Panama City

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Tour at the Chagres Rainforest and Embera Indigenous Village

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Tour Embera Indigenous Village and Chagres Rainforest

Special Offer

From $110.67

$119.00 Save $8.33

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

7 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Encountering traditional Embera communities in Chagres National Park is a memorable part of exploring Panama, but visiting the park with a large group can feel impersonal. Choose a private tour to set your own pace as you cruise a jungle river, hike to a waterfall, and see a performance of traditional song and dance, with round-trip transport from Panama City in the comfort of a private vehicle.

Private tour for a more personalized experience
Taste jungle flavors with an included lunch
Enjoy time to hike, swim, and see a traditional show
Convenient pickup and drop-off at Panama City hotels

What's Included

Bottled water
Driver/guide
Local guide
Lunch
Pick up from accommodations in downtown Panama City and Casco Viejo

Handcrafts
Extra fee of US$30 per group (for private bookings only) if pick up is from Playa Bonita or airport

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick up included from hotels or accommodations in downtown of Panama City and Casco Viejo. Pick up for Group tour from 8:00AM, exact pick up time will be informed by email after 8PM the night before tour date. Pick up time for private tour 8:30 AM

What To Expect

Your day tour into the Chagres Rainforest to visit an indigenous Embera village begins with a handy early-morning pickup from your hotel in Panama City. You’ll be escorted to a remote community in the raiforest that you’d struggle to find independently, even though it’s only about an hour’s drive from the capital.

Take a walk through the rainforest to the village without the risk of getting lost. Meet the Embera people with assistance from your guide, who will translate the language and culture for you. Learn more about the indigenous lifestyle, see the handicrafts they create, and eat a traditional meal of fried fish, plantains, and fresh fruit for lunch. You can purchase some crafts if you like.

At the end of the day, enjoy a return transfer to Panama City, getting back in time for dinner.

Chagres National Park

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Chagres River

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

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.
At the end of the trail there is a waterfall with shallow waters where you can swim with clothes or you could bring swimsuit under clothes because there is no place to change there. There are proper bathrooms at the village where you can change at the end and bring an extra change of clothes for the way back to your accommodation.
We suggest to bring cash in case you want to buy souvenirs or have a temporary tattoo.
Mosquito repellant is not needed. Bring sunscreen and hat. Long pants and long sleeves are suggested (no required) to protect skin from sunlight but avoid jeans.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

465 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 465 reviews

Best tour in Panama

Julie_L, Apr 2024

This was the best tour I went on in Panama. Such a unique experience at every point but I felt very safe, informed and entertained. The waterfall was amazing and even someone in the tour with me who had mobility issues was able to get there. The tour of the village and lunch with the tribe was fantastic too. I don’t eat fish but enjoyed every bite of the lunch! Highly recommend this trip!

Wonderful

Daniel_A, Apr 2024

Wonderful experience - Dan, the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend. You will get wet in this trip (river, falls, rain forest, rain).

Amazing and beautiful experience!

Sue_C, Apr 2024

We had an absolutely wonderful and amazing experience and Dan was a great guide. We recommend this tour 100%. Beautiful country with beautiful people!

I had an amazing time on...

Melinda_W, Apr 2024

I had an amazing time on this terrific tour. Our tour guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. Both of our tour guides made sure we were safe from beginning to end. If your thinking about doing this excursion DO IT!!!!....A few things to keep in mind please wear comfortable shoes with grip....bring cash....sunscreen and a cloth of some kind your for sweat because it's very HOT....try to pack a travel size first aide kit which I did it came in handy after being sting by a wasp 😀 😳. This tour was truly 10/10

Educational Experience

Kaitlyn_K, Apr 2024

I really enjoyed this tour. I was able to learn more about the rainforest and the different indigenous villages that stay on the river. The embera people were so kind and welcoming. I really loved learning about their culture. The hike was great, but I wouldn’t recommend it to an inexperienced hiker or someone that leads a sedentary lifestyle. And also be aware that the activity starts with transportation via canoe so definitely bring comfortable shoes. Our guide Demetrio was great! He took care of us and made sure we were all having a safe, fun, and educational time. Bring a hat, backpack, water, hiking shoes, and wear a bathing suit. I would definitely recommend this activity to others.

Best experience in Panama!

Shawnalee_R, Apr 2024

This was the highlight of our Girls Trip, we had the absolute best tour guide Esteban that went above and beyond and was a joy to be around! Getting to the village and learning the culture and engaging with the Indigenous people was beautiful.! Such a great experience, we also went to the waterfall which was a bit of a distance on the boat but the scenery made up for that. The food and fruits that you get that's included with the cost was 1 of the best meals I had in Panama! We have been recommending this tour to all of our friends and family and will definitely be back. Make sure you request Esteban, you won't regret it!

A True Cultural Experience

Loretta_V, Apr 2024

Visiting with the Embera people was a highlight of our trip to Panama. They were warm and hospitable, and it was interesting to learn their story and a bit about their culture. We appreciated their efforts to hoist and push us up the river to the waterfall, the delicious and stunningly beautiful meal, plus their so warmly initiating conversations about their lifestyle and traditions. They even enticed us to dance with them. It was a lovely day all the way around!

Do it.

Thomas_R, Apr 2024

Fun and interesting. Amazing fun guide. Lovely village. Great food and history. Definitely recommend to anyone who wants to understand Panama better.

Amazing experience!

Aita_S, Apr 2024

We had such a great time. Transportation was great. The driver was very friendly and polite. He was also our guide during the trip. The mini van was nice and clean.we had the best canoe captain ( he was one of the locals) arrived at the village welcome center. Really enjoyed the local food and delicious local fruits. Then walked in the forest to the beautiful waterfall. It was amazing!

Best Birthday experience ever

Wendi_H, Apr 2024

I booked this tour based on preveía reviews and I am so glad that I did. I had this tour in my birthday (4/10) and it was the best birthday experience ever. My tour guide Fernando was the best. He told the Embera tribe of the village it was my birthday and they did a really special presentation. The waterfall was fantastic and I had a great time with the village people.

Nice Experience

Craig_L, Apr 2024

Everything was perfect. The boat ride, hike, waterfall, lunch and presentation at the Emera Village.

Excellent Tour… HIGHLY recommend!

Theresa_M, Apr 2024

Our guide, Cesar, was fabulous…knowledgeable, a safe driver and very helpful on the hike! The canoe experience was exhilarating! We loved and learned so much about the Emberá people! The meal cooked and served was delicious! We go on cruise excursions a lot! Everything we’ve ever done seems scripted in comparison!

We had a Great host and...

Sharon_A, Apr 2024

We had a Great host and the experience was great. It was efficient and flowed well. Would recommend to anyone. Be healthy because it’s not close to hospital.

Nice day trip from Panama City

Mark_P, Apr 2024

This was a nice day trip from Panama City to see some of the Chagres rainforest. We took a dugout canoe up river during a very dry season when the river was very low, but we managed to get to the landing to do a nice short hike (nothing too strenuous) to the wading pool/waterfall. The highlight was the visit at the Embera village, which involved good food, a nice presentation from one of the Embera people, some traditional dancing and song, and even temporary tattoos for those interested.

Highly Recommend

Christian_K, Apr 2024

We had a great time. The Embera village was amazing, the food was great, and Fernando was a great guide.

Great trip

Wing_T, Apr 2024

Very interesting experience; one of a kind. The Embers’s are very friendly people. I would recommend it to physical fit travelers.

Amazing tour!!!

Deborah_B, Apr 2024

My favorite was the refreshing swim at the base of the waterfall (like a massage!!) after a (for me) strenuous hike. We had Fernando as our guide and he was friendly and had a great rapport with the Embera community. Also, shout out to Juan, a member of that community, who steered our canoe, and was at my side almost the entire hike, and trek in an out of the canoe, to assist klutzy me 😊. My second favorite was meeting the Embera community, eating their delicious refreshing fruit and fresh fried fish, browsing and purchasing their expertly-made crafts and wares (they rely on tourists) , and dancing with them, especially the beautiful children ❤️ Absolutely exceptional tour and worth every penny!!! Great for families and really anyone age 3-93, since they will help you hike safely on what most would consider to be a moderate hike, with an incredible reward at the top 😊

Great experience

gzgr9rbtrq, Apr 2024

The entire tour was excellent! Cesar was our guide and he was both knowledgeable and helpful! Highly recommended!

A beautiful adventure

William_S, Apr 2024

It was an amazing experience. Demetrio was an awesome tour guide. He was very informative and always kept us safe. , It was truelly a beautiful adventure, the highlight to me was the canoe ride and meeting the Embera indigenous village.

DANGEROUS BEWARE

Christy_M, Apr 2024

This was the worst experience ever!! Please do not book with this terrible company if you care about your safety! We had people try and rob up, and I believe it was a setup.My husband and I had to file a police report in Panama, very dangerous boat!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

This is the second time you write this false review with the purpose to damage the name of our company and this time we will proceed legally, beware. This is a wonderful experience and there are hundreds of other reviews to confirm this has been their favorite experience in Panama.

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