This morning, you will be picked up by your guide at your Panama City hotel for a 90-minute drive to the shores of the Gatun River, where you will embark on a rich cultural experience for today. 

You will board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel for approximately 20 minutes up through the lush forest to the indigenous village. Along the river, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egrets, Anhingas, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. 

Upon arriving at the Embera village, you will be greeted by the villagers with dancing and music. You will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature, natural medicine, clothing, education, and way of living. Ready to immerse yourself in a different world and learn about the ancient traditions of this beautiful tribe? Come along and dance with the Embera, enjoy the local children playing around the village, or peek into the classrooms during school season.  

There will be locally crafted artifacts, wooden-carved animals, and beautiful hand-woven baskets available for purchase. You will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies and which serves as a natural mosquito repellent as part of their ancient natural medicine.