travel central america panama embera puru
We traveled over forty-five minutes by dugout canoe across Lajo Alajuela to a tributary of the Chagres River known as Rio San Juan de Pequeni.
Here we visited a remote native village known as Embera Puru (or San Juan) in the Chagres National Reservce, an hour and a half east of Colon.
Here we were greeted by some of the 114 indiginous Embera people who choose to live here practicing their native culture.
They told us about their culture, showed us their beautiful handwork, danced, sang, played their music, and cooked us some of their traditional foods.
These people were gentle and friendly and seemed eager to show us thier way of life.
Our dugout canoe return trip was prolonged by a torrential downpour which added another dimention to an already great memory.
TRAVEL: November 2011
This location has earned a five star rating from
Travel Fanatics Unlimited
*****
unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
The village of Embera Puru as seen from the dugout canoe on the Rio San Juan de Pequeni, Panama, 2011.
The women and children of Embera Puru come out to greet our canoe, Panama, 2011.
The men of Embera Puru stand above on the bluff and greet us with music, Panama, 2011.
Capturing the arrival with photos, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
(photo by Lynn Chamberlin)
Mother and children, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Some of the structures in the village of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Mother and child watch us from their home, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Standing by one of the huts, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
(photo by Lynn Chamberlin)
Detail of one of the structures in Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
The women of Embera Puru cooked us delicious fried fish and plantains wrapped in banana leaves, and served us fresh pineapple and other fruits, Panama, 2011.
The beautiful baskets made by the people of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Example of the nut carving done by the people of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
The women and children of Embera Puru performing one of their traditional dances, Panama, 2011.
The women and children of Embera Puru performing one of their traditional dances, Panama, 2011.
The youngest children are still learning the dance, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
The youngest children are still learning the dance, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
(photo by Lynn Chamberlin)
After demonstrating the dance moves, these friendly people invited their visitors to join in, Embera Puru.
I can't think of any time in my life I have been invited to dance by two more beautiful young ladies.
Many of the men and women of Embera Puru wear detailed body art, a stain from a local plant, Panama, 2011.
Lynn poses with three of the men of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Mother and daughter, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
The beautiful children of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Children of Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Portrait of innocence, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
This shy little guy was very curious about my white beard, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
The future of Embera Puru play with a rain collection pipe, Panama, 2011.
This little one showed up early to wish us a good bye, Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
Lynn in the dugout canoe near Embera Puru, Panama, 2011.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised february 2020