Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

8 hours

Mobile ticket

Journey deep into Chagres National Park for a truly immersive cultural and culinary experience. In the riverside village of Emberá Drua, you’ll learn firsthand how the Emberá people prepare their traditional meals using locally sourced ingredients and ancestral techniques. This interactive cooking class offers not only delicious food but a meaningful connection to one of Panama’s most vibrant indigenous communities.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

If you will be staying at a hotel that is not on the list, please contact your local operator prior to booking the tour

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

The Lunch and drink its the 5 course meals cooked in the Cooking class

Professional guide

Bottled water

Transport by air-conditioned minibus

Tour is guided in English

Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)

Gratuities

Due to heavy traffic, no free pickup from hotels located near Amador Causeway, Clayton (City of Knowledge) Playa Bonita. Separate transportation for the an extra charge

Playa Blanca, or Rio Hato, Metromall or Tocumen Airport need to arrange own transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Chagres National Park

We will depart from Panama City at 8:00 am, and drive to Puerto Corotu on the Chagres River. You will ride in a dugout canoe called a piragua up the river to the village of Embera Drua. You will start your experience with a cooking class where you will learn to make local Embera dishes sourced with ingredients from the rainforest.

6 hours • Admission Included

Options

Cooking Class

Morning
Pickup included

Reviews

4.80

41 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

AMAZING TIME WITH MY KIDS!
Geovani c,
Nov 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
From the moment we were picked up (right on time) The experience was amazing! John was a great guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. The lunch we had was delicious! And the trip to the village was a memory my kids and I will never forget! Highly Recommend..
A fantastic day out exploring the jungle, swimming in waterfall pools and meeting the Embera
Harveybbad,
Apr 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Having been on their canal tour already we knew just how good John was as a guide so had no hesitation booking an all day tour into the jungle to meet the Embera indigenous people. Early pick up and just over an hour drive to the Chagres River during which time John gave a great talk on the history of the Embera people. Greeted by a couple of Embera we boarded our motorised canoe and headed up river seeing caimen along the way. We stopped off and trekked through the jungle to a waterfall where we spent half an hour swimming and enjoying nature. We then set off again back to the boats and further up river to the Embera settlement. A really warm welcome and spent hours just enjoying their company, tasting their foods and understanding their culture and traditions. We were the only outsiders there all day so didn’t feel over commercial and exploited. Fantastic day had by us all and none of it was challenging to get to if your are physically able.
Expect to get wet.....
Jose E,
Jan 24, 2022
- Review from Viator
4.00
A very nice excursion. The canoe ride out to the village was alot of fun and scenic, traveling through the thick jungle vegetation. Expect to get your shoes and pant legs wet, as water splashes into the canoe during the trip. Wear shorts, and bring your bathing suit because the subsequent trip to the waterfall is great and you will defintiely want to get in the water. The village tour itself was entertaining and informative. Their lunch was very good. Overall, it was a nice experience. The tribe is a bit commercialized, but that's to be expected since they see vistor tours almost every day. But that's okay, it was still alot of fun.
Amazing trip and great guide, worth every dollar
Sieglinde P,
Jan 6, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a great time on our trip to the Embera people. Enrique our guide was knowledgeable, fun and professional. Everything from booking the trip to the drop off was perfect and communication was 100%. We had such a good trip and would highly recommend this company and this experience. Beautiful landscape and beautiful people the Embera were so welcoming and included us in their daily lives. We were served with great local food cooked fresh in front of us and dancing and songs that included us to give a full experience. Thank you!
Fantastic tour
Nataliya D,
Dec 28, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00
This tour was fantastic! John was our guide for the day. They were on time to start our tour picking us up at our hotel. On the way in our tour van we had 2 other couples. John gave us background of the country and the places we were passing by. We arrived at the river and met up with our 2 native guides. BTW... they’re really great also) the canoe is larger than a regular canoe and it has a 15 hp motor. It took us upriver to begin with and 1st stop was a beautiful waterfall when we arrived there was just us and one other canoe but being a waterfall the canoes kept coming. John stayed with us the entire time and shared his insights and knowledge. Next we continued up river and stopped for our final stop on the river at a local village with the indigenous peoples. They explained their culture and shared food and fruits. They shared their story with us and we even danced together. We headed down river back to our van to come back to Panama City. My wife and I have been to over 50 countries and 40 states in the United States and I have to say this tour was one of the best and our guide John did a super job for us. I can not say enough good things.
Two beautiful days with a very competent guide!
RomaineA6,
Dec 16, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We made two excursions with the Leo guide: one to Monkey Island and the Panama Canal, the other to an Embera village. Both have been exciting and will remain etched in our memories! Leo is a wealth of information, he is very friendly and has adapted very well to our desires. We were lucky because our group was just our family, which allowed us to have flexible hours and activities. I recommend them without hesitation!
Totally enjoyable and recommended
Inga K K,
Dec 9, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A very good tour, second one I took with this company, they are certainly providing a quality experience. We rode in a canoe with indigenous guides in their colorful attires - that being the only way to get to the village. First stop was a walk to a beautiful waterfall, it includes wading in the river for a bit, so wear appropriate footwear. You can also take a dip. Then we proceeded to the village where we certainly felt very welcome - tourism is an important source of income for the community. There was a bit of explanation and some dancing. Some beautiful handicrafts could be bought. We got a lovely lunch of fish and plantain. All in all, very enjoyable day.
Great tour of The Embera village and people!!
Elizabeth W,
Oct 19, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00
Meeting with the Embera Village people and seeing there way of life. There only means of travel are canoes on the river.
Very nice excursion!
deT214,
Sep 21, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very nice day with a great guide. The canoe ride masterfully led by two native pilots takes us into the jungle. Welcoming the Aboriginal Embera Indians is certainly touristic, but it is their way of surviving and maintaining their traditional way of life in their beautiful village. It is a beautiful encounter, full of flavors, music and dance.
Fun fun
Joe s,
Jul 4, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great great great everything was on point the only thing it rain so we did not explore the community but we had a blast when we got caught in the rain going back to the tour bus