The Embera' Indians who live in the village of Embera' Puru live in traditional villages as their tribe lived for many generations even before the Spaniards arrived in Central America. There are 24 homes in the village with about 110 people of all ages living in the village. They live in large families, one per home, and also in true community. To get to the village located inside the Chagres National Park, you must drive North for about an hour from Panama City and then travel by motorized dugout canoes, built by the Indians, up river for about another hour.  There are no roads to the village.
 
The river is very important to the Embera'. It is their "road' - their source of food including fish and turtles. The river water is also used for bathing, cooking, and washing. There is nothing like taking a refreshing dip in the river first thing in the morning for your bath! Children learn to swim like fish at a very early age.
 
Children from this village can attend an elementary school located in the next village up river, called La Bonga. Because there are no local teachers, teachers arrive on Sunday and spend the week in the village and leave on Friday afternoon. The Ministry of Education has a difficult time attracting teachers to teach in such a remote area. As a result, the teachers sent to teach in the village are often the ones with the least experience and interest.
 
The Embera' are a very happy and warm people. They love to meet new people and learn about their lives and cultures. They are also very proud of their traditions and culture and enjoy sharing it with visitors.  For that reason as well as a new way to earn money, they opened their village up to tourism about 9 years ago. Now, tourism is their only source of income that helps them buy outboard motors, gas, some food items like rice and cooking oil as well as school supplies and clothes for their children.

If you 'd like to help the children of the Embera  pursue higher education

 please follow this following link and click on the paypal account for "Education Fund."

http://www.emberavillagetours.com/Contact_Links.html