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Pyrodes has already taken you to the northernmost link of the Pan American Highway (look here). Yet, in our quest to trace the highway down to Antarctica, we have run into a problem in the form of the Darien Gap, the Pan-American Highway’s only missing link. The Darien Gap is a 100 mile stretch of land between Panama and Colombia, featuring mountains, jungles, marshlands, and multiple local indian tribes and rebel militants. For many, if not most, this highly inconsiderate gap of road ends all dreams of driving the full Pan American Highway from polar bears to penguins. But, where there’s Pyrodes, there’s a way. Let’s find it after the jump…
First, The Obstacles: According to several of Pyrodes’ sources, the government of Panama is currently giving travelers headed south through the gap a bit of trouble. In 2003, a group from National Geographic attempted the journey, only to be held against their will for a short time. Other groups have been held by guerrilla groups as well (BBC). To compliment the various accounts of Indian raids and rebel action, there is dense jungle and ever-sinking river beds and marshes to slow you down. But there is good news here.
A Map of the Gap
The Good News: It has been done, it is being done, and it will be done again. People have crossed the Darien by foot, bike (check out the video below), motorcycle, small river boat, and, yes, even off-road range rover. The accounts of those who have done it are a thing of pure travel fantasy. Pyrodes has provided you several in the embedded links and it is worth reading over the tales of survival, tribal interactions, ransom demands, and near-death experiences. If you do complete the journey, it will no doubt be quite the feather in your travel cap.
Some Advice: It is worth note that the most recent successful trips have originated in Colombia and worked their way north into Panama. The reverse route will bring you into conflict with corrupt government patrols. While the Colombian route does involve areas of political instability, that instability, combined with a little luck, can be used to your advantage to work your way around government restrictions on travel. To that end, a common theme among the travelers is the need for money in case a bribe or, eek, ransom is needed. Also, a GPS is a must without a local guide of some sort. That said, a local guide is a must if you want to live through the ordeal. You can find them on both sides of the gap for a reasonable fee. Most of all, find the most recent travel accounts and study them in earnest as the political and environmental situation along the Darien is fluid at best.
The Dense Jungles of Panama and Colombia
Pyrodes notes there has been a movement in recent years to extend the road on both sides to shorten this most annoying gap, but, until then, this stretch of very intense land remains one of the intrepid traveler’s most challenging goals. Good luck, and Happy Travels.
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