History of Darién Gap in Timeline

The Darién Gap is a geographically significant region linking North and South America, spanning southern Panama and northern Colombia. Characterized by its dense rainforest, mountains, and large drainage basin, it is renowned for its remoteness, challenging terrain, and harsh environment, making it one of the world's most inhospitable areas. As the sole land connection between the two continents, the Darién Gap has historically been a crucial route for human and animal migration, despite the difficulties it presents.

1903: Panama Declares Independence

In 1903, Panama declared its independence from Colombia, with the encouragement and support from the United States.

1923: International Conference in Chile

After an International Conference in Chile in 1923, the expedition using Ford Model T cars intended to bring attention for the Panamerican highway.

August 1924: Victoria-Velez Treaty Signed

In August 1924, the Victoria-Velez Treaty was signed in Bogotá by the Foreign Ministers of Panama and Colombia, Nicolás Victoria and Jorge Vélez respectively, regulating the current border.

1924: Marsh Darién Expedition

In 1924, the Marsh Darién Expedition marked the first post-colonial expedition to the Darién, supported by the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, and the government of Panama.

August 1925: Victoria-Velez Treaty Registered

In August 1925, the Victoria-Velez Treaty was officially registered in the Register No. 814 of the Treaty League of Nations.

1928: Departure from Rio de Janeiro

In 1928, three Brazilians embarked on a journey from Rio de Janeiro in two Ford Model T cars, aiming to cross the Darién Gap and promote the Panamerican Highway.

1938: Arrival in the United States

In 1938, the three Brazilians who departed from Rio de Janeiro in 1928, completed their journey by arriving in the United States, after crossing the Darién Gap in two Ford Model T cars.

1954: Disease Prevention

Since 1954, the Darién Gap has prevented the spread of diseased cattle into Central and North America, which have not seen foot-and-mouth disease since 1954.

1959: Trans-Darién Expedition

In 1959, the Trans-Darién Expedition began to cross the Darién Gap, using the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa and a Jeep.

February 1960: Trans-Darién Expedition Departure

In February 1960, the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa and a Jeep of the Trans-Darién Expedition departed from Chepo, Panama, to cross the Darién Gap.

June 1960: Trans-Darién Expedition Arrival

In June 1960, the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa and a Jeep of the Trans-Darién Expedition arrived in Quibdó, Colombia, after crossing the Darién Gap, having departed on February 2, 1960.

December 1960: Danny Liska's Darién Gap Attempt

In December 1960, adventurer Danny Liska attempted to transit the Darién Gap on a motorcycle trip from Alaska to Argentina, ultimately abandoning the motorcycle in Punta Arenas.

July 1961: College Students Cross Darién Gap

In July 1961, college students Carl Adler, James Wirth, and Joseph Bellina crossed the Darién Gap from the Bay of San Miguel to Puerto Obaldia and ultimately to Mulatupu in the San Blas Islands.

1961: Chevrolet Corvair Crossing

In 1961, a team of three 1961 Chevrolet Corvairs and support vehicles departed from Panama, reaching the Colombian border with two Corvairs after 109 days.

1971: Hibell's Cycling Journey Begins

In 1971, British cyclist Ian Hibell started his cycling journey from Cape Horn to Alaska.

1971: Pan-American Highway Planning Begins

In 1971, planning commenced for filling the Darién Gap section of the Pan-American Highway with the support of American funding.

1972: British Trans-Americas Expedition

In 1972, the British Trans-Americas Expedition, led by John Blashford-Snell, used a pair of Range Rovers with British Army support to traverse both American continents north to south through the Darién Gap.

1973: Hibell's Cycling Journey Ends

In 1973, British cyclist Ian Hibell completed the first fully overland wheeled crossing of the Darién Gap as part of his bicycle ride from Cape Horn to Alaska.

1974: Construction Halted

In 1974, the plans to fill the Darién Gap section of the Pan-American Highway were halted due to concerns raised by environmentalists.

1975: Snow and Davis Cross the Gap

In 1975, Sebastian Snow crossed the Darién Gap with Wade Davis as part of his walk from Tierra del Fuego to Costa Rica.

1976: The Rucksack Man Published

In 1976, Sebastian Snow's book "The Rucksack Man" was published, documenting his trip, including his crossing of the Darién Gap.

Rucksack Man

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1978: US Support Blocked

In 1978, the US Department of Agriculture further blocked US support for the Darién Gap highway project to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

1979: Arthur Blessitt's Pilgrimage

In 1979, Arthur Blessitt traversed the Darién Gap carrying a wooden cross as part of his round-the-world pilgrimage for Christ.

1980: Darién National Park Established

In 1980, Darién National Park in Panama, the largest national park in Central America, was established.

1981: George Meegan Crosses the Gap

In 1981, George Meegan crossed the Darién Gap as part of his journey from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska.

1984: Project Drake

In 1984, Project Raleigh evolved from Project Drake.

1985: Project Raleigh Expedition

In 1985, Project Raleigh sponsored an expedition that crossed the Darién coast to coast.

1988: The Longest Walk Published

In 1988, George Meegan's biography, "The Longest Walk", was published, documenting his journey across the Americas, including a chapter on his Darién Gap crossing.

The Longest Walk: The Record of our World's First Crossing of the Entire Americas (2013 Edition)

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1989: Raleigh International

In 1989, Project Raleigh became Raleigh International.

June 1992: Copa Airlines Flight 201 Crash

In June 1992, Copa Airlines Flight 201, a Boeing 737 jet airplane, crashed in the Darién Gap, resulting in 47 fatalities.

1992: Renewed Effort to Build the Road

In 1992, another effort was initiated to construct the road through the Darién Gap.

1993: Death of Missionaries

In 1993, three New Tribes missionaries disappeared on the Panamanian side of the Darién Gap and were later found dead. This event highlights the dangers present in the region.

1994: UN Report on Environmental Damage

In 1994, a United Nations agency reported that building the road through the Darién Gap would cause extensive environmental damage.

1995: Darién Gap Population

In 1995, the Darién Gap had a reported population of 8,000 people among five indigenous tribes, including the Embera-Wounaan and Guna peoples.

1996: One River Published

In 1996, Wade Davis's book "One River" was published, documenting his trip, including his crossing of the Darién Gap.

One River: Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rain Forest

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1997: Panamá Viejo Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1997, the ruins of the old town, Panamá Viejo, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1997: Crucero Express Ferry Service Ceases

In the 1990s, a ferry service by Crucero Express briefly joined the Darién Gap until it ceased operations in 1997.

2003: Detention of Robert Young Pelton

In 2003, Robert Young Pelton, along with Mark Wedeven and Megan Smaker, were detained for a week by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. This incident was highly publicized.

2010: Pan-American Highway Terminus

Since 2010, the Pan-American Highway's road terminus on the Panamanian side has been located in the town of Yaviza.

May 2013: Disappearance and Death of Jan Philip Braunisch

In May 2013, Swedish backpacker Jan Philip Braunisch disappeared after attempting to cross from Colombia to Panama. The FARC later admitted to killing him, mistaking him for a spy.

2013: Births in the Darién

Between 2013 and 2021, three migrant women gave birth in the Darién Gap without medical assistance or supplies, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by migrants.

2013: Safer Coastal Route

By 2013, the coastal route on the east side of the Darién Isthmus became relatively safe, by taking a motorboat across the Gulf of Uraba from Turbo to Capurganá and then hopping the coast to Sapzurro and hiking from there to La Miel, Panama.

2016: NPR Interviews Jason Motlagh

In 2016, journalist Jason Motlagh was interviewed by Sacha Pfeiffer on NPR's show "On Point" regarding his work following migrants through the Darién Gap.

June 2017: CBS Journalist Films Smugglers

In June 2017, CBS journalist Adam Yamaguchi filmed smugglers leading refugees on a nine-day journey from Colombia to Panama through the Darién Gap.

2019: Migration through Darién Gap

In 2019, approximately 24,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap.

2019: PBS NewsHour Interviews Journalists

In mid-2019, journalists Nadja Drost and Bruno Federico were interviewed by Nick Schifrin about their work following migrants through the Darién Gap for PBS NewsHour.

2021: Births in the Darién

Between 2013 and 2021, three migrant women gave birth in the Darién Gap without medical assistance or supplies, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by migrants.

2021: Increased Migrant Crossings

By 2021, more than 130,000 migrants had crossed the Darién Gap to reach the United States.

2022: Increased Crossings in Darién Gap

In 2022, crossings of the Darién Gap surged to 250,000, significantly more than in 2019.

2023: River Ferry Service

As of 2023, an alternative river ferry service between Turbo or Necoclí, Colombia and Panama's Caribbean coast has not been established.

2023: Sharp Increase in Migrant Crossings

In 2023, over 520,000 migrants traversed the Darién Gap, which more than doubled the previous year's crossing numbers.

2023: Sharp Increase in Migrant Crossings in Darién Gap

In 2023, the number of migrants crossing the Darién Gap increased to 520,000, but 60% of the 334,000 migrants over the first eight months were Venezuelan, prompting the Biden administration to provide assistance to Panama for deportations.

2023: Increase in Chinese Migrants

In 2023, there was an increase in Chinese migrants traveling to Ecuador and then attempting to cross the Darién Gap on foot, with the number increasing each passing month.

August 2024: The Atlantic Reports on Immigration

In August 2024, journalist Caitlin Dickerson reported on immigration through the Darién Gap for The Atlantic.

2024: Migrant Crossings Drop

In 2024, migrant crossings of the Darién Gap dropped to 300,000, with the trek becoming a more organized 2½ day journey.

2024: Fatalities and Abandoned Minors

In 2024, there were 55 known deaths in the Darién Gap, with the probability of even more. Additionally, 180 unaccompanied minors were abandoned and cared for by child care institutions.