Panama is home to a wide variety of plants including more than 14,000 species of orchid and their national flower is the Holy Ghost Orchid, Peristeria Elata. Other orchids include Lady of The Night with a powerful scent and the orange Spanish Flag Orchid which grows on the ground and is up to 1 metre tall. There are 125 different varieties of orchid that come in all sizes, many have fragrance and some mimic other flowers to ensure pollination. The highly sought after Stanhopea orchid has 55 different species. The country is host to the Finca Dracula with a tropical garden and a huge collection of orchids which they sell, mainly to Americans.
On the opposite side of the Darien, Colombia boasts the highest number of orchid species globally. Their national flower is the Cattleya Trianae, known as the “Flor de Mayo” or May Flower. Both countries attract large numbers of orchid enthusiasts and collectors and it is thought that are many more species of orchid exist in the Darien Gap. This has attracted collectors over the years many of whom just disappeared.
The Darien Gap is a rugged, roadless region of rainforest on the border between Panama and Colombia, known for its dangerous and difficult terrain. It is a significant obstacle in the Pan-American Highway and a major migration route for those seeking to travel between North and South America. The Gap is about the same size as Ireland. Over the years many attempts have been made to breach the Gap with roads but because of mud, jungle and wildlife this has proved impossible. In 1966 a group using the acronym FARC started a war against the Colombian government and used the Darien Gap as a safe haven. They manufactured drugs in the Gap to finance this war and got rid of most visitors who encroached into their area. This war ended in 2016 and the Gap is now used by migrants trying to get to the USA from South America. The journey is very perilous as there are still lots of dishonest “guides” who offer to help and then kill the migrants. There are 200 species of mosquito, ticks, spiders, bot flies and 127 species of snake although only 30 of these are poisonous.
Anyone wishing to visit the area can stay at the Gamboa Rain Forest Reserve which is only 30 minutes from Panama. Excursions from there can be arranged via small aircraft to campsites in part of the Darien jungle and onward treks to see interesting plants and creatures such as sloths, pythons and humming birds.
