Tour To The Chagres River And Embera Village With Lunch Included

Went in the trip solo and booked with Dan through GetYourGuide and honestly it was the best decision I could have made. Dan was absolutely delightful and I would recommend him to anyone who is thinking of doing an excursion while in Panama. I speak English so it was nice to have a guide that spoke English and Spanish, translating everything for me and other passengers. The experience with the indigenous people at the Embera Village was one I would do again and again. The people were friendly, so kind and had so much to share, also the food was delicious!! Do not hesitate to book this!! The price was about $30 USD not including the amount we gave for donation to the tribe (35). But for the experience it’s a steal!!!

Waterfall hike is not available as of 11/2/2026 (and possibly earlier than that). This was a major reason I booked this tour. Viator/tour operator knew and did not disclose that on the description. Instead, we were taken to a "beach stop" which was a stretch of rocky area next to the river. Unlike the pictures on Viator's website, the "indigenous canoe" seats up to 15 people and has a loud motor, and the indigenous canoe guide does not stand up and use a pole to "row". Even the food is brought in by the tour operator, not provided by the tribe (they do the cooking and cutting up the fruit). This is more of a Disneyland adventure than an authentic cultural tour. Alex, the guide that picked us up and joined us on the whole tour, is a HORRIBLE driver, and spent most of his non-driving time looking at his phone rather than providing us with information. We did see some howler monkeys and one sloth in the trees (about 100 yards away) while motoring up the Chagres River. Overall, I feel very misled and I am super disappointed.

Such a wonderful experience despite pickup nightmare. Please note pickup time is not exact and the driver did not have the decency to let us know he was running late. Also, being the last ones picked up would have you assume the 1st to get dropped off (NEVER ASSUME). The hike to the waterfall is a little strenuous and the rocks are slippery so wear appropriate shoes. Also there is an additional $35 fee USD so bring the correct amount. The lunch was awesome and the pineapple was the best I ever tasted.

A very interesting tour and visit to a native village.

My absolute favorite excursion during my trip to Panama. I’ve no regrets booking this excursion. Everything was great. The food was delicious and I felt very welcomed when we met the villagers in the Embera community.

Alci was a great guide and the trip was a wonderful experience.

Amazing tour with Alci. I had just 2 days in Panama and I super recommend it. All beautifult from the village to the waterfalla and boat ride.

The whole day was a great experience from start to finish. Our guide Alex really made the trip informative, fun and relaxing.

The Embera are beautiful people!! They taught us all about their culture and lifestyle. They even performed for us and gave us some of the best pineapple I have ever had!

Rubin was an excellent guide. He Spoke English better than me, and i am an american college professor. The tour was excellent. Walked along river, took boat ride and saw a waterfall. Had lunch and demonstration in native village. Overall great experience.

Excellent tour very educational and fun. Amazing from start to finish.

Excellent overall experience. The drive to get to the national Park is about little over an hour or more. Also, if you are not up for a walk with steep paths/ slopes, walking in ankle-deep water, mud or nature in general, maybe reconsider booking this tour. Water shoes or (more importantly), shoes with an excellent grip are an absolute must-- as the ground can be very slippery due to rain. Luckily, our tour guide, Demetrio, had water shoes that we were able to burrow, which I really appreciated. He also helped us greatly with climbing up those very steep parts of the walk and getting around any obstacles we encountered. The walk is probably more than five minutes. Additionally, be careful when holding onto tree branches for support-- some of the branches have long spikes 😬 and unfortunately, one of us got a small cut from it. Aside from that, the views from the canoe ride were breathtaking. The villagers were very welcoming and -- one was particularly instrumental in helping us navigate the treacherous route to the waterfall. The waterfall was a nice photo-op, but I'm neutral about it (expect to see a lot of other tour groups at the waterfall). If you choose to enter the water, note that there are plenttty of fish in the water (for those who might be squeamish). The lunch was adequate and tasty-- I loved the palm bowl/ pouch it was served in. Lastly, I enjoyed the dance performance by the villagers and being able to be apart of it. Learning about the culture and its people was an amazing way to experience another side of panama. In conclusion, I enjoyed the entire experience and I believe it is worth it.

Ensure you verify the pick up location and extra fees. The app lets you choose a pickup location at resorts outside of the city and says it's included. However, the fine print states the pickup locations included with the purchase are only in the Panama City. They wanted to charge an extra $70 roundtrip for transportation.

It was an amazing experience! The guide was extremely helpful throughout! I would definitely do it again

This tour isn't for the weak, I love the journey but I wouldn't recommend to people of aren't able-bodied, it's quite a challenge to get to the water fall but I would recommend this to able-bodied persons, I can't wait to do this again with more of my family 10/10

This experience was awesome.. something different and lots of history, our tour guide was wonderful very informative. Be prepared to walk, and get dirty. Dont wear no fancy shoes, they would get mess up and muddy from the red clay... it was amazing.

It is exciting. Leaving the city, Dan, our guide, gave an extensive review of the places we passed and their history. The canoe ride was nice, clear water; but the trek up and down the hillside is not for the faint-hearted. Mud from the rains made it tricky in some parts. I'd do it again if I were 20 years younger but I'm really glad I did this time!!!

I participated fully in this experience a few days ago and all I can say it was truly worth it. The guide and his team did a fantastic job, very knowledgeable and the indigenous experience was impactful. My guide was Demetria a true asset to the overall experience. Highly recommend.

This was a very fun experience. Our tour guide was very communicative and picked us up on time. The hike with the natives was a workout but so worth it. The Embera tribe were welcoming, shared their history and prepared our group the most delicious food including amazing fresh fruit!. Please prepare for the hike as it is not for those not active.

Booked tour including kayaking, but not enough other participants so changed to this tour night before. Still a great experience hiking in Chagres rainforest, swimming at the waterfall and enjoying Embera hospitality!

This was an absolute awesome experience. Ruben was our tour guide and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. He was very knowledgeable about the community and we enjoyed his insights on the area. The visit to the indigenous village was educational and more than I even imagined when we booked. We enjoyed everything including the cultural exchange, the dance, and the warm and friendly nature of everyone that we encountered.

Alci was an amazing tour guide Will recommend him to anyone

The trip was insightful and active. The canoe ride - a walk through the lush rain forest to a water fall and back to the village was great!

This was by far the best tour I've been on since I arrived in Panama eight days ago. I absolutely loved the tour and especially our tour guide, Dan. I highly recommend him to everyone. We had a blast.

We had a great experience with Alex as our guide!! Definitely a really good value. Highly recommend nonslip water shoes for this excursion, we were really glad to have them!

Excellent experience and we loved swimming in the waterfall. Visiting the Embera village was both fun and interesting. The lunch provided was delicious and even my daughter who doesn’t eat seafood had plenty to eat with the fruit and plantains. I definitely recommend water shoes with non-slip soles. There were a few muddy spots on the hike to the waterfall and it might be too much for an older person or someone who never hikes to do. They provided walking sticks, which were helpful too. Our guide Alex was great and so nice and friendly. We enjoyed talking with him and he prepared the group well for the excursion. I would highly recommend.

It was so much fun. We went kayaking, swimming in the waterfall and danced with the natives! I would definitely recommend this tour.

Great value for a one of kind tour to a native reservation a short ride away from Panama City. Our driver and guide Fernando with the help of the tribesman guided us by boat and then by foot to a secluded waterfall. The water was fresh and cool. Perfect relief after a short hike along the river bank. Be sure to bring good water/ sport shoes as it’s slippery on the wet clay path. The tribesman were very helpful and hovered around to be sure we did slip. The lunch and interaction with the tribe is fascinating. They are truly living off the land and without electricity and all the conveniences of the modern world. The meal they offered was delicious and just right after the adventure of the waterfall hike. Of all the tours I have taken, this one is one I’ll never forget.

This was an awesome experience. Very different from the usual amusement parks. A trip through nature was so much fun, beautifully and relaxing,. Was wonderful to meet the itribe. It was just amazing and would recommend. The tour guide was fun and very helpdul

Experience was great and well worth the money. Our tour guide Fernando was very nice and went above and beyond. Fernando made our tour top notch!!!

The guides are friendly and attentive. You will get wet and muddy during the walk to the waterfall. Bring an extra set of socks and shoes for afterwards, if you are concerned.

It was a very amazing tour, definitely worth the money. It was definitely worth every penny. Would recommend it to everyone who is coming to Panama City. P.s. we used slippers for the tour, but I would recommend wearing shoes, as it can be very slippery. Also shoes which are old, because they will get very very dirty.

Best event ever! The boat ride was fun, the swimming at the waterfall was fantastic, and lunch at the village was the perfect topper.

This was a great multi-activity excursion that I would recommend for those who like to hike and engage in other outdoor activities. We started off taking a nice ride down river to the starting point in a wooden canoe. We then conducted a moderate hike to the waterfalls and got ample time to swim and take pictures there. After that, we got a chance to kayak down the river a little ways before heading to the Embera village. At the village we were treated to a history about the Embera people, have a lunch of fried fish and fresh fruit, and participate in a dance with the local tribe people. Alci, our guide was fantastic throughout the whole day and really made the trip more enjoyable. He friendly, personable, gladly took pictures, and ensured we were taken care of. This was a full-day activity I would do again.

From pick up to drop off was an amazing experience. I would definitely do it again. Our driver Alci was prompt with the pickup and helpful throughout the day. I'd highly recommend taking water shoes with good grip as there are areas that are wet and muddy. The hike is not difficult and the journey on the river was truly special. The food at the village was very good with very high quality fruit for dessert. I handmade craft on offer at the village was exceptional, take at least US$20 to get yourself a lasting souvenir. Temporary henna tattoos are also available. The cultural presentation was really good, be ready to participate and join the fun.

Great experience. The your guide Dan was friendly and informative. Loved the experience. A must do....totally worth it!

What an amazing experience from start to finish!!!! My sisters and I had such a greattt timee..from interacting with our driver to the waterfall and then the village omgg..10000% recommend!!

Such a great experience! Alex was our tour guide and very knowledgeable and attentive to our group! Pick up and drop off was perfectly

From pick up to drop off great experience. Alex was amazing and guided all of us through the beautiful landscape including the boat ride, hike and the waterfall. PThe food, the cultural experience was all superb. You will enjoy it.

I spend an excellent moment our drive and guide Alci was amazing I highly recommend this tour

Excellent experience! Would most definitely do it again. David Taylor was an amazing and informative tour guide.

Alcibiades, his team and the beautiful people of Embera Island made this a magical experience. PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR WELLMADE WATER SHOES. It hurt my heart to see people especially children hiking in flip flops. It was a labor intensive walk BUT the reward was immeasurable. I would describe it as magical. The tour was informative and made me appreciate the lush land and beauty of the people beyond the aesthetic. Our guide was with us every step of the way and captured memories for my family that will last a lifetime. I’m looking forward to going every time I come to Panama.

The tour guide was amazing, he spoke English as well so he was able to explain. The local emberara young man who steered the boat was amazing as well he held your hand if u having difficulty walking. He gave you sticks. He made sure you can swim and if u can’t he steer you into the water safely. He also takes your camera and takes awesome pics.

It's a great physical activity with the waterfall as a reward at the end. Being in the village was educational and inspiring.

My husband and I booked this Tour to a waterfall and Embera village with lunch included in late July 2026 expecting a fun day exploring a national park in Panama. By the time we returned that evening, we realized we had experienced something truly unforgettable. The canoe rides through the river were peaceful and beautiful, and the hike through the rainforest felt like stepping into another world. We saw gorgeous blue butterflies, colorful birds, tiny frogs, and even a giant tarantula that reminded us just how alive the rainforest is. Then we reached the waterfall. It was absolutely breathtaking and worth every step of the hike. Swimming in the rocky lagoon beneath the falls and taking what felt like a hundred photos made this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The visit to the Embera village was equally amazing. Everyone welcomed us with genuine warmth, and we had fun using our poquito de español! Lunch was delicious. The freshly fried fish and plantains, cooked over an open fire in a traditional hut on stilts, were some of the best we had in Panama. We also enjoyed tasting unique local fruits we had never tried before. We learned about their history and traditions, watched their dances, and even joined in the stepper set. We couldn't help noticing that some of the rhythms reminded us of stepping, which made it even more fun! Before leaving, we picked up beautiful handmade carvings, a woven purse, and a colorful skirt as keepsakes. We even got traditional painted tattoos and all of the ladies received a flower headband that made the experience even more memorable. A special thank you to our outstanding tour guide and the Embera guides, whose kindness and openness made us feel like honored guests instead of tourists. We also had a great time getting to know the two other couples on our tour, and we left feeling like new friends. This wasn't just another excursion. It became one of the highlights of our trip and one of the most memorable travel experiences we've ever had. If you're visiting Panama, don't even think twice. Book this tour!

Cesar and our native guide were absolutely AMAZING! The drive to the national park was quick and comfortable, and they made sure to communicate everything we’d need for the trip in advance. I was thrilled that life jackets were provided even though the water wasn’t deep this time of year, in most places. While the distance trekking to the waterfall wasn’t an issue, the path was often VERY slippery and as an older woman, climbing up and down some of the rock falls was quite difficult. They always made sure I had assistance where and when needed. The fruit and fish for lunch were incredible - just delicious, and the trip to one of the Embera villages was enlightening and so much fun. I would do this again and again.

Fernando our driver and your guide was amazing , friendly and punctual , a Panamanian native , we had a great time and recommend this to anyone who oils love to dive deep into the Panamanian culture !

Very nice experience, on time, friendly and safe. Ruben is a first class guide.... We drove an hour out of town to the canoe pick up point then rode to Conroe to the village to drop off fresh fruits. We then went up the river for about 20 minutes more to reach the falls. The falls were refreshing and fun though there were many people doing the same. After cooling off at the falls we headed back to the canoe and village. The village was welcoming and fun, with native music, fruit / fish and everybody smiling. It's amazing how simple the villagers live and how content they seem to be. Bottom line, great experience and a must do if you're in Panama.

It was an amazing experience. It's an intense hike that can be very dangerous especially for older people or people who are out of shape. We did just fine but I could see how it would be difficult and potentially dangerous for some less able bodied people. The guide was very good, nice and fun!