Embera Indian Community

The Chocoe Indigenous group is divided in two smaller groups: Chocoe-Wounaan and Chocoe-Embera. These two groups have exactly the same roots. They originally came from the ancient Great Colombia over 300 years ago, and settled down mainly in the Darien Jungle. Their behavior is the same: both have the ancestral use of the blowgun with poison darts for hunting purposes, men wear loincloth, their house system is based on (Tambos) elevated-bin houses with palm-leave roofs. They decorate their bodies using a mixture of ashes and plant pigments and they both are master wood carvers and basket weavers. The only difference between these groups is their language. Although, their communication system is very similar, they do not understand each other. One of the remarkable contrasts of the modern city of Panama is still having a Chocoe-Wounaan and a Chocoe-Embera community living as their ancestors, keeping their customs very closely, in the watershed of the Panama Canal, only 1:30 hrs away, right in Chagres National Park. This day you leave the Hotel early in the morning in a microbus with a naturalist tour guide to the community of Nuevo Vigia or Corotu to board a dugout canoe. Continue in the Alajuela Lake, which is the second largest man-made lake of Panama. Upon arrival, explore the community while our tour guide provides information on this ethnic group. Admire the famous Taguas, which are small sculptures made from a seed that due to its solid texture has been given the name of vegetal ivory. The Embera are also unique wood carvers and they specially carve the precious Cocobolo tree wood. They are also fantastic basket weavers; sometimes they spend several days on just one piece. In short, their handcrafts are real art pieces and they are available for you to be purchased. During our visit, the Embera will perform a welcome flute dance. After lunch and rest, return to the river and, if desired, you can swim and enjoy the cool waters of the river. Arrive back around 4:00 p.m. This is an outdoor activity in the tropics, light clothes, towel, swimsuit, another T-shirt, insect repellent; hat, sunscreen and very comfortable shoes or sandals are suggested. Includes: land and water transportation, entrance fee, donation to the community, the Indian style lunch, refreshments and guide.