A TRIIP TO PANAMA CITY - THE EMEBERÁ TRIBE

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our Panama City experience was a trip that Christina, Monica, and Matt took to Rio Gátun to see one of the Emberá Indian villages.  Little did we know that when we signed up for this tour, with Rudy (the owner of the Casco Viejo apartment we rented), that we would be so fortunate to visit this tribe, who still live today as they did many years ago.  Until about 7 years ago, this particular tribe lived deep in the Dárien jungle of Panama and had very little contact, if any, with outsiders.  Unfortunately, due to Columbian rebels invading their space and killing off some of their people, this tribe was forced to move out.  They relocated to a remote area on the Gatún River, about one hour outside of Panama City.  The Emberá have dug out a narrow part of the river to access their small remote village.

Two Emberá men escorted us to the village in a dugout canoe, as this is the only possible way to reach the village (there is no access by car or by foot).  Can you imagine living in an area in which the only access to your home is to take a canoe through a narrow river passage?  During our stay, we met the members of this tribe (5 families and 43 people total), and learned about their way of life, culture, and traditions.  We enjoyed a wonderful lunch prepared by one of the Emberá women and had the opportunity to watch the Emberá perform their traditional dances.  The Emberá Medicine Man (El Biólogo) was instrumental in teaching us about his peoples' way of life, as well as showing us how he uses various plants to treat illnesses that impact his village and other Emberá tribes living in Panama.  It was an amazing day, and an experience we will never forget.

The Emberá men wear short beaded skirts or cloths to cover their groin area.  Both the men and women's bodies are adorned with tattoos.  This is one of the men who led us to the Emberá village on Rio Gatún.  

As we were sitting in our canoe being led to the Emberá village, we spotted this spider monkey.

Matt was given a banana, and this man was kind enough to lift him up on his shoulders so that Matt could feed the monkey.
As you can see by the look on Matt's face, he was thrilled!

The monkey seemed to really enjoy the banana Matt fed him.

Monica is sitting on the left, and Matt is sitting on the right as we pull up to the Emberá village.

As we pulled up in our canoe, this is the Emberá village we came upon - just stunning!

This is a picture of the Medicine Man (El Biólogo) who graciously showed us around his village and shared with us the customs, traditions, and way of life of the Emberá people.

Beautiful Emberá women

This is the village toucan.  Can you believe these bright colors?

Monica and Matt loved spending the day with El Biólogo (Medicine Man).

The Emberá performing one of their traditional dances

The Emberá villagers are perfuming one of their traditional dances.  If you look closely towards the back, you can see Monica (with a hat on) dancing with one of the Emberá boys her age.

The Emberá men showed us how they play their instruments.

This is the main kitchen for the village.

This was our lunch for the day - fried peacock bass (on the top) and fried guineo "green banana" (on the bottom).  Food is served and eaten on banana leaves.  It was one of the most delicious lunches I've eaten thus far in Panama!

A beautiful and friendly Emberá woman.

Just as we started to gather our items and leave the village, it started pouring rain.

Monica and Matt wearing their rain ponchos as we leave the Emberá village.  It was a great day!