Discover the mystery of the Darien jungle that is located at the end of the Pan-American Highway and one of the few places which still resists modern civilization.

Day 1: Arrival

Depart in 4 x 4 from Panama City after breakfast. We travel along the Pan-American Highway toward the border of Colombia. After passing several police checkpoints we will travel through a Kuna Indian reserve and stop at a small Kuna market. Once in the Darien Province, the paved road ends and we begin travelling on rough terrain. We will have lunch at local restaurant with simple food, which consists of rice, beans and meat (usually chicken, pork or beef). After lunch we continue to Meteti where we will drive through grassland and forest until Puerto Kimba, where we will take a motorboat to La Palma or Mogue, depending on tide conditions. Once we arrive in Mogue we will meet our local native host and the leader of the jungle expedition and then we will proceed to the jungle camp at the beautiful and remote Mogue Embera Village, your home for the coming days. Dinner will be in the community. (LD)

Day 2: Hiking the Harpy Eagle Trail

After breakfast we hike through a secondary growth forest looking for birds and especially the Harpy Eagle, the national bird of Panama and an endangered species. Our naturalist and Embera guides will lead the walk and, after lunch, join us for a hike on a short botanical trail to learn about the plant-based medicine used by the Embera people. Dinner in the community.

Day 3: Hiking an Old Growth Forest

After breakfast we hike through a private, old-growth forest protected by a local organization. We will learn about the neotropical plants here and more about the history and way of life of the Embera and Wounaan people. In the evening, we will experience a "gathering" with the community members. They will share their traditional dance and display finely-crafted handcrafts. The Embera and Wounaan men are renowned for intricate sculptures made from cocobolo and Tagua, also known as vegetable ivory. The women are expert basket weavers, which they make from two different kinds of palm leaf fibers. The women dye the palm leaf with natural dyes they collect in the jungle.

Day 4: Mangrove Cruise

Depending on the tide, we depart the Mogue community by motorized canoe sometime after breakfast. We will learn about the important ecosystem of the mangrove forest surrounding us along the river. On our way back to Puerto Kimba, we may observe different bird species such as herons, kingfishers, ibis and many others. Marine wildlife can also be observed. Our trip ends in Puerto Kimba, where we will take a car back to Panama City.

Prices on request - for booking inquiries or further information please contact Sacred Earth

Includes:

• All transportation
• 3 Nights of lodging in an indigenous lodge with tents
• All meals
• Expert bilingual guide

In order to prepare for police checkpoints, we need the following information in advance:

• Full names as they appear on your passport
• Passport number and nationality
• Date of birth
• Panama entry date

*We reserve the right change itinerary due to weather conditions.

ATTENTION: Ask us about customizing a trip to your specific wishes and interests or about 'fly & drive packages, which provide you with an itinerary, hotel and self-drive rental car, but no guide or fixed schedule to give you maximum independence and flexibility at each location.