Discover the Embera Tribe on a private eco-tour from Riu Playa Blanca. Enjoy a canoe ride, cultural dance, and traditional lunch in the rainforest.
- Comunidad embera Tusipono - Embera also known in the historical literature as the Chocó or Katío Indians are an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia. In the Emberá language, the word ẽberá can mean person, man, or Indigenous person, depending on the context in which it is used. Approximately 33,000 people are living in Panama and 50,000 in Colombia who identify as Emberá
- Lunch (fried fish and plantain)
- Round trip air-conditioned transportation
- Bottled water
- Professional Guide
- Seasonal fruits (pineapple, banana, orange, and tangerine)
- Amazing walk to the Mono Waterfall
- $35 per adult & $25 per child (To support the Embera community and their preservation efforts)
-
Guide`s gratuity (Voluntary)
- Rain ponchos (Rainy season is from July to November)
Start with a pickup and a 45-minute’s drive from Panama City to Chico River, inside the Panama Canal watershed.
Board a motorized canoe for a 40-minute trip along the river, then stretch your legs on a short walk and meet Embera village, who have traditionally lived and worked at the edge of rivers and are known throughout Panama for their distinctive songs, dances, and costumes.
You’ll have time to explore the village, get to know some local people, and learn about life in the community. Sit down for a traditional lunch, then watch a dance that depicts the Embera’s relationship with the natural world.
Before departing the village, shop for traditional handicrafts and souvenirs made by the local people. Head back down the river by canoe, and board the vehicle for the return trip to Panama
- We recommend to wear water shoes, hiking sandals or sport shoes that you don’t mind if get wet, avoid beach sandals, flip flops or crocs similars because you will be walking on mud, slippery rocks and water
- If the water level of the river is too high or too low, this tour does not include the tour to the waterfall. We will attempt to substitute the waterfall with another option where guests can bathe in the Chagres River. During the rainy season, with high amounts of rain or during dry seasons with drought like conditions, we reserve the right to skip this part of the tour for the safety of our guests
- The 45-50 minute hike to the waterfall involves walking on a jungle path that may be slippery and have larger rocks that travelers need to step over. We DO NOT recommend this waterfall portion of the tour to those who have mobility issues, back problems, knee or foot injuries or any other medical concerns that would limit your hiking ability. Please use caution and judge your own abilities. Those who choose not to participate in the waterfall portion of the tour can stay back and wait in the piragua boat with one of the Embera guides
- The tour can include some activities that can be challenging for very young children. The suggested age is 2+ years old
- On this tour you will be with other people as it is a shared tour.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
