#19 Chagres River Tour

On Monday 8th March we set off with a number of fellow cruisers for a trip to an Indian village about 20 miles inside the jungle along the Chagres River. This is the home of the Embera Drua tribe one of the seven native Indian tribes that survived the Spanish. They survived because they were in an area so inaccessible to the invaders.

We met at the Balboa Yacht Club at 0730 and various cars were used get us to the Chagres river National Park by 0900. From here on the only way to the village is by native dugout boats. The village is only accessible during the dry season (about 4 months per year). Some miles up the river we stopped at a fork in the river and then had a 30 minute hike to some beautiful waterfalls. The jungle and river were spectacular. Nani enjoyed a swim at the falls along with some other cruisers.
We hiked back to the fork in the river and again joined the dugout. Another boat had come to assist as the water was very shallow with fast currents further up the river and they needed to share the load. About 1100 we arrived at the village. The Indians were all in their traditional dress (or almost undress!). They were very friendly and full of smiles. We were shown around the village and the handicrafts they produce in the wet season.

Each family is very proud of their crafts and this is the only way they have to make money. They also demonstrated how they made their crafts before treating us to lunch. We purchased a carving of a toucan.

After lunch they took us to the garden in the jungle where they grow special plants for medicine. The guide for this was in his seventies but certainly didn’t look that old. He explained how they used each plant. Even the Indians have their own form of Viagra!
We returned to the village to music and dancing and before we knew it was time to leave. Back in the dugouts we hurtled down the river along with the current and back to the pickup point. Then it was back to the Balboa Yacht Club for a well earned beer. We had enjoyed a wonderful day with the Embera Drua tribe. It was, for us, a real surprise and is one of the highlights of our trip so far.