Naso and Ngäbe-Buglé People Await you in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro's culture and history is rich everywhere you look. These paradisiacal lands have been inhabited by native peoples, who have cared for and defended the territory since before the conquest. Here you can visit two of the oldest cultures of the country, the Naso Tjër Di and the Ngäbe-Buglé.

Naso Tjër Di are the last monarchy in force in the Americas, and in Siellik, you can experience the unique opportunity to meet the Naso king and visit his royal palace.

The Naso Tjër Di territory extends over the Palo Seco Protected Forest and La Amistad International Park (PILA,) declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Their people have protected and fought for the conservation of these territories for centuries and have strict rules on their use and exploitation.

In Bonllik, Sieyllik and Siëy Kjing, you can reconnect with nature and its wildlife, hike to waterfalls such as Tiger Pjengla, spot all kinds of birds and hike historic paths to explore nearby communities. The community’s naturalist guides will be happy to join you.

Naso Tjër Di

One of the most significant experiences in the Naso region is to navigate in a traditional raft on the Teribe River. Its name in the original language, Tjër Di, is the mixture of the words Di: Water, and Tjër: Great Mother or Great Grandmother. For these people, the Great Mother Tjër, gave them everything that their culture represents: their life, their environment and their traditions.

Practice artisanal fishing with them, test your bow and arrow skills, hear about their medical rituals or planting and learn about the organic process of cacao. You can also buy their handicrafts to take home a souvenir of this experience.

Naso Tjër Di

Stay Overnight

The Naso communities are in the middle of the Panamanian jungle, around the Teribe River. The closest one, Bonllik, is a 30 minute drive from the Changuinola airport. Beyond Bonllik, there are some overland roads, but the Teribe River is still the main way to get around. Contact their tour operators to plan your visit and decide the best way to get there.

If you think that one day is not enough, some of the communities offer lodging in ranches or traditional houses. You have options of shared and private rooms ranging from approximately $18 to $40.

The Ngäbe-Buglé region is the largest in the country and even encompasses land within three different provinces. In addition, there are organized Ngäbe-Buglé communities outside the boundaries of the region.

Visit Them in the Archipelago

Within the province of Bocas, on Isla Bastimentos, you will find the communities of Bahia Honda and Salt Creek, surrounded by incredible scenery. During your visit you can go hiking, bird watching; explore caves; and navigate in traditional canoes. In addition, the women of the community offer interactive workshops through the Timorogo organization in which you will learn about their traditional dishes, clothing and ancestral customs.

To get to Isla Bastimentos, you will have to take a water taxi from Isla Colon for approximately 10 minutes.

Other Ngäbe-Buglé communities that you can visit in the Bocas del Toro archipelago are: Sandubidi, in Isla Popa 2, as well as San Cristobal and Solarte, in the islands of the same name. To get there you can take a water taxi in Isla Colon. The navigation time will not be more than 30 minutes for any of them.

Ngäbe-Buglé

Visit Them on the Mainland

You can also complete your cultural experience with the Ngäbe-Buglé on the mainland. In the Oreba community, next to the Oeste Arriba River, they will reveal the secrets of cacao cultivation, their artisanal processes, and will guide you through trails where you can observe the incredible wildlife with which they coexist.

Oreba is 6.2 miles from Almirante (10 km.) If you book the tour directly with the community leaders, they will include transportation from Almirante. To get to Almirante, you can do it by a direct flight from Panama City or by land.

Within the Ngäbe-Buglé region, which extends along the mountains and coasts of the mainland, you can visit the communities of Silico Creek, Río Cañas and Kusapin. From this last community, you can make tours to Playa Uvas, and to more distant islands of the province, such as Isla Tiburón and Escudo de Veraguas.

Open your mind to these experiences and sign up to know and live Bocas del Toro hand in hand with its native people.