Ecuadorian migration routes to the U.S. shift away from Darien Gap

Ecuadorian irregular migration patterns to the United States are shifting away from traditional routes like the Darien Gap. While 57,250 people crossed the Darien jungle in 2023, that number dropped significantly to 133 in 2025 and 28 in early 2026.

Police have identified three primary new routes used by smuggling networks:

1. Air and sea via the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. This route involves high risks in the Mona Passage, where overloaded boats face shipwreck and human trafficking threats. Between January and July 2026, over 32,000 air departures to the Dominican Republic were recorded.

2. A combination of flights and land travel through Central America and Mexico. Smuggling networks reportedly charge between $12,000 and $14,000 for passage through Nicaragua.

3. The Darien Gap and Panama, which remains an option despite declining numbers, with costs ranging from $8,000 to $12,000.

Authorities also noted concerns regarding migration toward the Bahamas and nearby islands in Florida. In September 2026, the Cañar Prosecutor's Office investigated the disappearance of five Ecuadorians traveling on a clandestine vessel.