Private Tour
Private VIP Embera Tribe & Panama Canal Locks Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a Private VIP full-day experience that combines Panama’s rich indigenous culture with one of the world’s greatest engineering wonders. Travel by traditional canoe to visit an Emberá village, where you’ll learn about ancestral traditions, enjoy a local lunch, and experience music, dance, and handmade crafts. In the afternoon, visit the Panama Canal Visitor Center at Miraflores to watch massive ships transit the locks and enjoy the IMAX movie that brings the Canal’s history to life
Additional Info
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
We do not visit the Walterfall because of safety concerns. Many accidents occur because of the slippery path and rocks.
Private transportation and a dedicated guide are included. You may encounter other visitors at the Emberá village and the Panama Canal, but your guide stays with you at all times to ensure a personalized experience.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Emberá Indigenous people are one of Panama’s most vibrant native cultures, living along the rivers of the Darién region and the Chagres rainforest. Rivers shape their daily life and transportation, and visitors arrive by traditional dugout canoe. Their cuisine features fresh river fish, plantains, rice, and tropical fruits, often cooked in banana leaves. Known for colorful clothing, jagua body art, music, and dance, the Emberá preserve traditions deeply connected to nature and their ancestors.
Miraflores Visitor Center for one of the best viewpoints of the Panama Canal, where you can watch massive ships pass through the locks just meters away. Explore interactive exhibits that explain the Canal’s history, engineering, and global importance. The experience is completed with the IMAX movie, a stunning large-format film that tells the story of the Canal’s construction, expansion, and impact on world trade.
What‘s Included
Tolls & Country Taxes fees
All Embera & Park Fees
Seasonal fruits (pineapple, banana, orange)
Professional Fully Bilingual Guide
Panama Canal Visitor Center fees
Bottled of water
Snacks
Tilapia Fish and fried plantain
No Waterfall Walk (due to safety concerns we do not visit it)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
City Hotels or Playa Bonita
City Hotel or Playa Bonita: Our guide will collect you from the hotel lobby for this amazing private experience.
Pickup included
Reviews
84 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful experience!
estelm2024,,Aug 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A very interesting visit to get to know the Emberá Puru and their culture. The guide who accompanied us, Levy, was super friendly and attentive at all times, answered all our doubts and explained everything about the Emberá. It was a wonderful experience that we will not forget, especially my daughter, that I was amazed! Highly recommended to do it with Layover, they are very professional and punctual.
The trip was...
Blanca M,,Jun 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The trip was expectaucular , the view , the ocean the boat was smooth regardless of the wind and the personnel were very professional
Met and exceeded all my expectations
Aryeh S,,May 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide Raphel was so imformative and helpful. Ot was such a pleasure to go on this trip to see the indiginous tribe.The excursion was famtastic
Once in a lifetime experience
sierra j,,May 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00First you take a hour long drive through the countryside and learn about the area. When you get to the water you take a canoe to the tribe where you’re welcome. Learn about the history of the tribe in their native language also in English in Spanish, get a chance to eat fish and plantain and fruit and learn dances. This was an amazing experience. Thank you Levy😁
A great ending to my Panama trip!
Navigate29248301427,,Apr 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed learning about the Embera history and culture. The food was great! My tour guide lead me throughout the experience and he was very knowledgeable and personable!
Once in a lifetime experience!
Kingtut204,,Mar 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Emberra people were genuine, down to earth and incredibly welcoming. Our guide Saul was informative, insightful and lots of help. I wouldn’t do anything differently.
It was a fun day on the...
Terri P,,Mar 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a fun day on the water in a motorized canoe! We learned about the Embere people and ate an excellent lunch.
Great tour! Highly recommend!
Devi R,,Mar 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The experience was exactly as described, we were looking for an option of this tour that didn't include the waterfall hike and this was it! We got picked up at our hotel and drove to the Chagres River where we took a very nice trip in a motorised canoe down the river and to the Embera Village. We were welcomed by members of the village and learnt about their history and way of life. The lunch was delicious along with the fruits that we were treated to. The music, dancing and crafts by the Embera people were all fantastic. We encourage you to support them by buying crafts or getting a temporary tattoo. Levy is a great and knowledgeable guide and we truly enjoyed every moment of the tour! Highly recommend! ❤️
A wonderful visit to the (Embera Express Tour) on the chagrin River … the best!!
margie t,,Mar 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Not knowing what I was going to observe for this morning tour I was totally surprised that during the ride to the Embera village our driver and host, Rafael, gave us a very informative history of the different tribes still active, and the Panama Canal, and much about the country’s history. Upon arriving at to the village, we were greeted with a warm welcome by a women dancing and a man playing a drum…We were given a tour of all the native homes, the wildlife, flowers, and fruit and then we gathered in this big open room to learn about the different tribes and rituals, especially of the Embera people. The highlight of the day was watching several native dancers by manyin the tribe, and at the end of their performance, we were invited I grown-ups and little ones to dance, and everybody was celebrating. That was followed by a beautiful lunch wrapped up in a banana leaf plant of fish and tostadas and an abundance of fruit for dessert!! Our group had a lot of fun together and all of us could not have been more different. I highly recommend RNK tours and our tour guide Rafael who was absolutely WONDERFUL!!
A wonderful visit to the (Embera Express Tour) on the chagrin River … the best!!!
Margie T,,Mar 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Not knowing what I was going to observe for this morning tour I was totally surprised that during the ride to the Embera village our driver and host, Rafael, gave us a very informative history of the different tribes still active, and the Panama Canal, and much about the country’s history. Upon arriving at to the village, we were greeted with a warm welcome by a women dancing and a man playing a drum…We were given a tour of all the native homes, the wildlife, flowers, and fruit and then we gathered in this big open room to learn about the different tribes and rituals, especially of the Embera people. The highlight of the day was watching several native dancers by manyin the tribe, and at the end of their performance, we were invited I grown-ups and little ones to dance, and everybody was celebrating. That was followed by a beautiful lunch wrapped up in a banana leaf plant of fish and tostadas and an abundance of fruit for dessert!! Our group had a lot of fun together and all of us could not have been more different. I highly recommend this tour company and our tour guide Rafael who was absolutely WONDERFUL!!
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Operated by R&E Transfer Panama