Jungle/Adventure

A Note From Your Guide, David Blank
I have designed these trips for those of you who are interested in a private, customized interactive adventure. We will explore nature and other cultures while venturing off of the beaten path. My goal is to facilitate a unique, magical experience that you will remember and cherish as a highlight of your special time here in Panama.

RIO CHAGRES NATIONAL PARK HIKES
With Indigenous Guides from the Embera Tribe of the Village of Tusipono

All of the trips in Rio Chagres National Park will depart from Panama City for the port of El Corotu  on Lago Alajuela at the mouth of the Chagres River in Rio Chagres National Park. There we will be picked up in hand made dug out piraguas (canoes), by our Embera guides from the village of Tusipono. This is where our adventure begins.
Throughout the day our knowledgeable Embera guides will identify and explain a variety of medicinal and edible plant species. We will see wild animals which may include  monkeys, two and three toed sloth, deer, armadillo, etc., as well as insects such as the Blue Morpho butterfly, and a large variety of birds including hawks, eagles, herons, toucans and more.

At the conclusion of each hiking adventure we will proceed to the village of Embera Tusipono where the Embera people still will welcome us into their traditional setting to have a traditional Embera meal of fish and patacones, all caught and collected in the jungle and rivers of the Chagres National Park. They will explain to us in detail about their culture, history, and handicrafts, and you will have an opportunity to purchase handicrafts directly from the artists, supporting them and their traditional way of life. This is a true Embera village, where they live much as they have for more than a thousand years and where they focus strongly on preserving and passing on their culture, the environment that sustains them, and their way of life to future generations.

While most of the trips are described and priced as day trips, it is possible to extend your journey by spending a night in the village in a traditional style dwelling. For details see below under Rio Chagres Overnights.

Dozake Biakirua Hike (Do sa kay  Bia Key Rua)   

Tour Info:
Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Duration Of Hike: 4 to 7 Hours
Total Trip Duration: (Pick up to drop off at hotel): 8 to 12 hours
Included: Mid Day Snacks, Lunch, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $210 per person, minimum 2 people

From El Corotu we will be taken to the village of Victoriano Lorenzo where our hike begins. Our Embera guide will lead us as we follow this primitive jungle trail up and down the hills of this newly created national park, observing a variety of flora and fauna. After about three to four hours we will cross a large creek, which in Embera is called Dozake Biakirua (Beautiful Waterfall), where we will rest and enjoy a mid day snack. We will then proceed for the last two hours through the jungle and finally come out on the Rio Chagres several miles upstream from where we started. There we will have an opportunity to take a cool refreshing swim, rinse off the mud and sweat of the jungle, and change into shorts and sandals for our relaxing afternoon in the Embera Village of Tusipono.

The hike itself is anywhere from 4 to 7 hours depending on the physical ability of the group and how much time we spend learning about the jungle. It is a true jungle hike up and down muddy hills and trails, crossing creeks and climbing over and ducking under downed trees and branches. You must be in good physical condition for this hike. Hiking boots and long pants are highly recommended. The cost of the tour is $200 per person, minimum 2 people. For those who are extremely adventurous and fit, there is an alternative exit to this tour via the creek with an expert hiker rating that takes several hours longer and includes some risky free climbing down waterfalls. Please contact us for more information on this

Rio Chico Hike

Tour Info:
Difficulty Rating: Advanced Intermediate for steepness of the often muddy slope
Duration Of Hike: 3 to 5 Hours
Total Trip Duration: (Pick up to drop off at hotel): 8 to 12 hours
Included: Mid Day Snacks, Lunch, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $210 per person, minimum 2 people

From El Corotu we will be taken up the Chagres River approximately one hour to a tributary of the Chagres called Rio Chico. We will proceed as far as possible up the Rio Chico in the Piragua and then walk the rest of the short distance upstream to the trail head. As our Embera guide leads us up the steep hillside of this little used primitive jungle trail, he will explain names of animals and birds, as well as names and uses of plants. At the summit we will come to a flatter section of trail and make out way through the jungle, eventually coming out three to five hours later near the village of Embera Drua on the Rio Chagres below the mouth of Quebrada Chico. There we will have an opportunity to take a cool refreshing swim, rinse off the mud and sweat of the jungle, and change into shorts and sandals for our relaxing afternoon.

The hike itself is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours depending on the physical ability of the group and how much time we spend learning about the jungle. It is a true jungle hike up and down muddy hills and trails, crossing creeks and climbing over and ducking under downed trees and branches. You must be in good physical condition for this hike. Hiking boots and long pants are highly recommended. The cost of the tour is $210 per person, minimum 2 people.

Embera Falls Hike

Tour Info:
Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Duration Of Hike: 4 to 6 Hours
Total Trip Duration: (Pick up to drop off at hotel): 8 to 12 hours
Included: Mid Day Snacks, Lunch, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $190 per person, minimum 2 people

From the port of El Corotu we will be taken a short way up the Chagres River until we reach Rio Indio (Indio River), a tributary of the Chagres. We will proceed as far up the Indio as possible by piragua and then walk the rest of the way to the trailhead. As our Embera guide leads us up the steep hillside of this little used primitive jungle trail, he will explain names of animals and birds, as well as names and uses of plants. We will follow the trail for approximately one to two hours until we arrive at Embera Dozake (Embera Falls) where we will relax, swim and explore this secluded, little visited, beautiful jungle waterfall. After spending some time here we will continue our journey on the other side of the creek for an hour and a half to two and a half hours along a jungle trail that is much steeper and more primitive than that we followed in the morning. The difficulty of this trail is based on the steepness and the slipperiness of the slopes. At the end of our journey we will be walking into the village of Embera Tusipono to spend an afternoon with our Indigenous Embera hosts learning about their culture and history.

The hike itself is anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on the physical ability of the group and how much time we spend learning about the jungle and relaxing. It is a true jungle hike up and down muddy hills and trails, crossing creeks and climbing over and ducking under downed trees and branches. You must be in good physical condition for this hike. Hiking boots and long pants are highly recommended. The cost of the tour is $180 per person, minimum 2 people.

Rio La Palma to Tusipono Hike

Tour Info:
Difficulty Rating: Advanced
Duration Of Hike: 6 to 10 Hours
Total Trip Duration: (Pick up to drop off at hotel): 9 to 14 hours
Included: Mid Day Snacks, Lunch, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $260 per person, minimum 2 people

From the port of El Corotu we will be taken up the Chagres River for approximately one hour until we reach the mouth of Rio La Palma (Palm River), a tributary of the Chagres River. We will then proceed on foot up the La Palma a short ways until we reach the trailhead. As our Embera guide leads us along this extended journey through the jungle, he will explain names of animals and birds, as well as names and uses of plants. We will follow this mostly level trail for approximately five to seven hours until we arrive at Embera Dozake (Embera Falls) where we will relax, swim and explore this secluded, little known, beautiful jungle waterfall. After spending some time here we will continue our journey on the other side of the creek for one to two hours along a hilly trail that will take us out of the jungle and into the center of the Embera village of Tusipono, where we will spend the night. Dinner and breakfast will be provided and in the morning we will have time to relax in and explore the Village before departing for the port of El Corotu and Panama City.

The hike itself is anywhere from 6 to 10 hours depending on the physical ability of the group and how much time we spend learning about the jungle and relaxing. It is a true jungle hike up and down muddy hills and trails, crossing creeks and climbing over and ducking under downed trees and branches. You must be in good physical condition for this hike. The difficulty of this trail is based on the steepness and the slipperyness of the slopes, as well as the length of the hike. Hiking boots and long pants are highly recommended. It would be best to have a good pair of hiking sandals to use for the first part as we go up the river. For those en exceptional physical condition the tour can be done in a day without the overnight stay. The cost of the tour is $310 per person, minimum 2 people.

Cascada Caimito

Tour Info:
Difficulty Rating: Easy Intermediate
Duration Of Hike: 1.5 to 3 Hours
Total Trip Duration: (Pick up to drop off at hotel): 8 to 10 hours
Included: Mid Day Snacks, Lunch, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $170 per person, minimum 2 people

From the port of El Corotu we will be taken a short way up the Chagres River until we reach Rio Indio (Indio River), a tributary of the Chagres. We will proceed as far up the Indio as possible by piragua and then walk the rest of the way to the trailhead. As our Embera guide leads us up the steep hillside of this short, little used primitive jungle trail, he will explain names of animals and birds, as well as names and uses of plants. We will follow the trail for approximately one to two hours until we arrive at Cascada Caimito (Caimito Falls), where we will relax, swim and explore this beautiful jungle creek and waterfall and the incredible small canyon formed by the river just below the falls. After spending some time here we will continue our journey on the other side of the creek, returning to our transportation on the Rio Indio via another route. From here we will journey to the village of Embera Tusipono to spend an afternoon with our Indigenous Embera hosts learning about their culture and history.

The hike itself is anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the physical ability of the group and how much time we spend learning about the jungle and relaxing. While a much easier hike than the others, this is still a true jungle hike up and down muddy hills and trails and crossing creeks. You must be in good physical condition for this hike. Hiking boots and long pants are highly recommended.  

What to bring on Jungle Hiking Adventures:

• Hats
• Sunblock
• Hiking boots or at the very least tennis shoes
• Long Pants
• Camera
• Bathing Suit
• Water Shoes or Hiking Sandals (On some of the trails we may have to hike up or down streams and if you don’t want to hike with wet shoes and socks, a sandal such as Keens or Tevas are excellent. Please do not use Crocs to hike up the rivers).
• Money for Crafts
• Backpack for water and personal affects

Rio Chagres Overnights

Info:
Included: Dinner, Breakfast, Fruit, Drinks (Water & Softdrinks)
Price: $60 per person, minimum 2 people

Visit the Embera Indians living in the Rio Chagres National Park and enjoy the unique opportunity of spending a night in their village. We will stay in a native style rancho, identical to but larger than the ones the Embera live in themselves. These ranchos are well suited to the climate. They are built off of the ground from four to ten feet on stilts or posts of local wood, usually about 6 – 10 inches in diameter. The floors are commonly made from split jira, the flexible outer bark of a local palm tree. The roof is made up of palm fronds. For cooking there is a wooden frame packed with dirt, on top of which are placed three big logs that form a triangle to support the pots over the fire. You can sleep out in the rancho on a camping pad or put up a tent if you prefer. This adventure can be done separately or combined with any of the other Hiking trips. The cost of the overnight combined with one of the Jungle Hiking Adventures is $50 per person

What to bring on the overnight. The following is a list of items to bring on the overnight. If you do not have them with you, please contact me and we will make arrangements.

• Bed Sheet
• Pillow
• Camp Pad
• Flashlight
• Toiletry Kit

LINKS

Panama Airport. http://www.tocumenpanama.aero/

Panama Canal. http://www.pancanal.com/esp/index.html

Panama Insurance. http://www.panamakevin.com

English speaking Panama law firm. http://www.panama-offshore-services.com

Marathon Panamá. http://www.marathonpanama.com

CANAL - INN .www.canal-inn.com

Bahia del Sol. http://www.BocasBahiaDelsol.com

Ocean Pulse Scuba Divers - Diving the Golfo de Chiriqui on Panama's Pacific Coast. Described as 'an aquarium' due to the huge numbers of fish, if you want to explore a new, unspoiled and exciting dive location this is the place to come! Run by a marine biologist, Ocean Pulse aim to provide a personalised and informative dive service with conservation and preservation of the natural environments in mind. www.dive-pacific-panama.com