A dangerous expedition will usually have one key selling point for a daring explorer, whether it’s the natural landscape that provides the challenge, perhaps political turmoil in the area, or deadly wildlife.
Few will have every risky attraction tied to their names, yet The Darién Gap has them all—with a laundry list of challenges you must face passing through this wild, remote region between North and South America.
Drawn to this hostile region was UK explorer Daniel Eggington, who had spent 5-years working towards going on this incredible expedition to cross the Darién Gap by foot. Many would deter Eggington from embarking on this mission, including legendary survivalist Bear Grylls. Still, Eggington was adamant about completing this challenge. He was further driven by the idea of educating people on the infamous region through his first-hand experience.
Still, the question lingers, what makes The Darién Gap so infamously dangerous yet spectacular?

I'm about to head onto my next expedition, and this time I'm venturing into Colombia. Colombia itself is a country rich in culture, diversity, and history, but there are still many areas of the area that haven't been fully explored, and as you may already know, I make it my mission and passion to get into the areas that are less traveled by. Even in a country like Colombia, it can have vast differences, depending on which areas you're going to be in.

I board the GM Oliveira in the bustling market city of Manaus, the capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state. On the banks of the Rio Negro, this port-city is right in the heart of the world’s most famous rainforest.

People have lived in Manaus since 1669 and over the course of the last 350 years it’s built a reputation as a cultural, research and industrial hub. It’s home to the Amazon Arena, which hosted matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The city’s zoo and botanical gardens are also popular with tourists, but I want to get closer to the rainforest and the river is the best way.

I sort my ticket for the seven-day trip West to Leticia through a local vendor. If you’re interested in how to get tickets

As I prepare for my next trip to Colombia, I can’t help but think of the last time I visited the frontier town of Jurado in Colombia, close to the Panama border. It was June 2021, and I had visited the small town to begin building a network that would assist me in my plan for an expedition to cross the Darien Gap. I knew that if I was ever going to be successful, I needed a base of operation where I could reliably call upon contacts to help.
It had taken a long time to reach the town, firstly in a small 6-seater aeroplane that nearly rattled the teeth out of my head, and then two small boats, known locally as Lanchas. It was hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees.
I found myself in a local bar and struck up a conversation with a man I recognised from the boat that had finally brought me into Jurado. He regaled me with tales of his career as a captain of one of the two boats that ply the pacific coast from Bahia Solano. While he did tell me his name, I will not divulge it here for security reasons. Having visited and written about my trips to Colombia on several occasions, I have a Colombian readership. I will not put anyone at risk by naming names for reasons I’m about to explain.

Travelling from Jurado in Colombia to Jaque in Panama is a logistical nightmare and there is only one known way which is a trusted means by the authorities and now myself having experienced it first hand with a number of locals.

Colombias choco department is one of its least visited departments for a number of reasons historical and current. Although I have travelled to Colombia five times I have visited this region the most.

Having signed up for a 50km trek to prepare myself as best I can for my solo expedition in Colombia, I decided on the Brecon beacons 50km trekfest event.

In the last month, I have secured 4 new sponsorship and partners with organisations which are paramount to the success of the expedition to the darién gap In Colombia and Panama.

Any extended expedition is a physical and mental feat for the human body.

The equipment to take on a solo expedition lasting more than a week.