Embera Village: Day Trips and Tours from Panama City

If you are interested in other cultures and ways of life, the Embera village day trips from Panama City is the ideal excursion for you.

On these tours, you can meet the indigenous Embera people and discover all about their customs and traditions. Also enjoy a marvelous canoe tour along the river in lush rainforest and see a fascinating variety of fauna and flora.

Here's all you need to know about Embera village, one of the most captivating destinations for day trips from Panama City.

What are the best Embera village tours from Panama City?

Chagres National Park hike and Embera village tour

Visit an indigenous village in the rainforest and enjoy a boat ride on the Chagres River on this Embera village tour from Panama City.

Go on a nature hike in the tropical forest and have a refreshing swim at a waterfall, all just an hour from Panama City.

Your day begins with a 1-hour-long drive in an air-conditioned vehicle from Panama City to the Chagres National Park. The 334,000-acre Chagres Park, consisting of forest, rivers and lakes, was proclaimed as a national park in 1984.

You can enjoy a traditional piragua (dugout) boat ride on the Chagres River and then walk through the jungle for 30 minutes to a hidden waterfall. Here you can have some free time to enjoy a refreshing swim and relax, before heading back to the boat.

You will continue to an indigenous Embera village in the forest, where you will hear about different aspects of their fascinating culture.

You will be addressed by one of the leaders of the Embera community while tasting some delicious seasonal fruits. The community members will then treat you to a live performance of their lively traditional music and dance.

Afterwards, you will take the boat trip back to Chagres National Park and Panama City.

Embera village day tour from Panama City

During this day tour from Panama City, you can immerse yourself in the local Embera culture and interact with members of the tribe.

Ride on a traditional Embera canoe on Lake Alajuela, enjoy a short hike through the forest and watch some traditional Embera celebratory dances.

After hotel pickup, you will go on an hour’s drive to the shore of Lake Alajuela, which is part of the Panama Canal watershed.

Here the Emberá villagers will meet you with their traditional dugout canoe. You will cross the lake and cruise upriver for about 45 minutes. Along the way, stop at a beautiful waterfall for a refreshing plunge in the cool water.

At the village, you will be welcomed by all the villagers and their traditional music. Wander around to explore on your own and hear a brief presentation about Emberá culture, traditions and crafts.

Following lunch, you can take a short hike in the forest, accompanied by a village elder who will share his knowledge on medicinal plants. You will have more free time to look around, buy lovely Embera craft items and have a conversation with the villagers.

To finish your fascinating visit to the Embera, the villagers will perform some traditional shaman and festive dancing and music. At the end, you will be taken back down the river in the canoe and then transported to Panama City.

Embera village day tour, Chagres River, waterfall and lunch

Visit an indigenous Embera village, meet the local people and discover all about their traditions and way of life on this Embera village day tour from Panama City.

Take a canoe trip on the beautiful Chagres River, surrounded by rainforest and marvel at the variety of plants, animals and birds.

After hotel pickup, you will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle for your visit to a native Embera village in the forest. Here, you will engage with the tribe and hear all about their culture, traditions and handicrafts.

You will also be served a deliciously prepared Embera lunch, with seasonal fruits and water.

After your Embera village experience, you will visit the beautiful Chagres National Park and stop at a waterfall along the banks of the river.

Depending on conditions, you will go on a 5 to 20-minute hike along a river bed (water shoes or Crocs will be fine). During your visit to the park, look out for spider monkeys, whitetail deer, tapirs and a host of lovely birds.

At the end of your tour, you will be transported back to your accommodation in Panama City.

Which places are visited/seen?

Chagres National Park

Chagres National Park lies some 65 kilometers north of Panama City and can be reached by car. It is home to the most important river in Panama, the Chagres River.

The park covers 334,000 acres of forest land, with numerous streams and waterfalls that flow to the Chagres River and Lake Alajuela. In the forest you will also find the historic remains of 50 kilometers of the old Camino Real.

Before the Panama Canal was constructed, this Spanish colonial route was the only means of transporting the country’s gold, silver and other treasures from Peru to Spain. Today, one can still see some of the original trail.

It was the first thoroughfare that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Large sections of it lie buried under Panama City, lakes and the jungles of Chagres and Portobelo National Parks.

How much do Embera village tours from Panama City cost?

The Chagres National Park hike and Embera village tour costs US$120 per person and the Embera village day tour costs US$210 per person.

The Embera village day tour, Chagres River and waterfalls and lunch tour costs US$140 per person.

What is included?

The Embera village tours from Panama City include round-trip transportation from Panama City hotels and ports, transport by air-conditioned minivan and a professional guide.

Also included are landing and facility fees, lunch, seasonal fruit, soda and water.

Where does it start?

Tours to Embera villages from Panama City start with pickup from your hotel or port in Panama City, unless you go directly to the meeting point.

How long does it last?

The average duration for the Embera village tours from Panama City is about 7 hours.

The duration of the Chagres National Park hike and Embera village tour is 7 hours and the Embera village day tour lasts 8 hours.

The Embera village day tour, Chagres River and waterfalls and lunch tour lasts 6 hours.

When is the best time for an Embera village tour from Panama City?

The dry season from December to April is a popular time to visit Panama City, when you have a lot of sun and rare rain showers. Visitors are then descending on Panama, so it’s advisable to book your trip in advance.

Is it safe?

Panama City is safe as long as you follow precautions. These tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Are children allowed?

Children of all ages are allowed on these tours, but must be accompanied by an adult. Infants must sit on laps or alternatively infant seats are available.

Travel tips

• Make sure to book your Embera village tour from Panama City in advance.
• A current passport is required on travel day.
• Have enough cash on hand.
• Wear hiking/sports shoes and bring a change of clothes, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.