On Friday, 1st March our Darien Gap expedition began. This is a pioneering jungle expedition deep into the once-thought of as impenetrable Darien gap in search of lost civilisations, 5,000 year old petroglyphs and the last of the Embera Indians
Follow this blog for regular updates from the team! (Updates come in via Satphone from Tom the expedition leader every day)
2nd March, Day 1 – Team meet and assemble in Panama City
3nd March, Day 2 – Traveled by car and then by boat deep into the jungle. In village with hammocks slung under roof no walls, playing footy with kids.
4th March, Day 3 – Good day. 8.5km trek after early morning boat to start. Trekking quite tough due to humidity, camped by river and saw monkeys
5th March Day 4 - Great primary jungle. Hard work cutting paths through steep hills. River every 200m. Fireflies in camp last night.
6th March Day 5 - In Embera vilage called Wina after scrambling over a 500m peak, tough but good day! Aim to camp at petroglyphs tomorrow.
7th March Day 6 - Darien Update – Day 6 Camped at petroglyphs very cool, mark got stone rubbings, currently watching gold panners over lunch.
8th March Day 7 – Back at Wina, good day scrambling back and swimming in pools.
9th March Day 8 - Half day boat move after wild boar for breakfast then 8km through secondary jungle to Bayamon. Ready for 2 day push to coast over mountain range.
10th March Day 9 - 14km through secondary jungle and plantation. Going hard but the end very much in sight.
11th March Day 10 – Today epic over mountain ended by a run into the pacific, everyone feeling their feet so very steep decent was tough. 4km along beach tomorrow to playa muerto and finish.
12th March Day 11 – In Playa Muerto after 2km along beach at low tide. Chill and beer, hammocks up in large hut. Going by boat all way to panama city tomorrow.
