Darién National Park

The park spans 5,790 square kilometers of dense rainforest, mountains, mangroves, and rivers between Panama and Colombia, forming the largest protected area in Central America.

The Spanish discovered gold in the Cana region of the park in 1665, leading to extensive mining operations that left visible traces along current hiking trails.

The Emberá and Wounaan indigenous communities maintain their traditional practices of hunting, fishing, and gathering within the boundaries of the national park.

Visitors can access the park by flying to El Real or traveling by road to Yaviza, followed by a boat journey with necessary permits from the Panamanian authorities.

The park contains the Darién Gap, the only break in the Pan-American Highway system that extends from Alaska to Argentina.

Location: Darién Province

Inception: 1980

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/159

GPS coordinates: 7.73611,-77.54722

Latest update: May 12, 2025 01:45