Panama Native Encounters

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Native Encounters

Location: Province of Panama, Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro and San Blas

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Price: $1,980.00*

Duration: 12 Days

Availability: Year Round

During this incredible adventure you'll explore the beautiful, white sand beaches of San Blas and Bocas del Toro, the cloud forests along the slopes of Volcan Baru, the highest point in Panama, the Secrets of the Rainforest of the jungles of Chagres National Park and the coffee plantations of Boquete. This expedition focuses on Ngobe-Bugle, Teribe, Emberá and Kuna Indians.

Day 1: Arrive in Panama
Upon arrival in Panama City, you will be met not just at the airport but at the gate for a VIP reception. Don't worry about your bags or customs we take care of all these little inconveniences as soon as you arrive. While you're waiting for your baggage enjoy your favorite beverage in the Royal Saloon.
Overnight in Panama City

Day 2: Chiriqui Highlands- Ngobe-Bugle
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and flown to David, in Chiriqui province. Here you will be met by our ground vehicle, and transferred to Highlands. Boquete is known for its coffee plantations that is primary worked by the Ngobe-Bugle. The woman are more recognizable than the men since the women still wear the tradition dress known as Enagua.
Overnight in Boquete (B L)

Day 3: Boquete- Ngobe-Bugle
Today you visit a very humble community, our host Monaco and Elena, have invited you to cook a local dish known as Sancocho. This visit will benefit this community since you will be donating a large cooking Pot, Rice and vegetables to feed more than 60 people. This is a very shy culture. But children are children and they are always willing to pose for photos.
Overnight in Boquete (B L)

Day 4: Changiunola - Teribe
After breakfast, you will transfer to El Silencio in Changiunola. You will get to see many of the Banana Plantations before you board a dugout and travel up the Teribe River to Wekso located on the border of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. Wekso lodge is a young eco-tourism project. Several traditional bungalow style cabins have been constructed, which are rustic yet comfortable and of low impact to the area. Three medium-size rooms accommodate two people in each bungalow. Women from the community, prepare local, traditional cuisine, which prepare an array of dishes made from locally grown fresh food and produce.
Overnight in WEKSO (B L D)

Day 5: Changiunola - Naso
After breakfast, you will visit the Naso community of Sieyik deep within the La Amistad International Park. The Naso people all pay allegiance to the king, who resides in his royal palace in the community Sieyik, the center of the Naso region, located approximately two hours upriver from Soposo Rainforest Adventures. The king governs with the help of his consejo (board of advisers), representatives drawn from the various communities. The Naso reserve the right to switch kings if they become unhappy with him. They can vote him out, but the replacement has to come from the royal family.
Overnight in WEKSO (B L D)

Day 6: Bocas del Toro - Ngobe- Bugle
After breakfast, you will transfer to Almirante and take a boat to Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro. The islands of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago are strung out along the Caribbean coast of Panama from the Golfo de Mosquito nearly all the way to the Costa Rican border. The economy of the islands is based on banana sales, fishing and tourism, and they offer travelers great snorkeling and swimming.
Overnight in Bocas (B L)

Day 7: Bocas del Toro - Ngobe- Bugle
On the following day you visit to the Ngobe village of Salt Creek with in Bastimentos Marine National Park. We depart by boat the village of Salt Creek by navigating through clusters of mangroves. Upon arrival, we will walk within the community and get a chance to purchase handicrafts such as painted woodcarvings and Ngobe handbag. After lunch we will an opportunity to go snorkeling.
Overnight in Bocas (B L)

Day 8: Panama City & Canal
This morning you fly back to Panama City, upon arrival you will depart for a tour of the major sights of Panama City including the Panama Canal. You begin with Panama Viejo founded in 1519 by Spain and later destroyed by the most feared privateer on the Spanish Main Henry Morgan. After exploring these spectacular ruins on the banks of Bay of Panama you continue to Casco Antiguo, the Colonial City and visit many historical churches and public buildings dating back to 1673. Much of Casco Antiguo is being restored and many have received awards including the National Theater which contains one of the greatest turn of the 20th century ceiling paintings inspired by Robert Lewis. You will also have the opportunity to walk up to the front door of the Heron Palace and if you're lucky you may get a chance to see the President of the Republic walk by. Around lunch time you will be taken to the Amador Causeway and enjoy the view of Panama's 3 cities. After lunch you will be driven to the end of the Amador Causeway and see the pacific entrance of the Panama Canal and the Bridge of the Americas. You will then explore the former Canal Zone and continue parallel to the Canal to the first set of Locks, Miraflores. Here you will have the best opportunity to witness ships in the lock chambers as they transit through the Canal. To better explain how the Panama Canal works this center has several floors of exhibit
and a large theater which teaches visitors in just 10 minutes what a ship does as it does a transit form one ocean to the other. At the end of the day you will realize that Panama Canal is truly an engineering marvel.
Overnight in Panama City
(B L)

Day 9: San Blas - Kuna
You will be transferred to the airport at 05:00 AM and flown to San Blas. Your Flight departs at 6:00 AM. Pack light since the airlines only allow 25 lbs of luggage. As you fly over the Atlantic, you can enjoy a phenomenal view of the Islands just below. In 1925 a rebellion against government policies banning traditional dress and religious customs resulted in the successful establishment of a semi-autonomous territory (Comarca) granted to the Kuna. This special status granted control to over 365 small coral islands of the Archipelago of San Blas. The majority of Kuna Indians live in the San Blas Archipelago (Kuna Yala) located along Panama’s northeast coast. Other groups of Kuna live in scattered settlements in Darien province of Panama and in Colombia. Kuna population is estimated at 55,000.
Overnight in San Blas (B L D)

Day 10: San Blas - Kuna
Hidden away on one of the islands in the Kuna Yala is a little museum that a young man created to share Kuna
information with the public. Schooled in Panama City, he learned English and came back to his village, illustrated ceremonial events on poster boards, collected objects important to his culture and built a hut to house his museum.However, one of the most unusual ceremonies to experience is when a girl reaches puberty. When she beginsmenstruation her parents announce her onset of puberty to the village. Men create a sacred thatched enclosure for the girl, where she lies secluded in a hammock for four days. To protect her from evil spirits, she is painted black with Jagua, created by village men who collect the fruit on the mainland and bring it to the girl. If anyone sees them, it will cause birthmarks on her children so the men announce their arrival by gunfire as their cayuco approaches then play panpipe flutes walking to her. After she is painted, villagers take turns pouring water over her shivering body to cleanse her as she transitions into womanhood. Day four, she rejoins her community and is bestowed a name during lavish festivities.
Overnight in San Blas (B L D)

Day 11: Chagres National Park - Emberá
Upon arrival in Panama City, you will depart for Chagres National Park via a one-hour ground transfer. Upon arrival at the park, you will embark on a one-hour dugout canoe to the Embera Indian village. Along the way, your guide will point out much of what this delicate rainforest ecosystem has to offer. Upon arrival at the village, we will be warmly received by a welcoming party. Visitors will quickly realize what a unique and beautiful people the Emberá are. A representative from the village will give a presentation in which he describes the culture and history of the Emberá. The Emberá possess amazing botanical knowledge, and most will be surprised to learn of their contributions to modern pharmaceuticals. After the botanical demonstration, you are welcome to explore the village and surrounding area, to swim in the river, and to observe the villagers creating their handicrafts - tagua and coco bolo carvings and intricately woven baskets. You soon forget the outside world as you are immersed in their cultural dance and music. Visitors are also welcome to paint their bodies, as the Emberá do, with a natural fruit dye known as Jagua which last about two weeks. Later this evening a Folkloric farewell dinner at Las Tinajas Restaurant.
Overnight in Panama City (B L D)

Day 12: Departure
Transfer to the international airport at least two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. (B)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Seasonal Climate: Panama has a tropical climate with high temperature and humidity, the average temperature 30°C. The rainy season is from May to November and the summer from December to April. The rainfall is of a tropical nature, falling for 1-2 hours in the afternoon.

Required Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens are strongly encouraged to have a passport which is valid for six months from the date of entry. Travelers are required to purchase a $5 tourist card (provided by the airline) for entry into Panama. UK, CAN, USA, NZ and AUS citizens do not require a visa for a stay up to 90 days. Other nationalities should consult their consular office.

Vaccinations & Protection: Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against Malaria, Typhoid, Infectious Hepatitis and Polio if you are traveling to the Jungles of Darien, Bocas del Toro or San Blas. Special Note: Visa and Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
A recommended list of clothing and personal gear will be provided before trip. Here we make a few specific recommendations with regard to your Package.
Luggage: One main piece of luggage and a daypack. Total allowance: 44lbs /20kgs.
Clothing: Pack essentially for Hot Conditions. Lightweight clothing is essential though a warmer sweater is advisable in A/C settings. A rainjacket is Recommended during the green season. Footwear: A pair of lightweight shoes or sandals are recommended. They should be comfortable and broken in before coming to
Panama.
Equipment: We recommend a sunhat, a Flash Light/torch, insect repellent, umbrella during the Green Season. Binoculars are very useful for bird and animal spotting and a camera.

Included
All ground, internal air and boat transportation within your trip, all accommodations, all park fees, all local tourism and services taxes, a AIP Professional Program Leader and local guides, all activities as described in the itinerary and some meals.

Not Included
R/T transportation from your home city to Panama City, beer, liquor and bottled water, items of a personal nature (laundry, telephone, etc.), gratuities, travel insurance, international airport departure taxes.
*5% ITBMS government tax not included.
Note: Hotels are subject to change.