mvjcruise Posted January 9, 2019 #1 Share Posted January 9, 2019 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted January 9, 2019 #2 Share Posted January 9, 2019 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvjcruise Posted January 11, 2019 Author #3 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted January 11, 2019 #4 Share Posted January 11, 2019 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!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolio Posted March 5, 2019 #5 Share Posted March 5, 2019 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted March 5, 2019 #6 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Did you not notice in the picture, everyone has a life vest on? EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borman51 Posted March 5, 2019 #7 Share Posted March 5, 2019 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted March 6, 2019 #8 Share Posted March 6, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrottdizes Posted March 7, 2019 #9 Share Posted March 7, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted March 7, 2019 #10 Share Posted March 7, 2019 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lidolounger Posted March 9, 2019 #11 Share Posted March 9, 2019 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 cruzen Posted March 20, 2019 #12 Share Posted March 20, 2019 What port is this excursion available? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted March 20, 2019 #13 Share Posted March 20, 2019 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted March 20, 2019 #14 Share Posted March 20, 2019 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!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majesty318 Posted April 17, 2019 #15 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Can someone recommend a tour company to visit the village? I don't normally like to go on ship-run excursions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted April 17, 2019 #16 Share Posted April 17, 2019 If you are on a partial transit of the canal, ship excursions are your only alternative. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted April 17, 2019 #17 Share Posted April 17, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majesty318 Posted April 17, 2019 #18 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Thanks, sounds like in this case the ship excursion might be bestSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbfluffy Posted May 22, 2019 #19 Share Posted May 22, 2019 This looks interesting. However my husband is a big guy, 6 foot 320 pounds. Is there a weight limit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted May 22, 2019 #20 Share Posted May 22, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbfluffy Posted May 23, 2019 #21 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anadi Posted July 11, 2019 #22 Share Posted July 11, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted July 12, 2019 #23 Share Posted July 12, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seacreature101 Posted July 19, 2019 #24 Share Posted July 19, 2019 (edited) Never mind. Found what I needed to know. Edited July 19, 2019 by Seacreature101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted September 3, 2019 #25 Share Posted September 3, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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