You’ll be transferred from Panama City into the heart of the Chagres River which is located inside the Chagres National Park. Here a traditional canoe will take you deep into the rainforest to an Emberá community surrounded by pristine nature. Your overnight stay offers an intimate look into their culture through music, dance, craftsmanship, ancestral traditions, and a shared local meal. You’ll explore the forest, visit a nearby waterfall, connect with the families who call this place home, and experience the rhythm of life in one of Panama’s most beautiful protected areas before returning to the city the next day.

Depart from your pickup location in Panama City (to be determined) at 1:00 PM for a one-hour drive to the Chagres River. From the dock, you will board a traditional canoe for a 45-minute ride deep into the jungle, arriving at an Emberá community nestled inside Chagres National Park, which protects 88.6% of the Panama Canal Watershed and forms part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Upon arrival, the community will welcome you with traditional dances, handmade crafts, and a freshly prepared local meal. You may also receive a temporary jagua tattoo. A community botanist will introduce you to the plants they use for natural medicine.

As the night sets in, you will witness a very special tradition that the Emberá do not usually share with visitors. The community shaman (jaibaná), together with the local community, will recreate a traditional healing ceremony, offering a unique insight of living millenary heritage. After all experiences have concluded, you will enjoy a good nights sleep in one of the community huts. The hut is an enclosed space with open spaces for refreshing airflow. You will sleep on a cushioned mat on the floor along with a mosquito-net. This experience will give more of an insight into the indigenous lifestyle, granting you a deeper cultural immersion during your trip.

In the morning you'll have the chance to enjoy a morning connecting to this indigenous village and have a few last moments to interact with the community. For your return at 12:30 PM, you will then board your traditional canoe back to the dock for your 1-hour transfer to Panama City.

The total price for this special itinerary is US $375 per person.

• Emberá indigenous immersion including all meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast), overnight in an indigenous hut, traditional ceremony by the jaibaná, traditional canoe ride in the river.

• Ground transfer from Panama City to the indigenous community, and back to Panama City in a Honda Odyssey or similar (with snacks and beverages).

• Reservations: Reservations: 50% deposit required to confirm. Balance due 30 days before trip start. Payments in USD from US/EUR local banks, wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard.

• Cancellations:

  • More than 60 days prior: 50% of deposit refunded.

  • 60–31 days prior: 25% of deposit refunded.

  • 30 days or less: Non-refundable.