Comunidad Embera Quera

Lake Gatún, Colón

The Comunidad Embera Quera is an indigenous village in Panama that offers a profound and authentic cultural tourism experience, often described as a journey "right out of National Geographic."

As a tourist destination, it is focused on cultural exchange, nature, and community-based sustainable tourism.

Key Aspects of the Tourist Experience:

  • Authentic Cultural Immersion: The main draw is the opportunity to visit the Emberá people, who are dedicated to preserving their traditional culture, language, dances, and reverence for the natural world.
  • Access by Traditional Canoe: The journey often begins with a scenic trip upriver, either the Chagres River or to Lake Gatún (where Emberá Quera is specifically located), in a piragua, a traditional dugout canoe carved from a single tree trunk. This is an adventure in itself, passing through lush rainforest and allowing for wildlife spotting.
  • Warm Welcome and Hospitality: Visitors are typically greeted by the community with traditional music (played on instruments like panpipes and hand-carved drums) and dances.
  • Cultural Demonstrations and Learning:
    • Traditions and History: Community leaders and members share their history, stories, and information about their way of life.
    • Arts and Crafts: The Emberá are renowned for their incredible handicrafts, particularly intricately woven baskets made from chunga (black palm) leaves, and carvings made from cocobolo wood and tagua (ivory palm) seeds. Visitors can purchase these items directly, which supports the community's economy.
    • Traditional Body Painting: Tourists can often get a temporary tattoo made with jagua, a natural dye from a fruit.
  • Nature and Ethnobotany: The villages are nestled within the rainforest (often near Chagres National Park or the Canal Watershed). Guided walks with an Emberá botanist or medicine man often highlight medicinal plants and the community's deep connection to the forest and its biodiversity.
  • Traditional Food: A traditional lunch, often freshly-prepared fish (like tilapia) and plantains, is usually included as part of the tour experience.
  • Community Support: Tourism is a vital source of income for the Emberá, allowing them to purchase necessities, medicine, and support community projects like education.

Getting There:

The Embera Quera community is one of several Emberá villages situated relatively close to Panama City, making it a popular day-trip excursion. You would generally travel by vehicle to a river port (like the Gatún River Port) and then take the traditional canoe ride to the village itself. Tour packages often include round-trip transportation from Panama City.