Panama Tour with www.kosherrivercruise.com
Day 4 (Thursday): Embera Native & Rainforest Experience
This special journey will bring you to a a local Embera village on the Chagres River for a unique peek into the lives of one of Panama’s 7 recognized indigenous tribes. The Embera people have populated the Choco region of western Colombia and the Darien region of eastern Panama for centuries, long before Spanish colonization. Today over 30,000 Embera inhabit Panama; while most still live in the Darien region, some communities have migrated to Chagres National Park between Panama City and Colon, allowing for more accessibility for tourism.
Your adventure will begin with a 1-1.5-hour drive into the Panamanian jungle. From here, you will take an Embera dugout canoe ride down the Chagres River, observing the lush flora and fauna of this virgin rainforest along the way. Look out for a great variety of birds, turtles, caiman, monkeys, sloths, and more. Welcomed at the pier by members of the community, you will have the rare opportunity to interact with the Embera natives and learn more about their traditions, music, homes, typical dances, native dress, and overall way of life. They are proud of their history and culture and open to sharing.
From the village, we walk into the rainforest searching out its flora, fauna and wildlife. Here where you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim in a small waterfall surrounded by the sounds of nature. On your way, back to the community enjoy some fresh fruit along one of the hidden beaches that this river has to offer. (this will depend on water levels and weather)
Returning to the village you will also have time to browse and buy handcrafted art and souvenirs made by the villagers to help support the community.
Day 5 (Friday): Panama Canal Rainforest Boat Adventure
If you’re an avid fan of kosher travel and have been on a river cruise on the Seine, this boat expedition will offer a new experience for you. You can explore the waters of the Panama Canal through coves and inlets in search of wildlife including countless species of birds, reptiles and several species of monkeys. This is the most comfortable and accessible way to discover the natural attributes of the Panama Canal watershed. At the town of Gamboa, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal, we board an expedition boat and depart on an adventure that will include a voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal passing by gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway, making contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to spot Green iguana and Three-toed sloth resting on tree branches, Crocodile, Osprey in the hunt for Peacock bass, Snail kite and Keel-billed toucan among other wildlife.
Gatun Lake is located within an immensely diverse tropical ecological zone and is surrounded by untouched exotic rainforest. Barro Colorado Island, the largest island on the lake, has been protected as a nature reserve by the U.S. Government since 1923 and is the one of the most important sites of scientific study on tropical forests in the world. A boat ride on the lake will reveal the area’s many different species of birds, monkeys, iguanas and sloths, among others. You will also have the opportunity to navigate close to massive ships as they wait to cross the Canal. Your expedition boat will allow for us to explore the rainforest covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake as we search for White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler Monkey, Central American Spider Monkey, and Geoffrey’s Tamarin.
*Optional kayak adventure available in place of the boat
Update:
Exciting Days in Panama: A Tour Itinerary (Part 1)
Exciting Days in Panama: A Tour Itinerary (Part 3)