Finding Family in the Jungle
My name is Omer, and I’m a tour guide in Panama. But that’s just the title—I believe what I truly do is connect people: to nature, to culture, and to each other. One of the most meaningful connections I’ve made since coming to this country is with the Emberá community of Parara Puru. What started as a tourist visit has turned into a deeply personal friendship—something more like a second family. This is the story of how that bond was formed, and why it means so much to me.
The First Visit – 2009
The first time I visited the Emberá people was in 2009. Back then, I was just a tourist, exploring Panama like anyone else—curious, eager, and without any real understanding of what I was walking into. The boat ride up the river, the lush greenery of the jungle, and the welcoming smiles of the Emberá villagers left a strong impression on me. But I didn’t realize then just how significant this encounter would become in my life.
That's me, in the village with a rescue monkey, 2009
From Tourist to Local – 2017
In 2017, I moved to Panama permanently. At the time, I was helping my brother with his business, and my life revolved more around work than exploration. But anytime friends or family came to visit, I took them to see the Emberá in Parara Puru. I returned not as a stranger, but as someone slowly becoming part of the landscape. The familiarity began to grow.
Each visit revealed something new—not just about the Emberá, but about myself. I was fascinated by how naturally they moved through the world, how their daily life was intertwined with nature, how effortlessly they hosted visitors and made them feel at home. Still, I was on the outside looking in. That would change in 2023.
One of my first visits as a Panamanian resident, 2017
2023 – The Year of Connection
In 2023, I officially became a tour guide. It was a decision that had been growing inside me for a while—a longing to share the beauty and soul of Panama with others. And that’s when my visits to Parara Puru became more frequent. I wasn’t coming every few months; I was coming every week.
And that’s when everything changed.
When you visit someone often enough, walls start to fall. You go from being a guest to being a friend. The Emberá people of Parara Puru began to open up to me in ways that went beyond hospitality. They welcomed me into their homes, their kitchens, their stories. They asked about my life, my traditions, my culture—and I asked about theirs. We exchanged not just words, but meaning.
Even though we come from completely different backgrounds—different countries, different religions, different ways of life—I felt something rare when I was with them: I felt like I belonged.
Starting to know the villagers, 2023
The Feeling of Belonging
It’s hard to explain exactly what it is. Maybe it’s the food, fresh and lovingly prepared. Maybe it’s the way they look you in the eye when they speak. Maybe it’s the stories they tell, passed down from generation to generation. Or maybe it’s the jungle itself—the way the air feels heavy but kind, the way the river sounds as it curls past the village, the way time seems to pause when you're there.
When I'm in Parara Puru, I don’t feel like a visitor. I feel like I’ve arrived somewhere meaningful. Somewhere real. The jungle has a magic of its own. It enchants me, it relaxes me, it fills me up with something that’s hard to find elsewhere. It might be the colors—deep greens, earthy browns, bursts of tropical flowers. It might be the sounds—birds calling, leaves rustling, water trickling over rocks. Or it might be something more—the way people live with nothing artificial, nothing excessive, just the rhythm of nature.
Nature is their compass. It tells them when to plant and when to harvest. It feeds them, shelters them, heals them. It doesn’t just surround their lives—it is their life. And when I’m there, I feel safe. I feel grounded. I feel home.
And yet… it’s not my home. Not by birth, not by culture. But they make me feel like it is. They accept me as I am, and that’s something that’s hard to put into words.
Feeling at home with Ale, 2024
Why I Guide Tours to Parara Puru
As a tour guide, I bring people to meet the Emberá not just to show them a "native community," but to give them a chance to connect, like I did. I tell my guests: be open. Listen. Taste the food. Ask questions. Let go of your assumptions. What you’ll find isn’t just a cultural visit—it’s a human one. You’ll leave with something you didn’t have before.
I’m grateful for many things in my life. But the bond I’ve formed with the Emberá people is something sacred. It reminds me that even in a world of differences, there’s still space for friendship, for curiosity, for belonging.
So if you ever find yourself in Panama, and you’re ready not just to see but to feel, come with me. Let’s take a boat upriver. Let’s step into the jungle. Let’s meet the Emberá of Parara Puru—not as tourists, but as guests of a community that might just feel like home.
If you would like to experience the jungle from the inside, contact me!
Riko.
