Gunas are
well known by their molas, a bright and colorful fabric they manufacture and
wear in their female dress.
They are
politically a nation within Panama with their own language, culture, laws
and territory. However, they are also Panamanians.
There wasn´t a single road(not
until 2007) connecting Guna Yala with the rest of Panama. Guna´s
efforts to preserve their own identity, and control over San Blas has
made it possible to keep this region as the pristine paradise it is today.
ITINERARY
1st day: Arrival to Panama
City
You will be welcome by us at Tocumen International
Airport, nearby Panama City, and transferred to a Panama City
Hotel. We will have a welcome meeting for the group at 07:00 pm in the
hotel lobby.
Lodging at Hotel Marbella**
2th day: The Chagres Challenge
Get ready for an early start at 7 am when you will be
picked and taken in an all-terrain vehicle to the remote village of San
Cristobal, which is past the mountains of Cerro Azul, northeast of Panama
City.
After a wild 4x4 drive through our own made highway,
you will hike for about 2-3 hours on a trail within Chagres National
Park up to Rio Piedras, a Chagres River tributary or all the way to Chagres
River. Here you will get into rafts to float downstream (Class II-III
rapids) into the untouched jungles of the upper basin of the Chagres River.
We will have lunch by the river and continue rafting
further downstream passing an impressive granite canyon with some white
water rapid action, and ending just before encountering Madden Lake.
We will either set up camp in a river shore or
stay the night on an Embera Village around 4-6 p.m.
Lodging at Tent Camp – breakfast, lunch, dinner
3rd day: Embera Indian Village
After breakfast you will help to take down our camp in
river shore and leave no trace behind in the case of improvised camp or
start the day on the Embera village.
Along the trek you will be expected by a
“piragua” (native wooden canoe equipped with outboard motor) that will take
you to their Embera Indian Village.
These Embera Natives migrated to Chagres National Park
more than 20 years ago, where they found here the same habitat that they
were so familiar with in the Darien Jungles, by Colombia..
After sharing the kind hospitality of Embera Natives
we will get back to our “piragua” that will take us to the nearest road. A
driver will be expecting to bring you back to civilization, and back to City
Hotel.
Lodging Hotel Marbella* – breakfast, lunch
4th day: San Blas Archipelago -
Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling
Pick up at 05:00 am to be transported in 4x4 to San
Blas. It will be a 3 hour drive in which will cross the continental
divide from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Once in the ocean we will boad a
motorboat that will take us to our recent set base camp.
Today the group will get a taste of sea kayaking in a
nearby circuit.
Lodging at camp – breakfast, lunch, dinner
5th - 6th days: Sea Kayaking and
Snorkeling
Explore near by island and reefs
Lodging at camp – breakfast, lunch, dinner
7th day: Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling
Explore near by island and reefs
Lodging at Ukuptupu Lodge – breakfast, lunch, dinner
8th day: Departure
Early wake up to pack and make it out by 07:00 am
after breakfast. Back to mainland onboard motorboat and back to Panama
City in vehicles 4x4. Arrive to Panama City around 12:00 pm
breakfast
FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONSWHAT DOES IT INCLUDE ? All mentioned
transportation, rafts or duckies, sea kayak(tandem or single) and related gear, camping gear, guides, trip's meals. Our guides are
trained in river and sea navigation skills, first-aid and CPR.
All mentioned activities are guided and included
Lodging and catering:
2 nights at Hotel Marbella**, Panama City
1 night at Tent Campsite by upper Chagres River, Chagres National Park,
Panama, 4 nights at Tent Campsite at San Blas,
Panama
7breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Transfers:
All mentioned ground and ocean
transfers within Panama are included.
Not Included:
International flight, Airport tax ($ 20.00/person), personal expenses, tips,
meals not specified in itinerary, extras in hotels(laundry, room service,
phone calls)
WHO CAN GO ? This land
package set departures are designed for couples, friends, or singles above
18 yrs old that enjoy to team up for paddling in the outdoors. Lodging
has been chosen considereing local style, comfortable and basic
accomodation with out luxury.
However, any person from twelve to 65 years old, in good health, ready to walk for about two and a
half hours through an irregular and muddy path could do it with minor
modifications(Minors must travel with
a responsible adult).
Private groups with some customization can be
arranged.
WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE ALONG ? Daily items: Swimsuit or a pair
of short for navigating, sneakers or light boots with good soles,
a cap, sun-block, a light jacket or windbreaker (in case the
weather turns chilly), a towel and dry set of clothes for after the day trip.
Blanket, flashlight, personal higiene items.
WHAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT ? At day tours leave object than
can be deteriorated by water or valuables like jewels, cash,
credit cards, etc.
PRICE:
US $ 1,630.00 per person in double room
US $ 1,780.00 per person in single room
SEASON
This package is good year around.
The rainy season in Panama starts in April-May
and ends by November-December. Due to changing river water level it
can not be defined in advance where we will stay the night on river shore.
At San Blas, usually the north wind settles from December to March which
does not allow us to go as far as Cayos Holandeses. On this months
usually we set camp on Cayos Limon.
NOTES:
(1) Aventuras Panama reserves the right, at its sole criteria, to exchange
program with similar activities or accommodations in case it considers it
necessary.
(2) Participants should get familiar and agree with Aventuras Panama Terms
and Conditions.
