Situated in southern Panama on the border with Colombia, the Darien is still off of most travelers’ radar. However, in the last few years, an increasing number of tour companies have been offering guided excursions to the region. Although only a trickle of foreign and national tourists make their way to the Darien every year, a recent focus on the region’s ecological and cultural importance has raised the province’s profile, making it an appealing adventure destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
For years the Darien has had a reputation as a dangerous guerilla hotspot. However, the little known and long-underrated province is actually quite safe, although heat, humidity, rigorous hikes, rustic lodgings, lack of electricity and proximity to dangerous wildlife means that pickier travelers may want to stick to cities or more developed destinations. That said, visitors should be perfectly safe as long as they don’t wander too far off the beaten path.
A bird-watchers haven, the Darien is home to the Harpy Eagle, among the world’s most elusive of large birds and prize sighting among birders in the know. Although rare, Harpy sightings have been reported and it’s not uncommon for bird-watchers to spot as many as 100 different species a day. This region of winding rivers and incredible biodiversity is home to Panama’s most pristine rainforests and dozens of small, isolated indigenous villages, hours from the nearest town — and decades removed from the modern world. Unlike the rainforests of Costa Rica that are often o
ver run by tourists and sometimes feel a bit like a theme park, Panama’s Darien Rainforest is refreshingly free of crowds, though this may change as the security situation between Panama and Colombia continues to improve.
Due to its isolation and difficult terrain, most tourists who visit the Darien do so as part of a 3-14 day-long all inclusive package. Package deals generally include air and land transportation, three meals a day, guided hikes, bird-watching excursions, wild-life spotting, rustic but clean accommodations and bilingual guides. The recent influx of tourists to this historically economically depressed region has helped native communities cling to their traditions and ways of life, and travelers will have the opportunity to interact with and learn about the various Embera communities in the area. Visitors will generally participate in craft, dance and religious belief presentations and ceremonies, and eagle-eyed local guides take visitors on the best wildlife spotting and bird-watching trails in the area. This growing collaboration between foreign tourists, Panamanian tour companies and local Embera communities allows travelers to appreciate and experience one of the world’s most isolated rain forests and brings much needed resources to local communities.
The best time to visit the Darien is between during dry season in mid-December and mid-April. The Darien can be extremely rainy and hiking trails can be slippery and dangerous during the rest of the year. Advantage Tours Panama and Ancon Expeditions are two of the most respected travel agencies offering Darien excursions.
Advantage Tours Panama (www.advantagepanama.com)
Ancon Expeditions of Panama (www.anconexpeditions.com)
Photo source: Flickr – Elbier Minks
