Mind the gap – The Darien Gap

Undiscovered Destinations’ 15-day Darien Explorer Trek is a rare opportunity to journey deep into the rainforests of Panama’s infamous Darien Gap, the missing link in the Pan-American Highway. There are still places available on the 13th July departure from London.

The Darien Gap - a naturalist’s paradise in one of the most inaccessible places on earth. If it were not for the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia, it would be possible to drive from the northern edge of Alaska to the southern tip of South America. For hundreds of years the Darien defied explorers and its inaccessibility has been its salvation.

On Undiscovered Destinations’ extraordinary expedition, travellers encounter a massive array of wildlife firsthand as they hike through jungle and journey down rivers by motorised dugout canoe. After a short flight from Panama to La Palma followed by a boat transfer, explorations commence in the private 65,000-acre Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, overlooking the Gulf of San Miguel.

From here travellers head along the Mogue River, through millenary mangroves, past fishing Racoons, Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill, before arriving at the village of Mogue, home of the Emera people. The journey continues up the mighty Tuira River to El Real, the largest settlement in the Darien, and the Pirre River at the entrance of the Darien National Park.

Staggering numbers of birds can be easily spotted in the park and some 450 different species have been recorded here. The remoteness of this region and the dramatic forest habitat offers possible sightings of large mammals like Tapir, Giant Anteater, Black-spider Monkey, White-lipped Peccary and others.

Explorations continue through the park, visiting Cana, set amidst rusting 19th century locomotives, winches, smokestacks and ovens, all relics of recent attempts (late 1800s) to mine this wilderness area. In 1996 the government of Panama outlawed all mining activity within Darien National Park, turning the area of Cana into a natural haven. From Cana, a slow-paced hike to Pirre Cloudforest camp reveals a dramatic change in the forest habitat.

Misty slopes become home to birds such as Golden-headed Quetzals, Yellow-green Grosbeak, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and Beautiful Treerunner, rare species of flora and a range of mammals including Jaguar. The tour concludes back in Panama with a visit to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal followed by a farewell dinner.

The tour costs £2,350 p/p including all flights, transport, accommodation, all meals and expert guiding.

For more information, visit Undiscovered-destinations.com.