Why the Darien Gap?
Why am I riding to the Darien Gap?
Imagine a continuous highway from the Arctic Circle up in Alaska down to the pointy, southern tip of South America. There is basically a highway that will take you from the Arctic Circle down to the very end of South America. However, on this Pan-American highway there is one unbroken section of 66 miles, a little over 100 kilometers, that can’t be crossed by highway between Panama in Central America and Columbia, in the north of South America.
For me to continue from Panama in Central America down to Columbia in South America I would have to cross the Darien Gap. That would cost roughly $1200+ to get to Columbia, one way. And then, the same amount to come back across the Darien Gap. So, for this trip I want to take the road to where it ends at the Darien Gap, to the jungle, in Yaviza, Panama.
The idea is this: This trip I will travel until I can’t travel any further to the Darien. Then I’ll turn around and head back. Next trip, Ill just have by bike shipped to Columbia and continue down through South America. I just simply cannon afford a $2200-2400 mile crossing past the Darien round trip to cross into South America and then come back up.
So, for this trip, I want to ride down to where I can’t go any further in Panama and then head back. Reluctantly.
Why is the Darien Gap not paved, as far as the Pan-American Highway goes?
The reasons are various why this small portion of highway has not been continued. The spread of foot to mouth disease, the protection of indigenous peoples, drug traffic prevention, environmental protection, etc. The reasons are numerous. But I can’t cross over to South America unless I spend considerable money.
So, I’m heading to where the road runs out and I can’t go any further without air transport, ship transport or sailboat transport.
This is where I’m going.