Program outline:

• Experience two native cultures
  • Take a "piragua" (native boat) through the tropical rainforest and hike to a village of the Embera Indigenous community. Share their dances, rituals and food.
  • Visit the San Blas islands, home to the Kuna Indian whose culture, traditions and beautiful beaches remain virtually untouched. Tour Grass Island and relax at one of the numerous beautiful beaches.
  • Take a motorized dugout canoe to the Island of Wichub-Wala and stay at the Kuna Niskua Lodge in the heart of the Kuna Community.
• World-Class Birdwatching
  • From the Canopy Tower view birds such as the blue cotingas and green shrike-vireos at eye level.
  • Visit the Smithsonian’s Barro Colorado Natural Monument on Barro Colorado Island. This biological reserve has been a protected tropical rainforest since 1923, longer than any other protected jungle in the world. View remarkable bird species such as the red-bile toucan, green and rufous kingfisher, golden-collored manakin and more.

Background Notes

The seven remaining indigenous groups in Panama maintain their own language and culture. The largest groups include the Kuna and the Embera-Choco. Of these groups, the Kuna are the most politically organised. They govern their ancestral territories- the San Blas Islands- and send representatives to the legislature. The Kuna are famous for their colorful blouses containing cutwork applique textile panels known as Molas. The Kunas live on beautiful palm fringed islands in the San Blas Archipelago on Panama's Caribbean side. The Embera-Chocoe live largely in the rainforest of the Darien Gab between Panama and Colombia. They are the original experts in "jungle survival" having lived off the forest in family groupings for centuries. They make beautiful cocobolo wood carvings and colorful baskets.

Panama has been identified by birdwatchers as one of their favourite sites for quite some time. The Panama Audubon Society, which does an annual bird count, constantly counts more species of birds in Panama than anywhere else in Central America and more than in all of North America. Home to over 900 recorded species, birders can expect to site over 350 species in a week. These exceptional birdwatching opportunities are the direct result of Panama’s location and size. Panama’s narrow size and position between North and South America results in migrating birds coming together in this small area. Panama has many endemic species of birds as well as many North and South American native and migratory species. Panama sights are sure to captivate and surprise even the most experienced birdwatcher.

Visit Practicalities

Visitors should bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Loose-fitting clothing
• Insect repellent
• A light jacket
• Binoculars

You may be interested in visiting the homepage of Panama's Audubon Society