Princess Authentic Embera Village Excursion

[g8trzz]

Has anyone had the opportunity to experience this particular excursion offered by Princess? Is it the real thing or is this the "demonstration" village. Did you enjoy this tour?
thanks!!

[banditoo]

Somewhere else in these boards I found reference to the Embera Vilalge tours from people who had been and were raving about the tours as a highlight. Of course now I can't find which boards that info was in. I looked into the Embera Villages through the internet and books and they do sound authentic. I was all ready to book with an independent tour operator and then discovered that our ship, the Coral Princess does not actully allow passengers off for independent tours in the canal, and only tenders people in who have booked the ship tours. So we are signed up for the Embera Village tour with Princess. When are you travelling?

[Unca Pete]

Has anyone had the opportunity to experience this particular excursion offered by Princess? Is it the real thing or is this the "demonstration" village. Did you enjoy this tour?
thanks!!


It is an excellent tour. The bus ride is a bit long, and you'll see some of
the poverty areas in the country on the way.

The village is real, the Indians do live there. But, they built the village on government land.

Pete

[Richard in Panama]

To clarify:
Passengers on cruise ships stopping in Panama often have the opportunity of visiting an Embera village. But, be aware, there are two villages often used. One is best described as a “demonstration” village, or what I would refer to as an “Embera Experience”. This village was created to give cruise passengers a taste of Embera life. Yes, people live there, but the village was created as a tourist attraction and during the cruise season will have visitors 4 or 5 days a week. It’s a couple hour bus ride from the ship and then a 5 to 10 minute boat ride by dug out canoe to the village.

The other village, at San Juan de Pequini is also a long bus ride, but then an hour ride by dug out canoe. This is an authentic Embera village that may see 2 or 3 groups of visitors a month. Shore excursion staff on board ships often don’t know the difference. The way to determine which village they are using is to ask questions about the length of the dug out canoe ride. 15 minutes or so - its the demonstration village.

If you have a choice, choose the authentic one, of course. But when you don't have a choice, the "demonstration" village gives you a good taste of Embera culture and life and an opportunity to purchase craft items.

If posted a lot about the Embera and pictures at http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com/category/embera-indigenous-groups/

[banditoo]

To clarify:
Passengers on cruise ships stopping in Panama often have the opportunity of visiting an Embera village. But, be aware, there are two villages often used. One is best described as a “demonstration” village, or what I would refer to as an “Embera Experience”. This village was created to give cruise passengers a taste of Embera life. Yes, people live there, but the village was created as a tourist attraction and during the cruise season will have visitors 4 or 5 days a week. It’s a couple hour bus ride from the ship and then a 5 to 10 minute boat ride by dug out canoe to the village.

The other village, at San Juan de Pequini is also a long bus ride, but then an hour ride by dug out canoe. This is an authentic Embera village that may see 2 or 3 groups of visitors a month. Shore excursion staff on board ships often don’t know the difference. The way to determine which village they are using is to ask questions about the length of the dug out canoe ride. 15 minutes or so - its the demonstration village.

If you have a choice, choose the authentic one, of course. But when you don't have a choice, the "demonstration" village gives you a good taste of Embera culture and life and an opportunity to purchase craft items.

If posted a lot about the Embera and pictures at http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com/category/embera-indigenous-groups/
Princess has two tours taht include Embera Villages, one of which they refer to as the replica which sounds close to Gatun lake, the other of which they describe as the 'Authentic Embera Indian Village' This one does involve a dugout canoe but they don't specify the length of the canoe ride. It does refer to climbing an incline to get up to the village. Total tour length is 6.5 hours. Can you tell if this is the real 'authentic' one or the purpose built one?

[Richard in Panama]

It's hard to tell . . . I've been on ships where they have said they are going to the "authentic" village at Embera Puru Rio San Juan de Pequini, then, because they had too many people booked . . . sent half to the "authentic" village and half to the "demonstration" village and hoped no one would know the difference.

The question to ask is "How long is the ride on the dug out canoe?" Less than 1 hour, and it's probably a "demonstration" village. Quite possibly the shore ex people will have no idea . . . not uncommon unfortunately.

Either will be an enjoyable and interesting experience. Much as I prefer the "authentic" village with the long canoe ride . . . it IS a long canoe ride sitting on a hard wooden seat and it is not for everyone. Most of the villages have an incline up from the water to the village. Reason: during the rainy season the river floods and they need to be high enough up from the river.

Go . . .and have fun! Regards, Richard

[Bucky3]

For what Princess ship do you find the Indian Village listed as a shore excursion? Our April 21st 19-day RT from LA does not show it, but we are scheduled to be in Puerto Amador from 8AM to 8PM, so it seems there will be plenty of time. Did you find this excursion listed online to book ahead of your cruise, or was it something that was offered once you were on board??

I have been doing some extensive research and really want to visit the "authentic" village with a tour offered by Anne Gordon. We have been hoping that perhaps this will be offered once on board as it is not listed on the Princess website.

[banditoo]

Coral Princess sailing March 16 has the 'Authentic Embera Village Tour' listed. They tender us off from Gatun Lake as they do for their other excursions in the canal on that sailing. For some reason, we are limited to taking only the Princess excurions as they don't make accomodation for getting people to shore to connect with independent tours. The Coral then turns around in Gatun Lake and goes back out the Gatun Lake locks and docks at Colon at the end of the day, where those that went on the Princess excursions connect back with the ship. I had also looked into Anne's tour and one with 'My Friend Mario' before I realized that Princess didn't let it's passengers off for tours other than the Princess ones. If your ship has a different itinerary, then maybe you are able to take advantage of independent tours.

[Bucky3]

Thanks for the above information. Richard, here's another question that could use a comment from you!

Our port is Puerto Amador and I understand both Mario and Anne Gordon do the village tours from there - Anne to the more authentic one and Mario to the other. Now my question is does going from Puerto Amador make a longer day than if we were at another port? I'm thinking we may need to save this tour for another time, but if the villages are closer to Puerto Amador maybe we'd best do it this time. We're on the Island Princess from LA April 21st.

[Richard in Panama]

Bucky, I looked up the ISLAND PRINCESS itinerary for Ap 21st and that's a great itinerary!! You see the Canal process and also have a whole day in Panama. In answer to your question, there's not a lot of difference between doing an independent Embera tour from Amador (Pacific side) or Cristobal/Colon (Caribbean side). However, the road to get there from Amador is mostly freeway and so it is easier than from Colon where it is a busy, two lane road always a zoo with construction. Actually I think the trip from Amador would be much more pleasant.

Let me know what you choose! I'll wave from the VOLENDAM as we pass you by on the Pacific. Regards, Richard

[Bucky3]

Yes, Richard, we are very excited about this itinerary. We just wish we were 20 years younger!! That's why I tell our 40's something kids to "do it while they comfortably can!" I had just about given up on this excursion, but now after reading your comments above, it's back on the "we should do this" list again! We are mid 70's, another couple is early 80's, and the other couple are late 60's. SO, though we are all pretty healthy, my concern is a long hot humid day in the boonies, so to speak! If you have one, what's your opinion of these non-ship sponsored excursions for a group like ours? Hardly a fair question but we value your advice! Both Mario and Anne are available that day. Not sure whether Mario does the tour himself, but it sounds like Anne definitely does and that's really where we'd like to go.

At any rate, we'll be looking for the Volendam!! Once when we went through the canal, we had a friend on a ship going the opposite direction. We could practically reach out and shake hands as the two ships passed in the canal. Another time there was a troop ship next to us, and the sailors were having a grand time with all of us cheering and waving with them. Quite an experience!

[g8trzz]

Banditoo,
We will be on the March 26th Coral Princess cruise

[Richard in Panama]

I've just gotten off two back-to-back VOLENDAM 10 day Canal "turn around in Gatun Lake" cruises, and have updated my comments on the "Authentic Embera Village Tours" after discussing with shore ex folks and tour operator . . . see http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com/qa-for-cruisers/

In a nutshell, for the most part, if you book through the ship you have no idea which village you are going to visit. They use 5 or 6 different villages, and there is a lot of difference in terms of being "touristy" or "authentic." The cruise line/tour operators describe "authentic" as being 1) real Embera indians who 2) actually live there. The more interesting and I would say "authentic" villages require a longer canoe ride, and right now, towards the end of our dry season, the river has dried up so that they cannot visit some of the villages. (Guests would have to hike about 1 mile over a dried up riverbed - right! That ain't going to happen when folks take the elevator to get from one deck to the next!)

Is the tour worth it? Absolutely. Regardless of the village you go to - touristy or authentic - it will give you an interesting glimpse into a tribe and culture you would otherwise only meet on the pages of National Geographic. Just understand that it's usually a long busride, and the actual village you go to is unpredictable since the selection depends on river heights and the decision of the Embera chiefs who like to see the "wealth" spread around various villages.

Regards, Richard

[Bucky3]

You may recall I have been reading and absorbing your Panama posts here and on your website. Having decided that the Embera (authentic) Village trip will be too much for us on our April cruise, we found "The End of the Spear" in our local video store, and my husband and I have just finished watching it this evening. Quite fascinating, although we had a little problem interpreting! Not sure if some captions were missing from our copy of the film. What a story! Thanks for pointing us in this direction. We now have an idea of the beautiful scenery and the exciting adventure we will be missing. We will continue to be intrigued and maybe someday...............! Thanks for you continuing posts.

Bucky

[banditoo]

We just got back from our cruise last evening and had a terrific time! We did the 'Authentic Embera Village Tour' with Princess. What an excellent day. We were tendered ashore in Gatun Lake, then had about 45 min bus ride to the point on the Chagres River where we were met by the some of the Indian men from the village. They transported us upriver in the motorized dugout canoes. The river ride was about 1 hour as there were a couple of points where the river was too shallow and the Indian men got out and pushed and dragged our canoe through the shallows (coming back down river was easier as we were going with the current and had the wind at our back to help over the shallows). Most of us got quite wet on the ride as the river sprays up when traveling at the higher speeds. The weather was warm so the water was actually refreshing. We spent a few hours at the village where the villagers fed us (a combination of make it yourself sandwiches as well as fish and baked banana). They also demonstrated their handicrafts, showed us their village/huts and then performed a dance and music presentation. We then all joined them in the dance. Many of us bought handicrafts from their displays and also had temporary tattoos painted. They are lovely people, very polite and gentle, the children as sweet as can be. Most of them spoke reasonable English or had another tribe member translate for them. One 18 year old girl was very fluent, having completed high school and was planning to attend college shortly. We had a wonderful experience with them, though I can't imagine them sustaining that simple lifestyle for too much longer with civilization and tourism encroaching. The ship's videographer came on the tour with us and took some great footage that they included in the cruise DVD. Our guide on the trip, Louise, was very informative about the people of Panama, vegetation, politics, history as well as about the culture of the Emberas. He also had a good sense of humor. The bus was comfortable and air conditioned. For anyone interested in this type of excursion, you would have to be able to sit on the wooden slat type seats in the canoes, climb in and out of the canoe, and climb up the slope to the village and probably not mind getting wet. It was a perfect adventure for us!

[Bucky3]

Thanks so much for your post. Was this excursion offered to you online before your cruise or was it one that was listed after boarding. We are on the Island Princess in April - 19 days RT from LA - and it is not listed for us yet. We keep hoping. I have also just read that the river is too low for the tour to the "authentic" Embera Village. How much of a climb (long/steep) is it up the bank from the boat. Did the boats have a cover or was it VERY HOT sitting there? Really would appreciate your reply. Thanks so much. You might be interested in the movie I mentioned in Post #14, especially if you have read some of Richard of Panama's website information.

[banditoo]

I'll download some pictures tonight and attach one which hopefully shows the canoes and the slope up to the village. It was not a long climb at all. The boats are not covered. They are large canoes which are motorized though in the shallow spots the motors had to be raised so we could be pushed and poled through. It was not hot in the boat as we were moving at a good speed and thus had a breeze and lots of spray from the river (we ended up pretty wet in fact). For those who can't readily take the sun you would want to be covered with hat and good sunblock as the breeze and water hides the true strength of the sun. There is lots of shade in the village itself.

[banditoo]

Bucky3
The excursion was offered on line with Princess as well as in the pre cruise excursion booklet. If they aren't showing it for your sailing, I suspect it is not available. Some of the other cruise lines allow you to connect with private tours when in the canal so that might be an options for you if you are not with Princess. I have attached a couple of photos to show you the canoe and the village. For some reason I am not able to upload the one showing the slope to the village. Will try again later.

[Bucky3]

Banditoo - Thank you so much. I'll keep looking for another picture if you can load it. Appreciate your information.