Join us on this unforgettable experience visiting the famous monkey island and a traditional Embera Indian village, only 1 hour from Panama City. This will be an exciting day off the beaten path, far from civilization and surrounded by beautiful landscapes.   Animal lovers will be delighted to witness close encounters with monkeys, while being immersed in the lush rainforest wildlife. Over 900 species of plant species have been identified. There are 114 mammal species, including Baird’s tapirs, whitetail deer, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, and all five species of big cats. Of the 396 species of birds, there are stripe-cheeked woodpeckers, red-legged honeycreepers, violet-capped hummingbirds, and even harpy eagles. Additionally, there are 96 reptile species, 79 amphibian species, and 59 species of freshwater fish.

On this tour you also will meet the Embera Indians and learn about their rich culture. Marvel at their mesmerizing music, handcrafts and happy yet simple village life.

TOUR OVERVIEW

Between 6:30am and 7:00 am, your personal guide and driver will meet you at your Panama City lodging (Please wait in the lobby of your lodging starting at 6:30am. We start our tour earlier than others to see more monkeys before their bellies are full from tourists feeding them). Sit back and relax in our comfortable, air-conditioned car while gazing at the various sites we will pass on our 40 minute drive to our tour starting point in the Chagres National Park. While only less than one hour away from Panama City, you will find yourself in the middle of the jungle on the banks of the Chagres river. Here you will meet the Embera Indian tribe that has managed to reject our modern, technological ways of life and maintained its simple traditions.

At the port of the Chagres River, your guide will take you on a 20 minute boat ride upstream to the Monkey Island where you can listen for the different primate sounds and the rustling in the trees as monkeys jump amongst the branches. Prepare for monkeys to come up to you and inspect your clothes, hats and bags. Being surrounded by these magnificent creatures will be an unforgettable experience and give you many photo opportunities.

We continue our adventure to the authentic Embera community, situated in the middle of the rainforest. The locals will warmly greet you with warm smiles. An Embera family will prepare a delicious, fresh lunch for you, followed by fresh, local fruits. Enjoy the innocent, curious glances of the Embera kids playing nearby, while our guide shares his knowledge with you, learning about the community history and art. The tribe will show off their traditional music and dances, giving you the chance to take photos and videos of their unique customs.  We can also take a short hike along the trails through the magnificent rainforest where you can discover and learn about the endemic flora and its medicinal uses.

PLEASE NOTE: Whereas the stand-alone Embera tribe tour includes a visit to the waterfalls, during the rainy season months from April to December this tour cannot visit the waterfalls. Since we will be arriving at the Embera village in the afternoon and due to the rain throughout the day, the river water level will be too high and too dangerous for our guests to safely visit and swim in the river.

TOUR SUMMARY

• Private Tour
• Minimum 2 Guests
• Price - $149 per person
• Duration - 6-7 hours
• Start time - 6:30 am - daily (pick up between 6:30am and 7:00am)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Pick-up and drop off at your Panama City lodging
• Well-maintained, air-conditioned car
• Bi-lingual guides (English/Spanish)
• Private Tour of Monkey island, Embera village and Lake Gatun
• Fruit
• Water Bottles

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Hotel pickup and drop-off outside of Panama City (Surcharge applies for hotels outside of Panama City)
• Visit to the waterfalls (April to December)

WHAT TO BRING

• Comfortable and adequate clothing to protect yourself from the sun and thus avoid the use of sunscreen. Creams (even biodegradable ones) are polluting and for that reason we do not promote their use
• Comfortable and safe footwear (sandals or water shoes)
• Swimwear
• Sun glasses
• Towel
• Camera
• Cap or hat
• A reusable bottle to fill with water during the day
• Cash for tips and souvenirs

PLEASE NOTE

• • ATTENTION LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS: Bookings made after 6:00pm for the following day are NOT guaranteed until we respond and explicitly confirm your tour itinerary. If your booking is not confirmed by one of our booking specialists, your tour will be scheduled for the subsequent day.
  • In the purchase of this tour you are contributing directly to the preservation of the Embera Community and its traditions. Tour subject to availability.

CANCELATION POLICY

Please read our Tour Cancelation Policy before booking.