Expedition to the end of the world…Here, the most adventurous will discover the jungle, the last natural frontier before the south of the continent, and one of the least explored in the world.There are no roads, and this is the only place where the Pan-American Highway (the mythical route between Alaska and Tierra del Fuego) does not pass, the jungle being too dense.This off-the-beaten-track destination offers an exceptional variety of flora and fauna, and a chance to meet the Wounan Indians, whose handicrafts are world-renowned.
Darien: a land of adventure in Panama
As is the case with the Amazon in South America, the land of the Darien in Panama has given rise to a mythology of jungle, adventure and exotic landscapes. Legend has it that the Spanish conquistadors were able to conquer the Andes, the deserts and the Amazon, but not the Darien, which defeated them time and time again…We offer expeditions lasting several days in the heart of the Darien: discovery, encounters and nature are the order of the day.
« I have traveled to many regions still ignored by so-called « civilization », and I can assure you that I have rarely seen vegetation as exuberant, as splendid, with trees as varied and majestic, and birdlife as shimmering, rich and musical as that which populates the skies and lands of Darien.
It’s hard to believe that, at such a short distance from the hustle and bustle of skyscrapers and stores, restaurants, multiplexes and luxury boutiques of Panama City, we can still return to a prehistoric world, to an undomesticated nature, where time seems to have stood still, and the only perceptible sounds in this essential atmosphere are the rustle of the wind through the leaves, the trickle of river water between the stones, or the squawks of flocks of parrots that suddenly sow tumult in the sky.« This description of Darien by Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa is certainly the one that corresponds in every way to Panama’s largest province.
Darien National Park, tropical jungle off the beaten track
Darien National Park alone covers 579,000 hectares. With its coastal swamps, mangroves, freshwater marshes and dense tropical rainforest, it is considered by scientists to be the most diverse national park in the tropics. 2.to date, 440 plant and animal species have been recorded, and research continues! There are up to 10 different types of vegetation and no fewer than 23 endemic animal species, including five types of feline (including puma and jaguar).
The Embera Wounaan
The Chocoe include both Emberá and Wounaan Indians. Although the former (approx. 14,000) outnumber the latter (approx. 3,000), it is very difficult for the uninitiated to distinguish them physically. In fact, they form two different linguistic groups with a similar history and culture. The comarca that has been home to them since 1983 is divided into two distinct geographical areas, both located in the province of Darien . Unlike the Guna and Guaymíes, the Chocoes do not live in communities, but in isolation, usually along a river. They are said to have no chiefs, no political or economic structures, and live mainly as a family. Fishing, hunting and farming are their main activities. Their origins are poorly understood, and are thought to lie in neighbouring Colombia.
