by Panama BlogLast updated:: 2:00 PM ET, Tue November 1, 2022 Panama is a meeting point and a "mosaic of cultures," where the country's cultures coexist, maintaining their own values, beliefs and principles as well as their identity.
There are seven indigenous communities, Guna, Teribe, Buglé, Ngäbe, Naso, Emberá and Wounaan.
The Guna and the Emberá can easily be visited by tourists who are eager to discover more about their well-preserved traditions and unique cosmogenic views.
The Guna people enjoy sharing their culture with visitors. It is the most visible of Panama's indigenous communities and there are around 62,000 people living along the eastern Caribbean coast and on 49 of the 400 islands belonging to the Guna Yala archipelago (also known as the San Blas Islands). They are proudly independent and maintain semi-autonomous status within Panama. One of the most well-known aspects of its culture is the "mola," an intricately woven cloth panel that adorns the front and back of the traditional dresses worn by women. They also have a long history of mercantilism and international trade.
The Emberá people live in the Darien rainforest where there are approximately 12,000 inhabitants. The Emberá also established villages along the Chagres River during the construction of the Panama Canal. Even though they relocated, they kept their language, songs and dances and above all, their reverence for the natural world, embodied by a deep respect for their rivers and forests, which they believe have a spirit. Visitors have the chance to speak with community leaders, see traditional homes and take part in dances and handicraft making.
In Portobelo, visitors can explore Panama's Congo culture along with the gastronomy of this Afro-Caribbean community. Here quaint fishing boats give way to the rhythm of the sea and lush vegetation blends with the blue of the Caribbean. Guests can also discover remains of colonial Spanish forts, the largest of which is San Jerónimo with eight cannons, some watchtowers and an officer's quarters available for visitors to explore.
A top priority for visitors should also be to discover the community's delicious Afro-Caribbean cuisine, distinguished by flavorful ingredients and spices, such as curry, coconut, fresh seafood, and local vegetables.
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