Time to leave and check out. Our plan was to dayhop to Cartagena. Checking out certainly had it challenges; we were obliged to use an agent when we check in as the Port Captain only deals with agents. Santa Marta fortunately engages the service of an agent as cruisers were constantly being taken advantage of by agents in the past. To check out, we advised him on the Monday we were leaving, we handed in out passports on the Tuesday, planning to leave on the Friday early morning. We checked on Wednesday for our passports and Zarpe and were told 4pm Thursday. Come 4pm and nothing but we were told 7pm. our plan was to enjoy dinner on our last night ashore but 7pm came and went. Finally the agent arrived around 10pm with our passports and Zarpe in hand. Missed the dinner ashore but small price to pay for the vital documentation that paves our way into out next port of call.