Yaviza

Yaviza is a village at the junction of the Tuira and Chucunaque rivers, in Darién Province, and is famous as the road terminus of the Pan-American Highway on the Panamanian side. From here, the highway that otherwise runs nearly continuously from Alaska to Argentina is interrupted by the roadless, marshy Darién Gap — a roughly 100 km stretch of dense jungle and swamp separating Panama from Colombia. Early proposals to close this final gap by road (from the 1970s onward) were halted over the enormous construction cost and environmental concerns; crossing on foot remains difficult and dangerous. For travelers, Yaviza marks both the practical and symbolic "end of the road," and the jumping-off point for river travel deeper into Darién.

Yaviza is the end of the Pan-American Highway, reachable by road bus from Panama City via Metetí; onward travel from Yaviza is by river.

• The literal end of the Pan-American Highway
• The confluence of the Tuira and Chucunaque rivers

Yaviza is primarily a transit point for river travel deeper into Darién, including toward El Real and Darién National Park.

El Real and the boat routes up the Tuira River toward Darién National Park continue from Yaviza.