# Darién National Park, Colombia: what it is and when to go

> Darién National Park is a national park in Panamá (Parque Nacional de Darién) in Colombia. Interests: Nature, History and Wildlife. The best time to visit is December to February and June to August. There are about 12 h 27 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. It has articles in 36 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Colombia out of the 566 on this site. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/parque-nacional-del-darien/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** National park in Panamá · Nature, History, Wildlife
- **Local name:** Parque Nacional de Darién
- **Where:** Colombia
- **Best time:** December to February and June to August.
- **Nearest airport:** MDE Medellín, 304 km as the crow flies
- **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site
- **Coordinates:** 7.88147, -77.56197

## What it is and where

Darién National Park is a national park in Panamá (Parque Nacional de Darién) in Colombia. It has articles in 36 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Colombia out of the 566 on this site.

Its coordinates are 7.88147, -77.56197; the nearest main airport is Jose Maria Córdova International Airport (MDE, Medellín), 304 km as the crow flies. How to get around Colombia (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=7.881466%2C-77.56197)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=7.881466%2C-77.56197)

- **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/naturaleza/), [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/historia/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/fauna/) places in Colombia. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Darién National Park is **December to February and June to August**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 11 h 35 |
| February | Best time | 11 h 45 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 57 |
| April | Possible | 12 h 11 |
| May | Possible | 12 h 22 |
| June | Best time | 12 h 27 |
| July | Best time | 12 h 25 |
| August | Best time | 12 h 16 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 02 |
| October | Possible | 11 h 49 |
| November | Possible | 11 h 38 |
| December | Best time | 11 h 33 |

There are about 12 h 27 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | December to February and June to August | March to May and September to November |
| History | December to February and June to August | March to May and September to November |
| Wildlife | December to February and June to August | March to May and September to November |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Darién National Park has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Colombia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Colombia

To enter Colombia there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid passport and onward ticket”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Colombia checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Colombian peso (COP); plugs: Type A and B · 110 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 123 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Los Katíos National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/parque-nacional-natural-los-katios/): National park in Colombia · 40 km
- [Ruta migrante por Tapón del Darién Acandí (Col) - Bajo Chiquito (Pan), PELIGROSA](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/ruta-migrante-por-tapon-del-darien-acandi-col-bajo-chiquito/): Hiking · 71 km
- [Gulf of Urabá](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/gulf-of-uraba/): Northern coast of Colombia · 81 km
- [Cabaña de pino](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/cabana-de-pino/): Mountains · Hiking · 106 km
- [Volcán De Lodo Virgen Del Cobre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/volcan-de-lodo-virgen-del-cobre/): Volcano · 107 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Colombia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/).

## More in Colombia: Nature

- [Nevado del Ruiz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/volcan-nevado-del-ruiz/): volcanic mountain in Colombia
- [Galeras](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/galeras/): volcanic mountain in Colombia
- [Yopal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/cerro-el-venado/): capital of the Colombian department of Casanare
- [Pico Cristóbal Colón](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/pico-cristobal-colon/): mountain in Colombia
- [Nevado del Huila](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/nevado-del-huila/): second highest mountain in Colombia
- [Nevado del Tolima](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/nevado-del-tolima/): volcano located in the Central Andes of Colombia

Every Colombia place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Darién National Park?

It is a national park in Panamá (Parque Nacional de Darién in the local language) in Colombia. It has articles in 36 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Colombia out of the 566 on this site.

### When is the best time to visit Darién National Park?

December to February and June to August. There are about 12 h 27 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.

### How do you get to Darién National Park?

The nearest main airport is Jose Maria Córdova International Airport (MDE), 304 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=7.881466%2C-77.56197) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Colombia is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Colombia map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Los Katíos National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/parque-nacional-natural-los-katios/), [Ruta migrante por Tapón del Darién Acandí (Col) - Bajo Chiquito (Pan), PELIGROSA](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/ruta-migrante-por-tapon-del-darien-acandi-col-bajo-chiquito/), [Gulf of Urabá](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/gulf-of-uraba/). The rest is in [the Colombia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/3256775), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48608), CC0. More about Darién National Park on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_National_Park). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).