Preserving the Culture of the Kuna People
Destination: San Blas, Panama
The Kuna Indians have managed to maintain their culture, language, and heritage on this string of islands just a 20-minute plane ride from Panama City.
Panama is home to seven indigenous groups and immeasurable rainforest species of flora and fauna. With the constant influence from North and South America, the country's indigenous people share a strong desire to maintain their traditions.
The Kuna Indians of San Blas, known locally as Kuan Yala, inhabit 49 of the 378 islands in the
San Blas Archipelago. They gained the government-approved right to limited self-rule in the 1920s, more than a century after they first came to call the eastern portion of Panama home. They have protected their ancestors' heritage in every way, including native dress, arts and crafts, language, and a symbiotic and respectful relationship with the environment. They live on an archipelago but are not in isolation, so during your time living with the tribe, English will be spoken (though Spanish is better understood by most). You'll participate in a well-established program of community service alongside the Kuna as they continue work on an ethnographic museum. You'll be completely immersed in Kuna customs and lifestyle, participating in community music and dance, ritual ceremonies, and creating traditional tapestry weavings.
You'll have several opportunities to visit neighboring communities as well as while away the non-working hours snorkeling, swimming, fishing for dinner with locals, and napping in breezy hammocks strung outside the thatched-roof cabana where you'll stay. In the brief 9 days you'll spend with the tribe, you'll be shocked at how strong the friendships you forge will be, and an elaborate and moving farewell ceremony historically leaves no eyes dry.
Your Next Step: Eco Circuitos (tel.
507/314-0068;
www.ecocircuitos.com). A 9-day stay, $1,225, includes accommodations in a cabana, meals, airport transfer, pre-assignment city tours of Panama City, and in-country transportation.
Don't Miss: Go see the
Panama Canal, still one of the world's most remarkable marvels of engineering. Its three locks lift giant container ships as an integral contribution to world trade.
Official Tourism Website: www.visitpanama.com
