A group of Afghan, Chinese, Venezuelan, and Ecuadorian migrants wade toward a boat headed for the Darién Gap. Many of the Afghans had never seen the ocean before. Capurgana, Colombia.
2025 Photo Contest - South America - Long-Term Projects

Paths of Desperate Hope

Photographer

Federico Ríos

02 March, 2023

A
group
of
Afghan,
Chinese,
Venezuelan,
and
Ecuadorian
migrants
wade
toward
a
boat
headed
for
the
Darién
Gap.
Many
of
the
Afghans
had
never
seen
the
ocean
before.
Capurgana,
Colombia.

This project documents the perilous journeys of migrants traversing the Darién Gap, a 100-kilometer long stretch of dense jungle connecting Colombia and Panama. Over a million people have braved this route since 2021. They hail from diverse nations – Afghans escaping Taliban rule, Venezuelans seeking refuge from economic collapse, Chinese fleeing authoritarianism, and many others – driven by the pursuit of a better life. Their stories are full of danger: treacherous rivers, unforgiving terrain, and the constant threat of violence and exploitation. Many never make it. Those who succeed find themselves only at the beginning of a different and difficult journey through Central America and Mexico to the United States.

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Federico Ríos
About the photographer

Federico Ríos is a Colombian photojournalist who has extensively covered Latin America, documenting armed conflict, environmental issues, and their impact on society. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times. In 2020, Ríos published VERDE, a book documenting a decade of Colombia’s guerrilla conflict...

Read the full biography

Jury comment

The jury felt this project was exceptionally well done, offering a sincere and touching portrayal of migration through the Darien Gap, one of the most important yet dangerous migration routes in the Americas. The photographer follows families on this journey, giving faces to migrants in search of better lives, humanizing their stories. The selection of images captures both the personal and environmental challenges and hardships— dangerous terrain and threats from wildlife as well as human threats from organized crime— all while showing the hope and desperation that drive these families forward. Each image reflects the diverse range of people on this route and the harsh reality of their journey, making this a powerful and vital story of global migration.