Darien Province, Panama
The Darien Gap is a remote, roadless swath of jungle on the edge of Panama & Colombia. Known equally a drug smuggling corridor betwixt the ii countries, it’s rarely seen past times outsiders.
When asked what my favorite experiences are after seven years of footing travel, I commonly depict camping on an erupting volcano inward Guatemala, or my journeying into the Darien Gap.
The Darien has an almost mythical character to it — a mysterious solid position down total of exotic plants, rare wildlife, indigenous people, in addition to unsafe paramilitary groups.
Largely untouched past times the modern world, the Darien is i of the to the lowest degree visited places on the planet.
In the Fall of 2011 I spent five days exploring the Darien Gap amongst a friend. Cutting my way through this formidable wilderness amongst a machete to discovery if these myths were true.
I promise my photos give you lot a fascinating glimpse into this unique business office of Latin America.
End Of The Road
This uncomplicated footbridge inward the town of Yaviza marks the solely interruption inward a 29,000 mile stretch of route known equally the Pan-American Highway, reaching downwards from Alaska to Argentina. This 100 mile department of impassible jungle betwixt Central & South America is called the Darien Gap.
River Transportation
Most of the Darien rainforest is roadless, thus long Piragua canoes similar this are the primary way of transportation. Locals amongst around coin are able to afford an outboard motor for it. But most propel themselves along amongst hand-made wooden paddles — which tin live on hard due to rigid river currents.
Traditional Emberá Home
The Emberá Indians make their homes upward on stilts to protect against animals in addition to flooding. The log ladder serves ii purposes, along amongst providing access to the home, if the notches are facing out visitors are welcome — if they are rolled nether it agency “do non disturb”.
Senafront Base
These guys may await similar armed forces soldiers, but technically they are Panama’s elite edge police delineate called Senafront. Drug smugglers utilization the Darien to carry their goods over the edge from Colombia. Access to most of the Darien without Senafront’s explicit permission is impossible.
Poisonous Frogs
The Darien is abode to many dissimilar species of toxicant frogs. While I’m non sure, this is maybe a Harlequin Toad — also known equally a clown frog. The scientific refer is Atelopus Varius. If that’s what it is, these frogs were idea to live on extinct inward Panama! Any frog experts out there?
Darien National Park
The Darien rainforest is a National Park in addition to UNESCO World Heritage Site. With proper permissions you lot tin larn hiking in addition to camping ground inside, equally nosotros did. It doesn’t larn many visitors these days though, thus a machete is useful for clearing overgrown trails.
Jungle Scorpion
There are all kinds of creatures inward the Darien jungle that tin live on dangerous. Like this dark scorpion nosotros constitute hiking. The expanse is also abode to painful burn ants, deadly fer-de-lance snakes, jaguars, bot flies which lay eggs nether your skin, wild pigs, in addition to other animals you lot in all likelihood don’t desire to meet.
Chunga Palm Tree
This tree does non similar to live on hugged. You’ve been warned hippies! The Chunga Palm (also called Black Palm) is constitute throughout the rainforests of the Darien. Their long, really sharp, bacteria-covered spines tin live on pretty nasty if you’re non careful. Contracting a horrible infection inward the middle of the jungle is non recommended.
Plantain Banana Farm
Many indigenous people who alive inward the Darien earn coin growing plantain bananas, which are thus shipped upriver to Yaviza in addition to eventually sold inward Panama City. This is a relatively novel evolution though, equally coin was non a priority earlier hunting was banned inward the National Park.
Indigenous Tribes
This daughter came out inward the pelting to say howdy amongst another kids equally nosotros stopped at a riverside security checkpoint inward the Wounaan hamlet of Vista Alegre. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few minutes after this photograph was taken, the kids helped me salve our canoe from floating downwards the river amongst all my gear inside…
FARC Guerrillas
Meet Gilberto Torres Muñetón aka “The Calf” a commander of the notorious Colombian FARC anti-government guerrillas. Wanted for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, kidnappings, in addition to a bombing that killed lxxx people along the edge of Panama & Colombia. We saw quite a few of these wanted posters.
Security Checkpoints
Private Wilson hither guards a Senafront checkpoint on the route into the Darien. The Panamanian Government is trying to re-claim the jungle from smugglers, bandits, in addition to paramilitary groups. So at that spot are enough of camouflage uniforms & machine guns around.
Fishing The Turia River
One solar daytime our Kuna guide Isaac took us hand-line line-fishing on the Turia River exterior the hamlet of El Real. This was our select grip of that afternoon, around of which nosotros proceeded to ready upward in addition to swallow for dinner. The rivers are absolutely total of fish! Throw your business inward in addition to 1 or 2 minutes afterwards something was attached to it.
Kuna Indian Woman
This is Mariana, she stopped past times to say howdy along amongst her husband. They showed off around of their handicrafts, similar this colorful Mola bag. The Kuna are merely i of three major indigenous groups that telephone phone the Darien jungle home. The others are called the Embera in addition to the Wounan.
Darien Gap Flooding
Flooding is a big employment during the rainy flavor inward Darien Province. I experienced this first-hand when trying to larn out the area. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 river broke its banking concern in addition to submerged the road, forcing everyone to pay for boat rides over to the adjacent dry out department of solid position down almost 300 yards away.
Plantain Banana Farmers
The Darien isn’t solely populated amongst indigenous people. Panamanians in addition to Colombians get got moved into the expanse to start plantain banana farms, cattle ranches, in addition to logging operations. This local farmer ended upward hitchhiking amongst us inward the dorsum of a truck, his Equus caballus trotting along behind.
Jungle Consumption
The heat, humidity, in addition to flora life of a rainforest volition destroy anything inward its path. Like this one-time house. Sunlight is prime number existent estate, in addition to everyone (and everything) wants inward on the action. If left lonely this edifice would speedily larn eaten-up past times the jungle.
Swollen Turia River
This is the mighty Turia River, a master copy artery of shipping inward the Darien Gap. The river is night & swollen from heavy Oct rains. We like shooting fish in a barrel motored upward the river for five hours heading to the hamlet of Boca de Cupe, where I was before long expelled past times Senafront soldiers who feared for my safety.
Canoe Ride In The Rain
Heading dorsum to the hamlet inward a Piragua canoe after a rainy afternoon of fishing. This is my guide’s boy inward the front end of the boat. The relaxed measuring of life, interesting things to see, in addition to consummate lack of tourism are why Panama’s Darien Gap has been i of my most memorable experiences to date. ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upward a go backpack, photographic tv set camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to discovery deals. Also read my tips for how I discovery the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a neat site for comparison machine prices to discovery the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than almost why you lot should ever deport go insurance.
Have you lot ever heard of the Darien Gap? Do you lot get got questions? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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