:confused1: I'm failing to communicate ideas.

Neil, honestly, I wish you the best with any decision you take. Honestly is that, honestly. If you decide not to try Darien (which is 90% of chances to say the least), you will just join the 100% of us here, nothing to blame, no comments, no criticism. Considering it, if seriously, makes you already 1% closer to any attempt, which may be the case for the rest of us who have never considered it, but it's still what it is: an idea (I guess I am failing even more to communicate; by contrast, English is definitely not my mother tongue).

We all have some sort of regrets in life which usually followed hard dilemmas, Nubian Desert for you, Pakistan right after the summer 2010 floods for me. I'm not going to blame the floods or my wife concerns at the time. I won't look for any guilt, nor was I going to force her against her will. I just didn't go. Just me (who knows if I actually I felt relieved, I only tend/want to think that NO, I really wanted it). However, my recipe against any regrets (as Franks Sinatra in My Way, "I had a few") is just to postpone the idea, the day to cross Pakistan will come, sooner or later, of that I'm sure. So I'd do the same with the Nubian desert: "it's in the agenda, yet to come", which is even better than overcoming it doing something different/harder. It will still be there and one day you'll have to come back to try it.

For a pretty balanced advice, maybe follow JDowns', it will sure give a good taste of Darien and a chance to keep on until Colombia if you still feel like or just plan B to "get me outta here". Even turning back after a few days, will still be more than most (all?) of us have tried.

In any case, now I say it, please do not take it personal, behind all these comments there is only good will/faith, in order to support you to take the right decision for you. You asked, people tried to help. Whatever it happens, enjoy your trip and, if you allow me to give an opinion, I would focus on enjoying Central America which is an absolutely gorgeous region, rather than on that piece of impenetrable jungle.

Happy travels,

Esteban