Early in the morning, our representative will pick you up at the hotel to visit Portobelo, where we can appreciate much of the ancient fortification as well as part of the bay or entrance invaded on several occasions by pirates and privateers, including the famous Henry Morgan. We will visit the renowned Santiago de la Gloria Castle or Fort, one of the first forts ever built by the Spaniards for the protection and safeguarding of the gold and silver that crossed the Panamanian isthmus. Following this, we will tour the famous Customs building, whose main purpose was to serve as a collection center for the profits and trade resulting from the great fairs and exchanges that took place at this location, which could last up to 40 days, making it one of the most important cities in America at the time.
After this historical excursion, we continue with a visit to one of the indigenous communities located in the Chagres National Park. Upon arrival, we will board the famous "piraguas" or canoes, which are traditional Emberá boats carved from a single tree trunk. At the end of the journey, we will spot the village of "Emberá Querá," which means "Emberá Perfume," where our cordial hosts await us.
From this moment on, we will enjoy their music and dances, learn about their culture and traditions, and tour the village to visit their traditional residences. The "Chaman" or tribe healer will speak to us about the healing power of rainforest plants. At lunchtime, we will taste fresh fish (catch of the day), fried green plantains, and fruits. The Emberá are excellent, detailed, and dedicated artisans; if we wish to carry a memory on our skin, a natural "tattoo" is our option. The indigenous people will paint it with a black ink produced from "Jagua," the seed of a local palm tree.