Hi, I am happy to help. We are a tour operator that offers tours to the most remote and authentic Embera village within a day tour's distance from Panama City. I am an American woman who married into the Embera tribe 15 years ago, so our tours have a unique perspective and insight into the tribe and their way of life. I cannot post a link to our website, but you can do an internet search for our company name, "Embera Village Tours" You can also search for my name with Embera, such as "Anne Embera" and you will find us. Bia Bua (thank you in Embera) Anne Gordon de Barrigon

Hi Judy, We can and often pick up guests from cruise ships and can manage the tour schedule to have you back on board well before the departure time. Here is our standard tour description, we can adjust as needed for your ship's schedule: We will come to pick you up at your port around 8:00AM and drive for about an hour or so to the boat ramp where the Emberá meet us with their dugout canoe. Then we head across Lake Alajuela (please bring a raincoat for possible spray from the lake) and then upriver for about 45 minutes or so (depending on the level of the river). Along the way you have the option to stop by a beautiful waterfall (based on natural conditions and accessibility) where you can take a refreshing dip in the cool water. Upon arrival in the village, you receive a traditional greeting of music and all the villagers welcoming you to their community. After about 10 minutes to wander around and explore the village on your own, you are given a short presentation about the Emberá culture and traditions and their crafts. After the presentation, you are served a delicious lunch of either fish or chicken and patacones (fried plantains). Once you have completed your lunch you can take an optional short (20 minute) hike in the jungle with one of the village elders to learn about medicinal plants. You are given more free time to wander around, purchase any of their exquisite crafts or receive a temporary tattoo or have a conversation with the Emberá people. Finally, the villagers perform some of their traditional shamanic and celebratory dances and music before we climb back in the dugout and head back down river and return to Panama City by 4:00 pm. Let us know the arrival and departure times for your ship and we will work with those.

Hi Wilma, It is not required to have a yellow fever vaccine for our tour. We go to the Chagres National Park an hour outside of Panama City, we do not go into the Darien province at all. In my 15 years living in Panama I have never heard of a single case of yellow fever ever here. Hope that helps you.

Hi Sussan, Thank you for your interest in our Embera village tours. We would be happy to take you and your children out to meet the Embera people. When are you coming? Our prices vary depending on how many people are on the tour on the same day. for example if we have 5 adults on the tour that day the price is $125 per adult, children are half price. The best way to book the tour is to send us an e mail. You can find us by searching for "Anne Embera Village Tours" I apologize, they do not allow email addresses or websites in responses. Anne Owner, Embera Village Tours Anne

Hi there, This is Anne, we would love to guide you to visit the Embera village of my husband's family in July. You can contact us through our web page. I am not allowed to include a link here in this format. However, you can do an online search for "Anne Embera" or our company name, Embera Village Tours and you will find us! July is also Humpback whale season here in Panama and we also offer responsible whale watching tours under the name Whale Watching Panama. We look forward to seeing your family of 4 in July. Bia Bua (Thank you in Embera), Anne

Hi RLK-TX, Sure, I would be happy to share about the exquisite crafts made by the Emberá people. First, the ladies. The women are world known among basket collectors for their tightly woven baskets with very intricate patterns. The baskets are hand made from two different palm leaf fibers and all colors come from natural dyes they create. They weave plates, baskets and shamanic masks. The baskets are so tightly woven they could hold water! They price the baskets at $1 per day it takes to weave it. That does not include the time to collect, prepare and dye the fibers. Baskets can range anywhere from $10-$300 or more depending on the time to weave it, size and tightness of the weave. The men are very sophisticated carvers of cocobolo (rosewood) wood and tagua nuts (aka vegetable ivory). Tagua nuts come from a palm tree. They carve animals, plants and small canoes from the cocobolo wood and animals from the tagua nuts. They have a keen eye fro nature and many of their carvings have beautiful detail of the animals they depict. The wood carvings range anywhere from $10-$500 depending on size and intricacy of the carving. The tagua nut carvings prices are from $10-$40 generally. I would love to send you pictures, however this format does not allow me to attach any. :( I suggest doing an online image search for the words "Embera basket", Embera carving" "Embera cocobolo" and "Embera tagua" to find some pictures of their art. Yes, these are cash purchases only. There are no four-squares in Panama at all, in most villages there is no electricity, internet or even cell phone signal, so none of the Embera own or have a reason to own an Iphone! I hope this has been helpful.

Hi Anand, Smoking is not an issue, although the Embera do not smoke. As long as she is respectful and not smoking inside any of the buildings and cleans up her butts, it will be fine. As far as alcohol, the Embera only drink for very specific occasions and we do not allow alcohol on any of our tours, out of respect for the Embera and their culture.