Panama

Darien National Park

WHS Score 3.28
rate
Votes 8 Average 4.0
Show votes
Votes for Darien National Park

3.0

  • Frederik Dawson
  • Roger Ourset

4.0

  • Hanming
  • Sascha Grabow
  • Zoë Sheng

4.5

  • Iain Jackson
  • Joshuakirbens

5.0

  • Jarek Pokrzywnicki

Darién National Park is a mostly undisturbed tropical rainforest that forms a bridge between two continents, which is reflected in its biodiversity.

It is crossed by many rivers that provide the main infrastructure for people and animals. A stretch of Pacific Coast with beaches, mangroves and swamps also belongs to the designated area. The park's fauna is rich and diverse,  with 169 documented mammal species including Jaguar, Giant Anteater and Central American Tapir. Over 500 bird species have been recorded, most notably a large population of Harpy Eagles.

Community Perspective: a permit is needed to be allowed into the park. Jarek managed to visit Rancho Frio inside the park under his own steam, while Albert describes how he regularly visits the same ranch with groups of entomologists: “Getting there reminds me of a National Geographic video every time we go.“

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Darien National Park (ID: 159)
Country
Panama
Status
Inscribed 1981 Site history
History of Darien National Park
1981: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • vii
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Diverse ecosystems
Travel Information
One thousand visitors or fewer
One thousand visitors or fewer
Visitor numbers are not high except for birdwatchers, attracted by one of the finest …
Recent Connections
View all (33) .
Connections of Darien National Park
Geography
Trivia
Ecology
World Heritage Process
Human Activity
  • Natural sites with indigenous human population
    Choco and Kuna Indians still inhabit the park.
  • Gold production
    "An important bird watching site is located in the Cana Scientific Station in the centre of the park where there was once the Espiritu Santo Gold Mine (opened as a gold mine by the Spanish, the Cana mine produced gold continuously until 1727. This mine was later reopened by the Darien Gold Mining Company and operated until 1907, producing about 4 tons of gold)."
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Early Pleistocene
    Was the bridge between the two continents of the Western Hemisphere, which has emerged from below sea level on several occasions in the distant past, most recently in the early Pleistocene. (AB ev)
Visiting conditions
News

No news.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 23/07/19.

Anonymous

Darien National Park

Darien National Park (Inscribed)

Darien National Park by Jarek Pokrzywnicki

I have been taking groups of Entomologists and Photographers to Darien National Park and Rancho Frio since July 2013, probably visiting there at least 10 times, usually spending a week at the camp. You can get an idea of what is involved in getting there by reading another review by Jarek Pokrzwynicki that pretty much covers it.

We have rental SUV's and trucks to haul the massive amount of equipment it takes for an Entomology research trip there, and it usually takes the better part of 2 days from the time we leave Panama City until we get to the camp at Rancho Frio.

I usually go there for 6 to 8 nights with groups from 6 to 14 entomologists. We bring all of the food needed for a week stay there along with several coolers with perishable food and ice (the park guards can obtain small blocks of ice, and some basic food items, from the village of EL Real if needed).

As of early 2018 there is a large chest freezer that runs on propane. You should buy a fresh tank when you go to the camp to insure you have cold storage while there. Another propane tank is used for the stove for cooking your meals so you might want to get one for the stove, too. They are not too expensive ($10-$15).

I bring several 2000w generators, fuel cans, bright Mercury Vapor lights, dozens of extension cords, and small electric fans for …

Keep reading 0 comments
First published: 02/12/17.

Jarek Pokrzywnicki

Darien National Park

Darien National Park (Inscribed)

Darien National Park by Jarek Pokrzywnicki

Finally visited in November 2017. Quite difficult to reach but doable with some preparation.

Of course it is not the place you can go on your own. There are number of dangers that are real (smugglers, narcotraffickers, guerillas, paramilitares), presence of many armed representatives of Panamanian police (Senafront) only acknowledge that. But all the efforts and difficulties are rewarded with what you finally see in Darien. Untouched rainforest, pristine rivers, diverse wildlife, endemic species –everything you will find there.

With no doubt the most efficient (and expensive) way is to go there with an organized trip. There are several agencies specializing in making Darien tours. The majority of them offer multi-day trips with everything well organized (food, accommodation, transportation including stay within national park boundaries) but most of them avoid November as it is treated as wet period. Anyway searching before travel there I found several agencies that - despite rainy season – were eager to organize individual trips there but apart from costs they were stressing on staying more days in Darien (minimum 5 days altogether). If interested let me know and I will send details of what I found out.

Knowing that I tried to organize trip for myself. Bus from Panama City Albrook Terminal to Meteti (9 USD per person) than changes to minivan Meteti – Yaviza (5 USD per person), if you start journey in the morning (Panama) you should arrive to Yaviza late afternoon. On a way there are 2 check-points – …

Keep reading 0 comments