Embera tribe Experience

This tour was one of my favorite parts from my trip to Panama! Our tour guide Richard was absolutely amazing and took us to hidden beauties few people get to experience! We hiked through the jungle to an awesome waterfall/watering hole where we got to swim and hike (pack water shoes!!). We then went back to the indigenous village where we learned about their culture and ate a delicious lunch cooked by the tribe members. Richard is fluent in both English and Spanish which was so helpful and made everything so easy! If you want to explore all the diversity Panama has to offer, book this tour!!

This tour was an incredible experience & it was all thanks to Richard, our tour guide of Lloyd Express. Richard is fluent in both English & Spanish, which makes the trip run so smoothly. He is punctual, arriving at exactly the time he says & is a very safe driver. The tour itself was very exciting, as we got to swim and climb in a beautiful waterfall and then be a part of a dancing celebration in the indigenous village. Lunch was provided for us and was so delicious. We had the opportunity to purchase hand made crafts from the village. If you can, also book monkey island with Richard! That tour was amazing as well. Richard knows the best times to visit the different locations!! Best part of panama was these tours!!

I have to admit that I knew almost nothing about the Embera tribe before the tour. This tour was SO GOOD! The tour includes transportation to the tribe, located about the middle of the country between Panama City and Colon (or so). Richard our guide, kept us entertained on the way with facts about what we were driving through, such as ex (US) military installations and Panama Canal information, as well as an introduction to the tribe itself. Upon arrival to the tribe's area the tour consists of a boat ride in a dugout, a jungle hike through dense jungle, and back and forth across a tributary (Have water shoes!) to a beautiful waterfall where you can and should swim. The hike might not be for everyone from a physical standpoint. While not rigorous, it does require good balance and an ability to walk through flowing water. For me, as and ex-Army guy who has trekked the jungles of Asia, kayaked in the Arctic ocean, and climbed the Grand Canyon it was thrilling. Imagine the sound of a roaring waterfall, punctuated by thunder, and the accompanying screech of howler monkeys--oh so good! You will return to the village, and have your delicious lunch cooked by the tribe; eat it under a thatched roof and receive a talk by a tribe member, and get to watch and participate in tribal music and dance. Afterward there are local made crafts that you can buy--but no pressure. There is even a butterfly project a short walk up the hill from where you eat your lunch. Our guide, Richard who proved himself so great on the Citiy tour the day previous was once again our guide. We booked this tour on the basis of the previous day. If you like to get out of the bus and savor a time, place and people so exotic--this is the tour for you.