Walking through the Darién Gap as a tourist.

In March I traversed one of the lesser known trails through the Darién Gap as part of my attempt to become the first woman to walk the length of the Americas.
Not only have many tourists come to harm in this area, but refugees migrating through are taken advantage of.
1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted during their passage to the United States, many people are robbed, or forced to leave behind what precious items they have with them, in order to complete a trek they are I’ll equipped or experienced to complete.
My gratitude to SENAFRONT, Panamá’s boarder protection police, will never be forgotten.
Should you attempt to make this crossing? My thoughts are in this video along with my experience crossing the Darién Gap as a tourist.
Links:
If you’d like to hear about the emotional toll of walking alongside refugees here’s a podcast we’re I go into depth about the conflict I faced:
open.spotify.c...
Visit the Darien safely with Rat Race Adventures.
www.ratrace.co...
Thanks to Roberto via @depedregalfalcon for sharing their footage with me.
...
The hiking pack and tent I used came from ZPacks:
zpacks.com/?af...

[@dukx3986]

I landed here after watching Bald & Bankrupt's voyage. You're fearless to do this recreationally! So glad you made it through safely. Thanks for sharing the details of how you accomplished it.

[@AnalystOfGaming]

Me too. Just do check if Mr Bald's statement on he's the first western KZbinr to cross Darien Gap is accurate 😂

[@boofert.washington2499]

BC IT ISN'T AS DANGEROUS AS THEY SAY!!! If it were, these videos wouldn't exist. Magically all these bloggers(there are multiple) can make this journey for KZbin views without so much as a splinter? Gimmie a break...

[@hovaaliester7669]

@@boofert.washington2499 this bish had an army protecting her, but Timmy and Bald god wounds in their legs, Timmy sprained his ankle.

[@williamwalker8201]

​@@AnalystOfGamingKarl Bushby, George Meegan and a few others have also done it.

[@LucyBarnard]

Thanks for letting me know about @baldandbankrupt!! I always wonder whether people would do it again, after experiencing the reality of it, and if they’d feel comfortable encouraging others to do it. I felt his take on it was very honest and he did really well to show his realisation of what they were doing as they progressed further into the jungle. I’ll be going back with some researchers in a few years (after my expedition is finished), who are doing the first studies into why people choose this route, and also to work with communities who live in the area to share the beauty of their lives, which are very much separate from the cartel. Thanks again for your comment, Lucy

[@panamamelissa]

“This seems like the kind of thing white people with dreadlocks do.” Darryl, The Office.

[@LucyBarnard]

That’s a pretty fitting quote.

[@darz_k.]

Your quote is from The american office. Important distinction. The original series wouldn't have something as unfunny as that.

[@TheOnlyTaps]

Great watch and cheers for sharing your experience 👊🏿🙏🏿

[@AshleyRobjohns]

Thanks for the update Lucy, glad you had an insightful and happy experience. I know this journey is only the beginning for you, you can't do a journey like this and not be changed forever. Looking forward to your next update. Safe travels.

[@Awanderer80]

You are lucky to be alive. My heart goes out to your parents. I know they worry.

[@moviesforrandy]

reminds me of the white girl traveling to somolia.why why why why why??????????????

[@StevenSalvestro]

Fabulous update Lucy. Your summary and insights are very informative. All the best for the next leg.

[@robinmassey9042]

Thanks Lucy for this insightful, emotional and uplifting commentary on your recent experiences. Along wIth all the others sharing your journey, I wish you a safe and happy trip through Costa Rica and beyond!

[@sandramarson8542]

Thank you Lucy for giving that wonderful insight into this part of your journey. Your passion for that area and the community and people you encountered is really beautiful. Absolutely love seeing and learning of your experiences, its the highlight of my day to hear about your day.

[@LucyBarnard]

Thanks Sandra!

[@moneydontmakeyourich1916]

I would of love to seen more footage and less talking

[@sporebath5626]

She did a great job……. I love hearing her experience.

[@SumD-EGuy]

She could have talked over the footage.

[@cezar211091]

Disagree. And it's would have

[@Oskar-o2d]

Americans talk too much

[@jpmbooks3731]

Thanks lucy for the incredible insights you are sharing with us.

[@tacioumana]

Hello Lucy! Happy to hear you came across the Darien unhurt and that was a good experience overall. I´m from Costa Rica, if you have any questions, need help or so please hit me up. I live in San Jose in the east side. If you need any kind of information (from a local that speaks fluent English) let me know; if not, welcome to Costa Rica and I hope you have a great journey and complete what you are set up to do. Regards! Juan.

[@LucyBarnard]

Thanks!! I’m nearly at Nicaragua now but Costa Rica has been a real gem!! 🥰

[@ThermomixingwithSophia]

Beautiful update! Thank you Lucy. I have loved following your journey ♥️ You're such an inspiration. Travel safe

[@Brisbaneguy30]

Such a powerful experience. Thank you for sharing

[@andersonmellocansi]

When I saw the title of the video I thought it was dangerous, after watching and understanding it I am grateful for your work, I hope you are well and can bring good things to all these people. Take care Lucy

[@GinandRing]

We love this style of honest chat with you! Its inspiring seeing you out there learning and sharing your newfound knowledge with us all. Safe travels and as aways sending much love from Australia ~ Gin, Brendan and Taka 💛

[@deaniew2210]

Oh my goodness. What an amazing experience. You described it all so well. How incredible, so interesting, so much going on there. Thanks so much for sharing. Only came across your channel today - it popped up in my Facebook feed. I’m an Australian hiker - I prefer long distance hikes - and am currently in bed recovering from bowel cancer surgery so your videos have made my morning fly by. Thank you! I’m so impressed by your resilience and courage. And I think it’s phenomenal that you ‘didn’t know through hiking was a thing’ before you set off. I’m glad you’ve got a lighter load now with some good ultralight stuff. Can’t believe I didn’t hear of you before now! Looking forward to your next video already. Your bluey is gorgeous and looking forward to seeing him again too. Meanwhile all the very best! ❤ and congratulations big time for being the first woman to walk the length of South America. Bloody amazing!!! Legend 🙌

[@LucyBarnard]

Thanks!! Haha yeah, I was both very experienced and very green when I started. It certainly didn’t take me long to learn about the thru-hiking community!! I’m glad I could help with your recovery. 🥰

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

Is the water chemically polluted, like will a micron water filter render it safe? If not how much water do you think would be required to be carried over the gap. I am interested in going overland between Panama and Columbia and just researching it. I am a little surprised if 250,000 people travel this route a year how there arn't established trails. Any good resources for researching this? I havn't encountered much information on the atlantic coast of Panama along the gap, is it all swamp? Why was that route never used as a trail? Seems there are fivers but they are not super large. Any good resources on this stuff?

[@LucyBarnard]

The trails change annually because of the wet/flood season. A sawyer etc won’t cut it. UV all the way. The water is clear, but chemically contaminated.

[@TheRandomTandem]

Amazing work Lucy! I'm still in awe that you hiked through here, and you've told the story of this experience really well. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's some magic in how this video in particular was put together, maybe some influence from an auteur of film 😉

[@LucyBarnard]

Thanks Cam!! Yeaaaaah. Maybe some influence from some other creator went in here. You might see them in one of my posts on Instagram today. 😉

[@Talnaus]

Seems a series of suspension foot bridges would be extremely useful for people crossing the gap.

[@ann707]

Who do you mean by they? You got it wrong kev, "they" is​ me and you dontcha know? One planet one people."whatcha gonna do when "they" come for you?@Kevin-kg4vi

[@ross9804]

It would’ve been a great idea to overlay your commentary with footage of the gap.

[@LucyBarnard]

If you watch it in 1.5 speed (or 2x) you’ll see the overlay. First I wanted to chat with my long term-ers who had been waiting for the info.

[@IrishWolfe_Hound]

I enjoyed the combination of footage and commentary

[@UzzyT.]

Whoa madness, great video.

[@haroldv1984]

🎉 te fuiste con una buena experiencia de nuestro país saludos y abrazos de parte de nuestra familia 💙🫂

[@greenbongos]

It’s so sad how trashed that forest is. I get that environmentalist don’t want a road, but the people will be there whether you like it or not. As an environmentalist, a road seems like the smartest thing to at least try to funnel people down one area, instead of the whole forest.

[@themountainwanderer]

They go through the jungle precisely to avoid authorities. It is expected that more than 400,000 people will pass through this year. It is a catastrophy on many levels.

[@purplespaceship2417]

At this point I completely agree with you sadly enough, because the impediment of the road building was exactly what was protecting it for many many years while travel through the Darien was still relatively infrequent. Now it has absolutely EXPLODED over the past few, and couple years in particular - upwards of 400,000 people have already crossed this year and there's really no indication that that pattern will cease. I am very empathetic to the plight of these desperate people and as an American I think if anyone deserves a shot at citizenship its these brave tortured souls. But the environmental destruction that has happened as a result is almost equally jarring and heartbreaking. The damage and subsequent loss of biodiversity will likely be permanent. Building a road does seem to be the best solution now, although the unique terrain of this particular segment of the jungle could make it basically impossible. There's countless rivers and mountain ridges. It would be a huge feat.

[@greenbongos]

@@purplespaceship2417 Humans have linked the oceans, modified mountains and have now influenced the climate. I have no doubt it’s possible. Who is going to pay for it is the real issue.

[@Violet-qf8dr]

Is it possible to walk the coast? Like along the beach? Seems like it would be easier and safer.

[@greenbongos]

@@Violet-qf8dr No, the purpose of going through the dangerous forest is to avoid any contact. There is too much exposure on the beach.

[@dbee2304]

I had been wondering if you were able to make it through on foot, such an amazing part of the world and so good to hear of your experience, but no mention of Wombat!?! Did he make it through with you? Smooth trails and sunny days ❤

[@LucyBarnard]

Ah yes. I forgot I edited that part out. Wombat stayed with a friend while I crossed to avoid complicating logistics.

[@jpmbooks3731]

@LucyBarnard - how does Wombat get delivered back to you when you need to leave him for safety/weather/logistics? Have you a support team you can touch base with?

[@dayancarrillo9450]

Amen, Jesus el unico camino

[@nunyadambiznes675]

It's disgusting what's happening in the Darien. Imagine all the human waste being disposed of in this rain forest. All being facilitated by people who tell you their motive is to protect the environment. Vile behavior

[@jtdub-wanders]

Thank you for talking about the refugee issue, Lucy. Many people in the United States don't understand the immigration problem at our southern border. They make wild accusations and assumptions based soley upon what they see from a few select news outlets. Building border walls may slightly impact a symptom of the problem, while exacerbating other problems, but it doesn't solve the root cause of the problem, which exists in the source countries of these refugees. If we put more focus on the root of the problem, we may be able to solve many problems.

[@greendesert69]

wow, what a striking difference compared to the total chaos most immigrants experience while crossing. CNN's "The Trek: A Migrant Trail to America" video series they posted recently is a pretty good example of that. Watching the border guards start the day with a prayer was touching. I would be praying too if I was making that trek. It's actually a bit tempting to try (though I'm not in the best shape and my wife would completely freak out if I'd tell her). I've subscribed for now since I loved the calm way you presented your experience.

[@LucyBarnard]

That’s really nice of you. Thanks 😊

[@ZootZinBootZ]

Wow woman your awesome... Aussie inspo gold !

[@jason-jones]

Awesome video! Travel safe!

[@Thommo57]

Thanks for the update Lucy. Very forthcoming. Any news on Wombat?

[@LucyBarnard]

He’s with me. Happy as Larry. He didn’t cross through the Darien with me though. It was safer and less logistics to leave him in Colombia and reunite with him in Panama City. Loads of photos on Instagram if your after some.

[@william.travel]

👍

[@sporebath5626]

Let me know if you go clean it up! Sounds like something I’d like to do.

[@LucyBarnard]

Oh cool!! Sure thing. 🙋‍♀️

[@saltnpepper6675]

You are so lucky that you have escorts with you.

[@jason-jones]

What goggles does she wear while walking (time stamp 14:31)?

[@LucyBarnard]

They’re by Julbo Fury with a Reactive Lens kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH-cq41tl9qGos0si=Z8iVfHv_0jUex3S0

[@HuangXingQing]

Namaste.

[@angeldaniel7360]

She talk to much!! More amazing footage!!!

[@alex-internetlubber]

My intuitive feeling which may not be borne out is that the world is essentially a safe place for the traveler, you're not likely, though it can happen, to be attacked at random; it's not an excuse for not doing your homework before you go somewhere potentially dangerous, but I like to think that the majority of the time the people doing the killing are doing it to targeted individuals, not random tourists. It's something Art Garfunkel said when talking about his walks across Japan (a far cry from crossing the Darien, but nevertheless), the world is just everyone trying to get to heaven in their own way, he really wasn't harassed or expecting to get harassed

[@Alcool53]

Bald and bankrupt just done it fully with reffos it was insane

[@LucyBarnard]

I saw! His trail originally went in the same direction as I went, but diverted back through the main trail. It’s harrowing.

[@themountainwanderer]

Timmy's video (his companion) is also highly recommended, shows you more of the experience. People have no idea what's happening with these migration streams, which are swelling like crazy.

[@scoon2117]

Take care of yourself out there. 😊

[@willieboy8798]

I heard about her she hired special forces to escort her through that mess!!!

[@moviesforrandy]

since you like danger visit wolf Creek in your home country.tell mick I said hi.

[@LucyBarnard]

Interestingly, that film was based on stories from different states and not “wolf creek”. In fact, there isn’t a place in Australia called wolf creek. There is however a Wolfe Creek which is in Western Australia and is famous for a Meteorite Crater which is the second largest meteorite crater in the world.

[@AutismMusician]

why dont you tell the truth about the real price the people paid the smugglers to cross the Darien gap, its NEVER no 50$ bucks for any part. LIES!!!!! ( im guessing your video is under some sort of an NDA, because I can not understand why you would not tell the truth about what really happeneds to these poor people that walk the gap!

[@bdMcOntent]

Darien gap with soldiers is a joke its like having a tour in disney land😂

[@ML-fv1kw]

exactly! 😆

[@pedrozatravel]

The issue is their birthrate is too high to be sustained. Not even the United States can take that many people

[@purpstatus]

So, she got thee filtered gringa "researcher" experience...which is nothing. But hey, now she can go back home and retell her "harrowing" story 😂😂😂

[@chrisjenkins203]

Yes, Panamanian Army squad escort included and nowhere near the real crossing experience lol. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@marci3667]

Them you should have followed Ben Berquam and friends as this is fifth time I’m seeing someone walk the Darian Gap! You do more talking then walking! Must have had security guards as going past the Indigenous tribes….you would never have made it!

[@michovaltrades8444]

i wanted to know if i could pick your brain about this. i have my reasons for wanting to travel this. but safety is my main concern. do you know of contacts and or escorts that can be hired?

[@williamwalker8201]

I plan on doing this in 2025. I'd be going north to south rather than south to north.

[@InternetJunkHuman]

I live in the United States, California. I have seen the migrant influx and experienced its effects since 1985 during the Regan administration. The fundamental problem with these people coming from Mexico and other latin american countries is their unsustainable birthrate. They overwhelm our infastructure and public services to the point of collapse. This is happening now, and their may not be much time left. This is further compounded by the changing weather patterns due to global warming. Columbia and Venezuela will be getting warmer in the future, leading to more extreme weather and crop failure. I can only hope and be optimistic that they will seek refuge and migrate south when this happens. If they all decide to head north it is inevitable that the United States will collapse. the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is already showing signs that we are now at that tipping point. This will have a cascading effect on other life systems.

[@JohnnyP414]

Too simple. The issue is that the United States has systemically destabilized this region for half a century and now we are seeing our chickens come home to roost. You can't start an argument claiming a "root cause" and then go into a series of much larger topics

[@lioneldemun6033]

You have to be accompanied by special forces armed to the teeth to hike there ? No thanks !

[@yumyumhungry]

It's hard for me to hold empathy for the people who are in such a desperate situation when I see the destruction of that beautiful rainforest. I know their hands are forced...but seeing everything coated in garbage fills me with sadness.

[@xstoofpeer]

You're an eco-sociopath if you hold no empathy for people because they littered. I don't think they want to litter, its a life or death situation. These also aren't the people destroying the rainforest, its the people in the West consuming and corporations making profits. Not random poor third world refugees.

[@rockstarjoe5725]

WTFFFFF this is the strangest take ive ever read lol wtfff you feel sorry for the forest? lmao people r weird bruh

[@xstoofpeer]

@@rockstarjoe5725 Privileged white people care more about the forest than poor people

[@pnyoder1]

@@xstoofpeer What planet are you living in to think corporations change the weather?

[@xstoofpeer]

@@pnyoder1 Huh?

[@derekpam7149]

No footage wow who wants to hear talking

[@LucyBarnard]

🤣😂😅 Welcome to the channel!

[@H-TownHolditDown]

Boringggggg

[@encompassthyeclipse7278]

Too much commentary

[@The667tony]

God=man's greatest joke😂

[@tongsanchez]

You wasted 8mins of my time for your intro?