Darien Gap: The Deadly Jungle Crossing That Migrants Brave to Reach the US
The journey to the United States for many illegal migrants is filled with danger, uncertainty, and life-threatening obstacles. One of the most perilous parts of this journey is the Darien Gap, a 97-km stretch of dense jungle that separates Colombia from Panama. This region is a treacherous crossing filled with extreme terrain, dangerous wildlife, and criminal organizations that prey on vulnerable migrants. Despite these dangers, thousands of people attempt the journey every year, hoping to make it to the US for a better life.
The Darien Gap is known as the only break in the Pan-American Highway, a road system that stretches from Alaska to Argentina. This vast jungle has remained untouched by modern infrastructure due to its harsh climate and dangerous terrain. For centuries, it was considered an impenetrable region, avoided even by the most experienced travelers. However, as visa restrictions to the US have tightened, migrants have turned to this deadly jungle as an alternative route.
For many Indian migrants, the journey follows what is known as the "donkey route." This involves flying to countries in Central America such as Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala, where obtaining a visa is relatively easy. From there, they travel through Mexico and attempt to cross into the US, often relying on human smugglers known as coyotes. These smugglers charge exorbitant fees, sometimes as high as $20,000 per person, and promise safe passage. However, many migrants are abandoned in the jungle or fall victim to criminal gangs that control the route.
The challenges of crossing the Darien Gap are immense. Migrants must trek through thick jungle, climb steep mountains, and wade through fast-moving rivers. The region is home to deadly wildlife, including venomous snakes, jaguars, and disease-carrying insects. However, the biggest threat comes from criminal organizations. Armed groups, drug cartels, and smugglers operate freely in the area, robbing migrants, demanding payments, and in some cases, committing violent assaults.
The number of migrants crossing the Darien Gap has surged in recent years. In 2023 alone, over 520,000 people made the journey, more than double the number from the previous year. By mid-2024, over 300,000 had already attempted the crossing despite increased law enforcement efforts. The migrants come from a variety of countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Many of them travel with families, including young children, hoping to escape economic hardship and political instability.
The humanitarian crisis in the Darien Gap is worsening. Between 2015 and 2022, at least 312 migrant deaths or disappearances were recorded. In just two years from 2021 to 2023, 229 more people were reported missing or dead. In 2023, Doctors Without Borders treated 676 victims of sexual violence, with 233 more cases reported in early 2024. The lack of food, clean water, and medical assistance has left many migrants stranded in overcrowded shelters, struggling to survive.
Local communities along the route are also suffering. Indigenous villages in the Darien region are overwhelmed with the influx of migrants, leading to shortages of basic resources. Deforestation and environmental destruction are increasing as thousands of people cut through the jungle every day. The Darien Gap has also become a major hub for human trafficking, with Colombia’s Gulf Clan drug cartel reportedly making $57 million from migrant smuggling in the first 10 months of 2023 alone.
Despite the dangers, migrants continue to risk everything to make it to the US. Many believe they have no other option, as economic instability and political crises in their home countries leave them with little hope for the future. Smugglers exploit this desperation, spreading misinformation through social media and promising an easy journey that often turns into a nightmare.
The Darien Gap remains one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. As long as visa restrictions remain strict and economic conditions worsen in various countries, the number of migrants attempting this crossing is unlikely to decline. Governments and humanitarian organizations continue to struggle with how to address the crisis, but for the migrants themselves, the risk of death is often seen as worth taking if it means the chance of a better life in the US.