The Darien Gap is a mountainous jungle region spanning the borders of Colombia and Panama, creating a natural buffer zone between Central and South America. One of the most inaccessible regions on earth, owing to its inhospitable terrain and lack of roads, for decades it has been associated with migration and upheaval. Recently it has enjoyed a period of stability and is now safe to visit with the help of local guides. Our tour ventures deep into the heart of the Darien Gap, hiking and using water taxis to discover the region’s remarkable history and natural wonders.

Beginning in Colombia in the city of Medellin, our tour enters the Darien Gap on the Colombian side via public water taxi. Among dense jungle, the excavation sites of Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien (the first city the Spaniards built on the mainland of the American continent) await, with further exploration of the Sasardi and Bembe Nature Reserves. Later, on the Panamanian side, the region’s remarkable history further unfolds with the rarely visited Puerto Escoces, the site of the Scottish Darien Scheme of the 1600s and opportunities to meet the indigenous Guna people and learn about their history and revolution.

The tour’s stunning hikes, twice with full packs, pass through dense jungle, along river beds and through swamps, with the potential for knee deep water and crashing waves. Ranging in elevation (100-150m) and distance (3-6km), the routes take in idyllic natural rainforest pools, river crossings, nature reserves and panoramic views. The tour is capped off with traditional Guna celebrations and swims in the pristine waters of Panama’s Caribbean coast.