Had thought no migrants were passing on foot through Darien due to the terrain and the certainty of attack by local thugs.
Surprised, obviously, to realize that this is no longer an impenetrable barrier to “on foot” migration from South America but it explains certain recent patterns in terms of the ethnic mix of foreigners that are ending up in the U.S.
Anybody who can fly to Ecuador, where no entry visa is required, can take a bus to Necocli Colombia, then a boat to Capurgana Colombia, but then they have to walk. See map above.
If they can afford it, they can coast-hop in the wind and waves way further west along the Panamanian coast in open boats like these, to shorten their brutal Darien Gap overland trek. Plan to get soaking wet. This is how we visited Kuna Indian villages west of Puerto X.
"Lanchas Rapidas" exactly like these are used for smuggling drugs, cigarettes, booze, local people or migrants, for anybody with cash in hand.
There are 100s of them, uncountable and unaccountable.
