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Darien National Park

Darien National Park

Darien National Park
4.5
About
Located in the Province of Darien, this World Heritage Site consists of 1,475,000 acres of beaches, mangroves, swamps and tropical forests.
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles33 reviews
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Lena B
43 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Travel Darien Panama - by Solarte

We did the 4 Days 3 Night Homestay Trip with Travel Darien Panama to La Chunga Village in Darien National Park. The way from Panama City to the Village is long and takes a hole day (endless bus trip, hours of boat drives - but worth it). We would recommend to stay longer, because the journey is quiet long.
It was a unique experience and everything worked out. The family was very friendly and we always felt safe. It was impressive to see the life of the indigenous people there and it was something very special in a cultural way. We would recommend if you want to get in touch with the people and their culture (but for that purpose you have to speak Spanish, because only the guide speaks English). Food was great, was simple and seemed to be traditional. The accommodation was great, it's kind of a treehouse with a roof and no walls, the beds are protected with mosquito nets, it was surprisingly clean.

Negative
1. We expected to see many animals but unfortunately we didn't saw a lot (we saw more wild animals when we went to Bocas del Torro - which was surprising). Maybe it was because of the dry season. We tracked many hours through the jungle but we basically saw just a few birds and many plants, that's it. However this is nature, I understand. The wild animals seemed to stay away from the village area.

2. The Family have 3 dogs, they always came with us to the jungle hikes what we didn't liked. First, the dogs where annoying (running back and forth through our legs all the time), some of them had open, bloody wounds an their body (something you don't wanna touch) and one had fleas and was scratching all the time. We told the Guide we don't want the dogs to join on the hike, he tried to send them away but it was impossible. They ALWAYS came back, barked at us. We wanted nature. and not a walk with dogs, this is not what we expected from a jungle adventure. Maybe the dogs where the reason why we didn't see any animals .. I don't know.
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ivan B
Lima, Peru12 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
I travelled through Yaviza and found Darien the worst run park in South/Central America that I’ve encountered in 10 months of my travels.
1. In Yaviza nobody can you provide you with complete information about the park. You have to learn everything the hard way. Not even in the direction of the park (ministry of environment, where you have to obtain a permit) do they know basic facts. One of the ladies open-heartedly told me she has never been to the park.
2. Obligatory guides (30-50$ per day) expect you to have all gear, including tent, rubber boots, etc., and also food for you and for them. I was asked even to buy salt. Don’t expect much help from them or information either: mine didn’t know the distance between the points on our route, the heights, etc.
3. There are some facilities on the trail (so called Ranch Frio, with solar panels), but they are kept in terrible condition (and you have to pay to stay there). Rooms were last cleaned at the time of conquista. I slept outside in a hammock which was by far the best option. Oh, and of course they dump all the plastic garbage in a pit just next to where you live, inside the park.
4. Worst of all, there is a higher chance to meet UFO than a jaguar here. Local indigenous tribes have hunted out jaguars, tapirs, etc., long ago and park authorities hardly care (in fact we hardly saw any rangers). My guide NEVER saw a jaguar or a tapir in 15 years.
Written 19 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erica P
19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Before our trip to Darien we had difficulties in finding enough informations about the actual situation there because the mainstream media always talk about this place only in terms of a dangerous region. Then we found traveldarienpamama.com and met a completely different context.

We stayed at La Chunga with Solarte, Rutilio and all the family for 4 nights and 5 days. The experience there was quite exciting and the homestay was very chilled. Everybody make us feel like at home. The trip to arrive in La Chunga is quite long but It totally worth the efforts. Solarte (the owner) and Carmelita are kind in suggesting the best way to go there, even from Panama city, and they guide you through all the way.

The accomodation Is simple and nice, with a comfortable bed and a strong mosquito net, with no internet access and the electricity only in the nightime. The toilet has fresh water all day long.

The activities are various. We went hiking in the jungle several times - thanks to the incomparabile Rutilio, even a 6h hike in the Corredor Biológico Serranía de Bagre! -, had a night trip by boat to see caymans and capibara, had a cultural experience with music and dance, eat the local food cooked by the family, play with the lovely kids, get to know the wonderful naturaleza of the forest, seen animals, flowers and tropical plants in the primary forest.

Unforgettable experience, strongly recommended to all hiking enthusiasts!
Written 6 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sébastien G
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
The experience was awesome!
The welcome in the village was excellent and Solarte and her brother are really super human.
They guided us very well and took care to share as much as possible with us.
Speaking Spanish is a real plus to be able to communicate with everyone.
The children in the village are adorable and just want to share moments with us.
The experience is enriching and the 3-day jungle trip incredible.
Really don't hesitate.
Google
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ClaudiaBartoletti87
Casablanca, Morocco18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Friends
We chose Travel Darien to visit the Darien National Park!
What a wonderful experience!
The communication with Solarte before taking the trip was always informative and fast! The first night a La Tuira at La Palma was a very nice start! With a wonderful location in the picturesque village of La Palma.
On arrival at the Embera' village La Chunga we met Super Rutillo...who gave us a warm welcome from the very begging! He also gave us much information right away, teaching us so much about the Embera' culture, the nature and the history. His eyes and his smile are for ever in our hearts! Staying with his family, sleeping in the tambo, hiking in the forest day and night, eating their food, strolling in the village, listening to the voices of the nature, soaking in the natural pool, playing with Bebe, the pet tucan, and The family' s dogs , Tautorro, Mocho, Chombo... are unforgettable experiences! For ever in our minds!
If you love a full immersion in the wild nature and going back to a way of living in contact with Mother Earth, La Chunga is the place to be!
And we highly recommend it.
Thank you Rutio and Solarte and all your family ❤️
Claudia & Milena
Written 8 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard G
Rockford, IL73 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2018 • Couples
My wife and I rented a car in Panama City and drove the @ 300 KM to Yaviza. It’s a 4 - 5 hour boring drive. The speed limit on the open road is 80 KPH, but there are many small towns and school zones along the way slowing us down. The road is paved all the way, but some sections (@ 1/2 of the total) are severely pot-holed. There are many (@ 6) police check points along the way. The first 5 only wanted to see our passports and drivers license. At the Chepo check point(I think) the traffic backup was the worst, @ 1/2 hr. At the check point, where we entered Darien Province (@ 50 KM before Yaviza) they took our passports and ran them through their computer system. It is our understanding that, if you are a tourist, and do not have a permit to enter Darien National Park, you will not be allowed to enter Darien Province. You will be turned around at this point. You will not be allowed to proceed to Yaviza. We had a permit, and were allowed to proceed after about 15 minutes. The police never asked to see our permit, all the necessary information showed up in their computer once they ran our passport numbers. The permit application requests all your passport information, so the two are tied together. If you do not have a permit for the Darien National Park, you better double check about entering Darien Province before going. We met our guide (Isaac Pizarro)in Yaviza. Isaac is a licensed guide for Darien National Park. We recommend him highly. We only did three days, two nights with him, but we met other people leaving the Darien who knew him and had been using him for years. He claims 18 years of guide service in Darien National Park. Even the police are on a first name basis with him. My wife accidentally came across his name while researching the Darien on the internet. Isaac was instrumental in assisting us in getting our permits. He knew how to “dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s” with the authorities. Isaac’s license information is: Carné Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá #10962. He prefers to be contacted using “WhatsApp” +507 6245-3606, which is also his mobile number. His preferred method of getting payment for his upfront fees for the permits and deposit is Western Union, which we were able to do on-line and using our credit card. We had some small confusion about what was included or not included in his “expenses” charge. I believe most of the confusion resulted from our limited Spanish and Isaac’s limited English. The total amount of “confusion” was about $60. Safe parking for our vehicle in Yaviza was arranged by Isaac. We took a small boat down the river (@ 1 hr) to El Reale where we spent the night in a private house. Things are getting pretty “rustic” at this point, but our room had an air conditioner and bath down the hall. I don’t think our door had any lock. The next day we loaded up into the back of a pickup truck and drove @ 1/2 hr down a very bumpy road to our trailhead into Darien National Park. Then we trekked @ 5 KM into the park to Rio Frio where a decent lunch of beef, rice, juice and coffee was prepared. Isaac pointed out many interesting aspects of the jungle on the trek in; many different birds, some monkeys, army ants and the unbelievable “green rivers” of leaf cutter ants. The trails were wide and in very good shape in our opinion. Some small muddy spots. Mostly level ground. After lunch and a tour around the Rio Frio campsite we trekked another @ 2 KM to the cascade (waterfall). This place was a slice of heaven. The cascade is @ 5 M high, you can climb up to the top of it and slide down into a nice deep pool. The water is very refreshing, especially after trekking for several hours in the steaming hot jungle. Some type of “water shoes” would have been very useful here. We had to pick our way barefooted @ 100 M up the river (and back) to reach the cascade, and I have very tender feet. After splashing around for an hour or so, we trekked back to the Rio Frio encampment. Isaac asked if we wanted to spend the night in Rio Frio or an Indian village. We opted for the Indian village which is @ 4 KM from Rio Frio, but was very near our pick-up spot for the next day. Rio Frio is a nice “oasis” in the jungle for lunch, but not very appealing for an overnight stay without camping gear. We set out for the Indian village and had a choice of the short, but lots of up & down route, or the longer flat route. We chose the short route and didn’t find it difficult. The “up & downs” were only 50 - 100 M. It took us @ two hours with all our picture stops. The Indian village is amazing. I was impressed by how clean and manicured it was. Very little trash. We were welcomed like kings. Fresh coconuts were harvested and opened with machetes for our drinking and tasting pleasure. Someone was sent somewhere and got cold beer for us. Beds with mosquito netting were prepared for us in the elevated guest house. There was even electricity available to charge our phones. Shower and toilet was available in a separate ground level “guest” bath. Dinner was prepared for us. And the young children came flocking around us, not begging, just wanting their pictures taken with us and their huge smiles. We shared some of our snacks with them. It was really a treat for us. Sleeping in the elevated guest house was difficult with the heat and humidity, but the night sounds of the jungle were comforting. The next morning breakfast was available if we wanted it, but we just wanted coffee. Then it was into the back of the pickup truck for a bumpy ride to El Real, catch a boat back to Yaviza, drive 5 hrs to Panama City. Only 4 police check points. Again, we recommend our guide, Isaac Pizarro highly. He arranged everything for us from our arrival in Yaviza to our return to back to Yaviza. Everything was flawless.
Written 23 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BBlogger1
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2013
I have just come back to Panama City from a trip to Sambu in the Darien. It was amazing. Quiet, remote, unspoilt, rural. I flew with Air Panamafrom Albrook airport (wed and sat $46 one way). The plane was tiny, so you need to book (at Albrook). You don't need a permit and you don't need a guide, unless you decide to visit a village like La Chunga when you get there.

To arrange this go to the Villa fiesta hotel in Sambu (at end of airstrip) rooms $25 a night (with aircon) or place next door has rooms for $12.

At the villa Fiesta hotel (and shop) you will find Ricardo (who speaks English) and Telma (who doesn't). He will guide you or will find someone who can. Tel 333-2512 to speak to the but be aware the phone no is the public booth outside the shop!

If you go to la Chunga you can do a homestay (approx $25 a nights, meals inc) its amazing. A real jungle based village with a traditional lifestyle. There is a Peace Corps volunteer living here who can talk to you about village life but be respectful and don't abuse their time! Take treats like beer, chocolate or nice food as a thank you.

From here you can do a jungle trek, swim in the river, visit houses, get a temporary juice tattoo, watch women weaving baskets, help with coffee planting or just chill and watch the world go by.

Be aware, this isn't some planned excursion of trip. Things will not be laid on for your convenience and people will not come to talk to you and try to sell you things. Expect rural simplicity and you can't go far wrong!

There is also apparently a boat from Panama City to Sambu but I don't know where from. If you call the number above Ricardo can help.

Strictly adventurous souls only!
Written 26 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jenmosley
41 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Friends
We just returned from our second vist to La Chunga. Not much has changed in almost 3 years - the journey to get there is difficult, beautiful scenery, and wonderful people. They will welcome you and show you traditional music, dance, and crafts. They have built 2 home stay accommodations in traditional style. If you are looking for immersion this is the place. Solarte has a new website: www.traveldarienpanama.com. Go visit this unique place and help support the village.
Written 17 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Goldberg-G1
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Friends
we (couple, one speaks fluent spanish) are looking for a local guide to show us around in the Darien for a few days (last week of April 2018).

We are thinking of going to Yaviza/El Real and just "find" one there...but it would obviously be much better to have a contact beforehand.

It seems to be impossible to get up-to-date info on the Darien in general - and much more so when it comes to specific infos, phone numbers, internet concatcs of guides etc.

Can anyone help please?
Written 2 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

XplorMor
California171 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2014 • Business
Parque Nacional Darien compromises 1.4 million acres of pristine tropical forest, pure rivers and complex ecosystems. It is among the largest untouched jungles on the planet, and a World Heritage site and biosphere reserve. .

Our expedition spent two weeks trekking the Jungle terrain, encountering Embera Indians (an indigenous people), cutting our way through dense forest, climbing rocky mountains, sleeping in hammocks and bathing in shallow rivers. This is not for the faint-hearted, nor for someone who cannot handle high humidity, strenuous hiking and complete isolation from the world. I found it invigorating, and would go again someday. And, I would recommend exploring with an expedition as the area has many dangers.

See more pics and read more about our expedition: http://www.xplormor.com/darien-gap-trek-to-the-monkey-stone-aka-yarre-mongara/
Written 6 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Darien National Park - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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