Full Rainforest Experience: Kayaks, Waterfall and Embera village
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Welcome to an unforgettable adventure! An experience like no other, awesome blend of kayaking, hiking and native culture in the stunning rainforest in Panama. A day filled with adventure and cultural immersion that does not require previous expericence in kayaking. This is more than just a tour; it's a chance to create lasting memories in the heart of the jungle of Panama!
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
The travel time is included with the Total Duration
Embera Community and Chagres National Park entry tax should be paid cash to the guide upon pick up (USD $35 per person).
You can swim at the waterfall with clothes or you could bring a swimsuit under clothes because there is no place to change there
We recommend wearing water shoes or sport shoes with good grip that you don't mind if get wet, avoid beach sandals, Crocs or flip flops
Mosquito repellent is not required. Bring sunscreen and a hat
Bring an extra change of dry clothes for the trip back to your accommodation
Bring cash in case you want to buy souvenirs or have a temporary tattoo
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Welcome to an experience like no other in Panama, awesome blend of kayaking, hiking and culture in the stunning rainforest. This adventure begins with the ease of pick-up from your accommodation in downtown Panama City or Casco Viejo. After a 50-minute van ride, you'll find yourself at the shore of the Chagres River. A canoe will take us to a higher point for our kayaking adventure. As you glide along the river, the stream will assist you so this adventure is suitable for participants without previous kayaking experience and safe for non-swimmers.
Chagres National Park
Along the way, we'll pause for a 20-minute hike through the lush rainforest, walking through the mud, sand, and slippery rocks, leading us to a pristine waterfall. The refreshing sensation of swimming in this natural oasis is a perfect way to connect with nature! After that, we'll make our way back to continue our journey down the river until a village of the Embera tribe. Here, you'll have traditional lunch and have the opportunity to change to dry clothes in the available bathrooms before exploring their beautiful handicrafts. After a day of adventure and cultural immersion, a canoe will take us back to the van, then relax and rest as we return to your accommodation. Recomendations: Wear water shoes or sport shoes with good grip that you don't mind if get wet. Bring sunscreen. Mosquito repellent is not required. You can swim with clothes or you could bring a swimsuit under clothes because there is no place to change at the waterfall Bring cash in case you want to buy souvenirs.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Kayaks and lifevest provided
Fried fish, plantains or cassava and fruits in season
Certified Guide (Spanish, English)
Pick up from stays in downtown Panama City or Casco Viejo
Embera handicrafts (souvenirs)
Embera Community and Chagres National Park entry tax should be paid cash to the guide upon pick up (USD $35 per person).
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private tour in english
Private: Private vehicle and guide
Pickup included
Private tour in spanish
Private: Private vehicle and guide
Pickup included
Group Tour in spanish
Pickup included
Group Tour in English
Pickup included
Reviews
99 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Ethereal and Cultural
agovil00,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience! I went with my sibling and parents, in a total group of 7 people. My parent is not super active and has some knee problems (~mid 50 years old)- Alcy, our tour guide, was super accommodating with the Embera guide. She was able to do the hike and canoe okay with their help. Both the Trip Advisor Guide and Embera guide helped us walking through all the rocks and slippery parts and made sure we felt same the whole time. I’ve never kayaked but the kayaks were super sturdy and felt safe for a beginner, but one can opt to ride in the canoe if it’s too intense. The waterfall was insane! Looked amazing and they guide you all the way to the base of the waterfall if you chose. At least beginner swimming ability is recommended there for sure. Then they brought us the Embera village that was a great culturally immersive experience, clean facilities, and amazing fresh food. This was the absolute highlight of our trip and great for all activity levels! I would recommend bringing cash for the $30 entrance fee, plus some to shop/get temporary tattoos.
Fernando was a great tour guide!
kevinhQ854NP,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fernando was a great tour guide and very passionate about his job. I really enjoyed the trip coming from America! You can ask any question and he was not bothered by it!
!Great service. Exhilarating and serene experience!
shannoncurfman,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip was fantastic! Our guide, Alci, was super friendly, knowledgeable and organized. He handled everything - personally transported us from and back to our hotels, drove to the launch point in Chagres National Park, and made sure we had everything we needed for a great 1/2 day experience - water, fresh fruit and fish for a nice lunch, canoe transportation, kayaks, life jackets and helmets…. The jungle was utterly stunning! Cutting through the water in the motorized canoes was exhilarating contrasting with the kayaks that were super quiet, chill and serene - saw lots of birds! Learning about the indigenous community on the island and getting to participate in one of their traditional dances was enlightening and fun. They had their hand-made wares for sale , which can feel a little touristy but is their means of income and are beautifully made and reasonably priced. Different tables have different prices so check out everyone. For $5 I went ahead and got a traditional temporary tattoo done by one of the young women. The greatest highlight for me was swimming in the waterfall pool and sitting in the waterfall. It was breathtaking and the water was so incredibly fresh. I would recommend bringing a rain cape in the wet season because it rained on us while we headed back to the island in the canoe, which was totally fine, but it didn’t make sense to change into dry clothes for the canoe ride back to the mainland, so I was in wet clothes longer than expected. I am so glad I did this trip and would highly recommend it to anyone!!!
Amazing
brittneyc172,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was amazing trip that was smoothly planned and executed. It was well worth the price and I would recommend to anyone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
M2845WLkellyj,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best experience ever!!! Definitely recommend booking this tour staff is very knowledgeable and it definitely is a one and a life time experience.
Two thumbs way up
735haleyj,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great time-waterfall wasn’t over crowded and the indigenous people are super nice. Fresh fruit, plantain, and fish for lunch.
Friends in Panama
A5204DOjessb,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent experience. Would recommend to friends and family. Kayaking was down stream so easy if you are not experienced. Lunch at the village was delicious. Tour guide kind and knowledgeable.
A Must do when in Panama!
Vacationer550921,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an incredible experience on the Embera Waterfall Day Trip, and I can’t say enough good things about our tour guide Alci. From start to finish, everything was seamless—prompt pickup, smooth transportation, and an easy, comfortable drop-off at the end of the day. The boat ride was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the highlight was learning about the Embera tribe, their culture, and traditions. It was authentic, meaningful, and deeply enriching. Alci was warm, inviting, extremely knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. He made everyone feel welcome and took the time to share history and insights with passion and respect. You could truly feel his love for the culture and the experience he was providing. This tour exceeded our expectations, and I would 100% recommend Alci to anyone visiting Panama and wanting a memorable, well-organized, and culturally rich experience. Thank you, Alci, for such an unforgettable day! 🌿✨
Enjoyable full day trip
Art-Polly,,Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Picked up from out hotel on time. Water taxi in motorized canoe to the kayak launch site. Enjoyable paddling on the river. Then a short adventurous walk to the waterfall. Don’t miss swimming to the fall and feeling the force of the fall on your back. Need to be able to swim against the current for a short distance, a nice challenge. After that boat ride to the village for lunch, fresh talapia and fruit. Very enjoyable outing. Highly recommend it.
We enjoyed this cultural...
Heidi H,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We enjoyed this cultural experience and meeting members of the tribe. The food was fantastic and the fish fresh. We recommend the kayaking as it added another dimension to the experience.
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