When to Go in Darien gap

If you're planning on visiting Darien Gap, when to go is a major consideration. The climate is key and the timing makes all the difference, particularly in the Darien Gap.

Temperature

The region can become dangerous if care is not taken to watch the weather. The climate throughout the year in the Panama region of the Darien Gap is generally hot and wet, with temperatures ranging from about 29 to 32 degrees Celsius through the day, with very little variation. What is amazing is the humidity, and Panama has very high rainfall that creates a sticky heaviness in the air throughout the year (although the air becomes drier towards the middle of the year). In the Darien Gap, this humidity is higher than other areas, because of the heavy rainforests in the area. Coupled with a mountainous terrain, the place is slightly cooler than other areas of Panama in the mornings and evenings, but can be very hot when the heat of the afternoon is trapped within the rainforests.

Rainfall

With the terrain and political reasons making it difficult to construct proper roads to cross the Gap, it is not advisable (and nearly impossible) to cross the Gap on foot. Crossing it via boat and foot, on the other hand, is relatively common – but this combination means that the weather means everything. The best times to travel is during the months of March and April, as the mid-year is approaching. This is because the rainiest months are from May to around mid-November, and nearly all the rain falls during this period, leaving the area very susceptible to thunderstorms that can make traveling very dangerous and difficult. Apart from this, do try to avoid the months of December and January – even though Panama and the Darien Province is generally warmer, the wintery months can still be slightly cool, and it can be cold in the mountain regions where the Gap is located.

The real thing to be very careful about in the Darien Gap is to check the temperature and the weather conditions each morning before leaving the hotel. The weather is famously unreliable, given the tropical climate, and strong winds are known to wreak havoc in the towns and villages, particularly during the monsoon season.