; he’s been living on a sailboat for two years with his associate Andrea. For three months, they’ve been working with tourists between Colombia and Panama to keep cash coming on board. |  After two nights and one day of navigation, we’ve arrived in the archipelago of San Blas, made up of 365 miniscule islands. The palm trees, the fine sand, the turquoise water: it is magnificent and wild. |  On the third evening, we prepare a barbecue and eat around a big fire on one of the islands of San Blas. |  Firecamp at the beach |
 Certain islands of San Blas are inhabited by indigenous people. They make their living from crafts and fishing. |  Some indigenous families live on this island, made touristy because of its proximity to a shipwreck. |  Andrea was a painter in Italy. He sold everything to buy a sailboat, where he has lived for two years with his associate Rico. |  Sadness |  Andrea and Jose |
 Starfish |  Hopscotch I am amused to see that even on the other side of the world, on a Caribbean island, children play hopscotch. |  Indigenous Houses About sixty islands in San Blas are populated by indigenous people who live in houses made of wood and leaves. |  Rico and Pablo |  Chris is Australian. He’s been traveling for two years with his [girl]friend Amber. They came to Latin America after Asia. They are living off of their savings. They plan to return to Australia at Christmas. |
 Dinner on the sailboat |  Underwater The water is transparent. The seabed is filled with coral and multicolored fish. |
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