The Darién is one of the last truly wild places in Central America, and visiting it means accepting the conditions that come with that. Darién National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — holds over 900 bird species, jaguars, tapirs, and harpy eagles. The indigenous Emberá-Wounaan and Guna communities can be reached by canoe from La Palma or Metetí, and short visits to their villages are possible with a guide. Pirre Station, a park outpost reached by a full day's muddy hike, has waterfalls and a cloud forest that genuinely rewards the effort. Caledonia Bay on the Caribbean coast holds the ruins of Scotland's disastrous colonial venture of 1698. The beaches near Sapzurro on the Colombian border — accessible by boat from Panama — are among the least visited in the region.
Crossing the Gap itself to Colombia requires careful planning, a good guide, and serious awareness of the security situation, which changes. The FARC and other armed groups have historically used the area; travellers should check current conditions before going anywhere remote.