ranked in the top 5 adventure tours by OUTPOST'S Magazine's
yearly top 100 adventure tours
The San Blas archipelago is home to the
most fiercely independent indigenous peoples of the Americas: the Kuna.
The Kuna know their islands as Kuna Yala (land of the Kuna) and maintain
their own self government. We have been giving special permission from
the council of chiefs to enter and explore this unspoiled archipelago.
On the Chagres River we float down virgin Jungles and meet amazing living
indigenous cultures. We are taken to a traditional native village; it
is like stepping back in time. Our indigenous friends will take us up
river in their traditional wooden canoes.
Day 1 - Arrival, make your own way to the Hotel. The rest of
the day is your to explore this diverse city which combines old and
new worlds. The towering financial sectors blend into old forts and
Clonials houses left from the Spanish area.
Day 2 and 3 The Chagres River - An early
start at 5 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 enjoying a typical Panamanian breakfast, you will hike for about
2 hours on a trail within Chagres National Park up to Rio Piedras, a
Chagres River tributary, where you will get into rafts to float downstream
(Class II-III rapids) into the untouched jungles of the Chagres River.
Then, you will continue rafting further downstream passing an impressive
granite canyon with some white water rapid action, and ending just before
encountering Madden Lake.
There you are expected by a piragua (native wooden canoe
equipped with outboard motor) that will take you downstream along their
Embera Indian Village at the riverbanks. If time allows it we will stop
shortly in their village.
These natives migrated to Chagres River banks more than 20 years ago,
where they found the same habitat they were so familiar with in the
Darien Jungles.
Our piragua will take us to the nearest road where a river
will be expecting to bring you back to civilization, and to your hotel
in Panama City
Camping on River/Lodging Hotel Las Vegas.
***
Day
4 - An early morning flight from Panama City to El Povenier in the
San Blas Islands or Kuna Yala. After breakfast, we will take our support
boat out to our fist campsite. The afternoon will provide us an opportunity
to get some of our paddling skills honed and set out for a small paddle
to a neighboring Island. (BLD)
Day 5 - 7 - The San Blas archipelago is home to the most fiercely
independent indigenous peoples of the Americas: the Kuna. The Kuna know
their islands as Kuna Yala (land of the Kuna) and maintain their own
self-government. A kayaking trip in these islands combines beautiful
island scenery and the opportunity to observe a living Indian culture.
The coral here is stunning and the beaches are pure white dotted with
palm trees and thatch roofs of the Kuna villages. (BLD)
Day 8 - Early morning flight back to Panama City in time to connect
with International flights or stay on and explore other regions of this
amazing and diverse country.
"AJ was incredible,
he was one of the most, if not the most professional guide we have ever
had. We felt like we knew him for years.. He is safe and concerned about
making it 100% fun....I would give him 10 out of 10 and we are a tough
crowd of testosterone. The location is awesome and I want to go back..Our
group of friends and family have traveled the world and have never found
a more organized, professional service, mixing comfort with an exotic
location and full of activities - Captain Tim Hagel"