AUTHENTIC EMBERA NATIVE VILLAGE

[mvjcruise]

Hi. My 80 yr. old mother and I will be on a partial transit in Feb. My mother would like to go on this excursion, but she does have a concern about the canoes listed in the description.  She did have a knee replacement about 2 years ago, and gets around quite well now. She is able to walk long distances, but goes slowly. I am not especially interested in going on this excursion. Her concerns are: How difficult was it to get into the canoes? And speed of the canoes? She has a concern about them being "fast".  Thanks!

[BillB48]

These are really not canoes in the traditional sense, but a fairly large cayuco (dugout).  From the picture you can sort of see how you board the boats, there are helping hands.  An off hand guess, perhaps the top speed of the cayuco would be around 15mph when loaded.

 

[mvjcruise]

Thank you!

[riffatsea]

This excursion was the highlight of my cruise!!

I would rethink not doing it!!

It is a step back in time to another way of life and they have wonderful handmade craft items to buy!!!

The canoes go slowly but the seats are a bit uncomfortable.

The bathroom was better than expected for a pit toilet with toilet seat, toilet paper, running water and soap to wash afterwards.

I would go back in a minute!!!

[coolio]

If you are not a good swimmer. Is it safe to do this tour. We would very much like to do so however our grand son is not a very good swimmer

 

Thanks

 

[Essiesmom]

Did you not notice in the picture, everyone has a life vest on?  EM

[Borman51]

This shore excursion looks wonderful, but DH has a real problem with balance.  Do you think it would be a problem with him getting into and out of the dugout canoe?

[BillB48]

13 hours ago, Borman51 said:

This shore excursion looks wonderful, but DH has a real problem with balance.  Do you think it would be a problem with him getting into and out of the dugout canoe?

 

Getting in or out of those boats isn't any more difficult than any other small boat and there are usually enough people around to lend a hand.

[Parrottdizes]

I too would recommend the Embera excursion. Just let the people know that you need help getting into and out of the canoe. You do wear a life vest.....the canoe is not fast.......depending on which part of the river and how much rain they have had determines the depth. They do have crafts and will take US$, but please don't take large bills. Make it 1's, 5's, 10's or 20's so you can be as close to the amount of what you want to purchase; if you do buy something.  

[riffatsea]

I agree that they have wonderful crafts!! I brought $100 in small bills and could have easily spent more.

In addition to the baskets and woven items as pictured above, they have lovely rosewood carvings,gorgeous colorful fabric, animal masks and hangings , jewelry, etc.

It was a fabulous experience!

[Lidolounger]

We have done this tour also.  It was the highlight of our trip.  After cruising since 1998, it's still our favorite.  They also have an area to purchase handmade crafts.  Very good quality and great prices.  We bought something the chief made.  He charges $1 for every day it takes him to make it.

[2 cruzen]

What port is this excursion available?

Thank you. 

[Essiesmom]

Usually available on partial transit of Panama Canal, or on a port call in Colon.  Might be offered on a Panama Canal cruise that stops in Fuerte Amador (Pacific end of the canal).  EM

[riffatsea]

Yes, We did this tour on a full transit that stopped at Fuerte Amador!!

We were there in December and I am still thinking about that wonderful day!!

Yesterday I finally hung some gorgeous fabric that I bought there!

Fabulous trip!!

[majesty318]

Can someone recommend a tour company to visit the village? I don't normally like to go on ship-run excursions.

[Essiesmom]

If you are on a partial transit of the canal, ship excursions are your only alternative.  EM

[BillB48]

Also consider tours to any of the villages involve going to more remote areas (some more remote than others), very limited communications at best, in a single engine cayuco (canoe/watercraft).  While there would not being any concerns that you would be lost forever in the jungle and you would have to learn a dialect of the Choco Indians😉, missing all aboard time is a consideration.  This particular excursion a ship's tour is not really that bad of an idea.

[majesty318]

Thanks, sounds like in this case the ship excursion might be best


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[lbfluffy]

This looks interesting. However my husband is a big guy, 6 foot 320 pounds. Is there a weight limit?

[BillB48]

7 hours ago, lbfluffy said:

This looks interesting. However my husband is a big guy, 6 foot 320 pounds. Is there a weight limit?

 

I am not aware of a weight limit, but then again you never know what they have hidden in the mice type.  The boats used are typical in post #2 of this thread and they can carry 8-10 passengers, so I would think 320lbs could be accommodated easily enough.

[lbfluffy]

Thank you. 

[anadi]

When you get out of the dugouts, are you getting out into the water? Just wondering if we should wear our water shoes and bring others. 

[BillB48]

What I have seen, they will beach the boat, bow on the bank and then assist the passengers to shore as they unload from front to back over the bow.  Probably won't get your feet wet, but water shoes may not be a bad idea tho.

[Seacreature101]

Never mind.  Found what I needed to know.

 

Edited July 19, 2019 by Seacreature101

[riffatsea]

Nobody needed to wear water shoes on our trip!

It's a great tour! I'd do a ship excursion here because it is a tender port and getting off the ship will be easier on a shop tour.