<P> In 1979 evangelist Arthur Blessitt traversed the gap while carrying a 12 - foot wooden cross, a trek confirmed by Guinness World Records as part of "the longest round the world pilgrimage" for Christ . Traveling alone with a machete plus one backpack crammed with water bottles, a hammock, Bible, notepad, lemon drops, and Blessitt's signature Jesus stickers saying "Smile! God Loves you", Blessitt describes his experience in a book, The Cross, and in a full - length movie of the same name . </P> <P> Most crossings of the Darién Gap region have been from Panama to Colombia . In July 1961, three college students, Carl Adler, James Wirth, and Joseph Bellina, crossed from the Bay of San Miguel to Puerto Obaldia on the Gulf of Parita (near Colombia) and ultimately to Mulatupu in what was then known as San Blas and now identified as Kuna Yala . The trip across the Darién was by banana boat, piraqua, and foot via the Tuira river (La Palma and El Real de Santa Maria), Río Chucunaque (Yaviza), Rio Tuquesa (Chaua's (General Choco Chief) Trading Post--Choco Indian village) and Serranía del Darién . </P> <P> In 1985, Project Raleigh, which evolved from Project Drake in 1984 and in 1989 became Raleigh International, sponsored an expedition which also crossed the Darién coast to coast . Their path was similar to the 1961 route above, but in reverse . The expedition started in The Bay of Caledonia at the Serranía del Darién and followed the Río Membrillo ultimately to the Río Chucunaque and Yaviza, roughly following the route taken by Balboa in 1513 . </P> <P> Between the early 1980s and mid-1990s a British adventure travel company, Encounter Overland, organized 2--3 week trekking trips through the Darién Gap from Panama to Colombia or vice versa . These trips used a combination of whatever transport was available: jeeps, bus, boats, and of course plenty of walking, with travelers carrying their own supplies . These groups were made up of male and female participants from any number of nationalities and age groups, and were led by experienced trek leaders . One leader went on to do nine Darién Gap trips and later acted as a logistics guide and coordinator for the BBC Natural History Unit during the production of a documentary called A Tramp in the Darien, which screened on BBC in 1990--91 . </P>

Is there a road through the darien gap