The Chocoe Indigenous group is divided into 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 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.
One of the remarkable contrasts of the modern city of Panama is still having an Embera community living as their ancestors did, keeping their customs very jealously, in the watershed of the Panama Canal, only 1:30 hrs away, right in Chagres National Park.
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. Late afternoon we will return to the hotel.
|
|
Absorb the turbulant history as we walk in the Path of the Pirates in old Panama City, Portobello and Bocas del Toro.
Tonight we will go to Las Tinajas, a typical Panama Restaurant for a typical
Panamanian Dinner.
This morning we will be picked up by our driver/guide for the transfer to El Valle. Less than two hours away from the City, over 600 meters above sea level and located in the
crater of a dormant volcano that blew off its top 5 million years ago
is the unique Valle de Anton, one of the most colorful areas of the Panamanian interior.
We will have time to explore or, for those that would like to, there is the chance to do an optional trip on the
After lunch we will take another boat trip. Starting from Bocas Town, the boat travels along the south coast of
Colon Island reaching the other end in about 30 minutes. Our first stop is Boca del Drago.
10 minutes away by boat is Swan Key, a bird sanctuary that attracts the beautiful and unique tropic bird, with their snow white color, long tail and orange beak, the funny looking
boobies, the graceful frigates, those thieves of the sea, and the clever pelicans. Seagulls too make the island their place of stay. We can sail around Swan Key but cannot land as it is a protected area and there are nests everywhere.
Starting from Bocas town, the boat cruises along the south coast of Solarte Key through the
Marine Park, navigating between the mangrove islets.
Today our boat rides along the ships channel in the western side of Bastimentos Island. On
reaching the open ocean we begin to follow the coast line passing several beaches to get to
Wild Cane Key. Then, the boat enters the reef to get to Ola Chica Beach. Here
we can spend some time snorkelling, walking the nearby forest and lunching on food prepared
by a hermit who lives in isolation here. He is a real character On the way back we will
make a stop at Bastimentos Town.
Alternatively, it is a final short boat trip across Admiral Bay to San Cristobal
Island for a visit to a Guaymi Indian Village to learn about a completely
different culture and way of life. Although they are not set up to receive tourists they
are very kind and willing to talk to visitors about their customs. Indian
communities are very poor, depending almost exclusively on fishing and survival
agriculture.
The Kuna women stand out in the beautiful landscape, due to
their picturesque dresses with beautiful blouses, handmade from the world famous
"Mola" of different colours. Considered as a unique craft which makes it one of the
most beautiful indian garments in the world, Kuna women spend countless hours stitching
the colorful reverse-appliqué cotton "molas" which are the basis for their dress.
