I’ve been visiting Panama since 2000 and have found lots of interesting things to do there, from touring the Panama Canal locks to relaxing on the islands of Bocas del Toro to staying in a hut on the water in the Guna Yala region. But one of my favorite experiences of all is visiting the Emberá communities, which represent one of Panama’s seven indigenous groups.
On my most recent trip to Panama, my husband and I signed up for a day trip with Kensington Tours, the renowned tour operator that specializes in customized itineraries on multiple continents. I was impressed with the process of how the Kensington destination specialist contacted me long before the trip to discuss my personal interests and goals for the the tour. The company actually put together two days’ worth of Panama tours for us, filled with wonderful experiences ranging from Panama Canal lock tours to tasty Panama City food tours.
I’d actually visited an Emberá community before, but several years had passed and I was really interested in going back again. The Emberá are one of seven indigenous groups in Panama, and their culture and traditions are truly fascinating. Having an opportunity to visit one of their communities and speak with the residents is truly fascinating. This photo gallery shows some of the people we met during this day trip.
One of My Favorite Panama City Day Trips
There are lots of day trip options when you visit Panama’s capital, but this is one of my absolute favorites for a variety of reasons. To start, we enjoyed a ride in a private van to get to the banks of the Chagres River. There, we were introduced to Angel, who’d serve as the navigator on our small, long boat (called a piragua) and Roberto, the boat pilot. The 45-minute ride along the river is simply beautiful; bright blue butterflies flit among the lush greenery that lines the banks.
A group of festively garbed residents awaited on the banks of the river, singing a welcome song as we got out of our boat. Traditional Emberá clothing is minimal and designed for comfort in the hot and humid climate, but for special events — including our visit — residents sported more colorful adornments as well as gorgeous, temporary body tattoos.
We met Kevin, a 24-year-old host who proved to be equally charming and knowledgeable and eager to share details about his culture. He escorted us to a long, thatch-roofed hut where he explained about history and traditions, patiently answering our questions. We had time to view some of the community’s beautiful handicrafts — including legendary woven pottery — before having a tasty lunch of fresh-caught fish and patacones (fried plantains), one of my favorite Panamanian specialties.
After lunch, my hubby Angel and I sat down to receive temporary tattoos. We learned that more intricate face tattoos indicated that a person is single, while simpler, solid face tattoos are a sign that the person already has a spouse. We opted for large arm tattoos. My tattoo artist, Isaac, was a personable man who later took us on a walking tour of the village and the area where the crops grow.
Next up was a lively music and dance performance featuring multiple members of the community; we were even invited to join in the fun. Afterwards, Kevin showed us a beautiful toucan that he’d rescued from the wild; its broken wings meant that it couldn’t fly.
What You Should Know about Visiting the Emberá People
Kensington Tours does a great job of providing the opportunity for face to face meetings and conversations. If you speak Spanish, you’ll be able to chat with the residents more directly. But not to worry if you don’t. Kensington’s fully bilingual guides make it easy to communicate. For a more immersive travel experience, you can also opt for an overnight stay in the Emberá village; I’d love to do that on my next Panama vacation.
How to Prepare for an Emberá Day Trip in Panama
Bring a bottle of water and hand sanitizer on the trip. You can also bring bathing suit if you’d like to swim in the river. We also brought a few small toys and school supplies for the children; this is a good way of having a more positive impact on the community.
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