Embera Village Tour

Begin your day with a scenic canoe ride up the historic Chagres River through the pristine rainforest of Chagres National Park. Arrive at the indigenous Embera Village and step back in time.

Admire exquisite crafts, including vegetable ivory sculptures, wood carvings, and woven baskets. Enjoy a traditional dance performance and savor grilled fish served in plant leaves. Take time to explore the village and swim in the river before returning to modern life.

Top Rated on Tripadvisor

Packing Tips

Personalized Support

About the Tour

We leave early in the morning to a port in the Chagres National Park where we take a dugout canoe with an outboard motor up the historic Chagres River. After a magical ride through pristine rainforest, we reach the indigenous Embera village, where you will feel as close as it gets to traveling back in time.

Upon arrival you can admire the unique small sculptures made of a seed which, due to its solid texture, has been given the name of vegetable ivory. Emberas are also wood carvers and fantastic basket weavers, their crafts are extraordinary pieces of art. Whenever they have visitors, they like to perform a traditional dance for their guests and offer grilled fish for lunch served in leaves of plants. There will be time as well to walk in the village and go for a swim before heading back to civilization.

Highlights

  • Indigenous village in the middle of the rainforest.
  • Impressive handicrafts.

Embera Village Tour Details

Price: US$150 per person.

Small groups: 4 Min. – 10 Max. (larger family groups are accepted).

Includes: Pick-up/drop-off from any hotel in Panama City*, boat ride, lunch, water, expert local guide fluent in English and Spanish.

*Dreams, Westin Playa Bonita, Intercontinental Playa Bonita are located outside Panama City limits. Pick-up/drop-off from these hotels is available at an extra cost of US$15 per person.

Locations: Chagres River, Chagres National Park, Alajuela Lake, Embera Village.

Skill level (easy/moderate): Dugout canoe ride up and down the Chagres River seating on a piece of wood (approx. 30 minutes each way). Boarding a dugout canoe without a dock. Steep stairs up and down to access and depart village. Optional walk in the village, up to 1 hour in length on nature trail that has steps up and down, and it crosses a couple of small creeks. Optional walk to a waterfall requiring walking on uneven terrain made out of rocks of different sizes along the shore of a small river.

Itinerary

  • 7:00 A.M. Pick-up from your hotel in Panama City.
  • Land transfer to Alajuela Lake.
  • Motorized dugout canoe rides up the Chagres River.
  • Embera village visit.
  • Dugout canoe down the river + Optional waterfall visit.
  • Drive back and drop-off at your hotel in Panama City at around 4:00 P.M.

What to Wear

  • Light shirt or t-shirt.
  • Shorts or light long pants (avoid jeans).
  • Sport/hiking shoes (sandals or any other kind of open footwear are not recommended for walking in the rainforest).
  • Hat or baseball cap.
  • Swimsuit and a change of clothes.

(7% Panama tax not included).

More than 300 happy customers have trusted us. Learn more

Questions?

Chat with us

Ready to Book?

What our clients are saying

star ratingExcellent tour Embera - We went to an Indian Village of the Embera culture. It was a magnificent and impressive experience! The guide Alex and our driver Eduardo were absolutely fabulous. The knowlege about... Read more... Panama, the people and it's history/ culture was stunning.
The whole trip and it's organisation was splendid. It was truly a dream come true!!!
If you're planning on visiting beautiful Panama, make sure you contact Eco Trips! Their service and attention will inspire you!!!

avatar thumb S d
April 21, 2026

star ratingFantastic two week tour of Panama!  - This was a fantastic tour that basically introduced us to most of the regions in Panama. The pricing was very reasonable as well. We started in Panama City (Aloft Hotel... Read more... - great place with a fantastic staff) with the iconic canal transit and boat tour to see monkeys, toucan and other birds, sloth and large iguana. The tours were wonderful and met all expectations. We then headed for Santa Fe and had a great time with the exception of Coffee Mountain Inn, who didn't provide the mud boots that we required and that they offer at no charge for the night hike. The other tours were perfect! On to Boquete which is truly a lovely place with a lot of easy access things to do. Isla Verde Hotel was a perfect choice! We enjoyed zip lining, hiking and bird watching. Our bird watching guide was so good that we got an up close look at three males and one female Resplendent Quetzal. In addition we saw so many beautiful birds it was a day we'll remember! Bocas del Toro was our last stop and unfortunately it rained the entire time so we say a pair of dolphins, saw the town and surrounding area but had to pass on the beach, which looked really nice, but not the end of the world! All in all, we had only one bad experience and I don't blame the tour group, but the Coffee Mountain Inn, who I reviewed separately. I would definitely recommend Eco Trips Panama to my friends and family. I know they would have a great trip with the best guides around.

avatar thumb JudithpHornberry
February 28, 2026

star ratingTour company  - Our trip to Panama was a memorable experience. Our main tour guide Alex was excellent- quite knowledgeable and exprienced. Our tours were organized and well paced. He also worked well... Read more... with the students and they loved him. He was very patient and accommodating . Our bus driver Eduardo and other guide Mariela were also commendable. I recommend this tour company- you get your money’s worth.

avatar thumb Kashka K
March 24, 2026

star ratingPanama Experience  - The tour company was reliable and the tour guides were friendly. Alexis was very informative and his knowledge about Panama was extensive. He made the group feel comfortable and his... Read more... interactions were genuine.

avatar thumb Anna Bowman B
March 24, 2026

star ratingExcellent experience! Excellent tour company!!  - We were a group of 26 from St.Vincent and the Grenadines on an educational tour of Panama and we had the best time ever. Our tour guide Alexis was excellent.... Read more... He was very informative, well known everywhere we went to, very caring and always on time. He made us feel welcomed and comfortable everywhere we went to. Our bus driver Eduardo was well mannered and very respectful. Mariela also did soms tours with us and she was a very humble and informative tour guide. We enjoyed our 10 days to the max and we would definitely recommend this tour company to all who wants to visit Panama. The company is very professional, well organized and totally know what they are about. No complaints at all here!

avatar thumb Camper03294625218
March 27, 2026

Ready to plan your next adventure in Panama?

Get in touch with us today

Let us help you create unforgettable memories in Panama:

  • Reserve your next adventure at the best rate.
  • Enjoy personalized service and expert advice from our experienced team.
  • We’ll work with you to tailor your trip to your preferences, ensuring you get the most value and an unforgettable experience.

Chat with us

+507 6864-2021

    Pick a Day Tour (required) :

    Adults

    Children

    Tour Date (required) :

    Your Name (required) :

    Your Email (required) :

    Comments

      I accept the Terms & Conditions.  
      I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

    WhatsApp