Darién crossings collapse: still not a place for tourists or day trips

On 24 April 2025, President Mulino said that for practical purposes the Darién migrant route was closed—“misión cumplida.” He cited just 73 irregular crossings in April 2025 versus 29,259 in April 2024. Full-year irregular flows later fell about 99% from prior peaks.

The drop came from trail closures, stronger controls, fines, and U.S.-backed repatriation flights. That eases pressure on eastern border communities and softens Panama’s migration-security headline abroad.

It does not make the Darién or Mosquito Gulf safe for visitors. Those jungles remain high-risk no-go zones. Treat the crossing collapse as a border-policy story, not a green light for adventure travel—follow official advisories and stay out of the gap.

Sources

• EFE — Darién crisis / closure remarks
• Bloomberg Línea — ~99% irregular migration drop

Disclaimer: Crossing collapse does not make Darién safe for visitors. Follow travel advisories.