SEEKING & TRAVELLING DEEPER

Indigenous kingdom of the Guna and to historical Darien in Eastern Panama

A journey starting in cosmopolitan Panama City and traveling to the remote and little visited Eastern Coast of Panama in the Kingdom of the Guna people and trekking an almost unvisited and stunning coastal trail to the historic site of the failed Scottish colony of Darien.

Journey essentials

11 days/10 nights starting and finishing in Panama City
Internationally and locally led
3 nights in hotels
4 nights in local coastal huts
3 nights camping in remote locations
2.5 days moderate walking.

Price: To be confirmed shortly

Journey Dates:

2027 Journeys

April 2027 - exact dates to be confirmed soon (our inaugural journey)

Panama: Journey Highlights

Visit historic Panama city, see the history of this crossroads of the Americas and the Panama Canal
Fly by small chartered plane to the Guna Yala Indigenous kigdom and explore an area almost totally unvisited by tourists or foreign travellers.
Experience the many different environments of this area – white sand beaches, turquoise waters, prime jungle and precarious waterfront communities.
Trek amongst palm trees along the coast of some of the most impenetrable jungle in the world.
Watch for jaguar prints, crocodile tracks and Harpy eagles along forest trails seldom walked by foreigners,
Visit and learn about the Guna Village of the Dead and rituals around revered and deceased ancestors.
Explore the (almost never visited) site of the historic Scottish Darien (1698-1700), a failed colony that had huge significance to the dissolvement of the Scottish parliament and the foundation of the UK.
See and visit the areas with the echoes of past Scottish involvement - Puerto Escoces (Scottish Point), Fuerte St Andrews, and the island town of Caledonia.
Learn first-hand about the deep religious connections between humans and nature, and how they are represented in Guna clothing and customs.
Learn about the culture and history of the beautiful Mola first-hand (stunning colourful applique and embroidered material which is a key part of Guna identity and integral to female clothing) and see the process of making them.
Witness the music and dancing of the Guna, their unique step-dancing and vibrant wind instruments

Summary Itinerary

Day 1: Participants arrive in Panama – Night in Panama.
Day 2: Exploration of Panama City and the historic centres, museums and market. Night in a Panama City Hotel.
Day 3: Charter flight to Puerto Obaldia Airstrip in the Guna Yala and short hike (or boat ride) to Armila village (5 km – 3 miles) – Night in local huts belonging to our local lead guide Nacho Crespo.
Day 4: Exploring the Armila River by foot and boat and the local culture of the village: 2nd Night in local huts in Armila.
Day 5: Hike to Anachucuna Village (16km / 10 miles) on a stunning coastal path and palm forest (possible transport by boat) Exploration of Anachacuna village. Camping on a pristine beach 15 minutes from the village.
Day 6: Hike to Carreto Village (8km / 5 miles) through jungle and then beach. Visiting Carreto Village and possibly the 'Village of the Dead’. Night Camping in a beautiful Pplm lined beach near the village.
Day 7: Second day in Carreto Village exploring the village and surroundings and the culture and crafts in the village. Second night camping in Carreto.
Day 8: Journey by motor launch up the Coast to the site of the historical Scottish colony of Darien at Puerto Escoces and Fuerto St Andrews. Explore the historic site and then continue by boat through island archipelagos to the Island of Atidub. Night in local huts or camping in Atidub.
Day 9: Exploration of the Island town of Caledonia, and then a return journey by boat to Armila down the coast. Stopping at the indigenous owned but uninhabited Golden Isle for lunch, Night in huts in Armila Village.
Day 10: Short boat ride to Puerto Obaldia landing strip and return flight to Panama City. Night in a hotel in Panama City.
Day 11: Departure Day

Background to the journey

The trip to the Guna Yala was devised by Nomadic Skies’ James Appleton (professional film maker/photographer) who was working in the Darien area on filming assignments. James’s’ interaction with the Guna people and the landscapes and wildlife and relationship with local guide Nacho Crespo catalysed his passion for of the area and the people and resulted in him scoping this trip for Nomadic Skies in 2025.

The historical significance of the Darien area to Scotland is particularly interesting for Nomadic Skies. This part of the Darien coast was chosen as the focus for a failed trading colony in 1698-1700. The failure resulted in an act of Parliament to dissolve and the then independent country to join England and Wales to form the United Kingdom. The folk memory of the Scottish historical past remains surprisingly alive for such a short lived and distant venture. Part of the Scottish inspiration of choosing the Darien as the focus was the welcoming and accommodating nature of the Guna indigenous peoples. Something that has persisted to today. It feels fitting that Nomadic Skies, as a Scottish based company, is the one to pioneer this trip to this historic, beautiful and culturally rich area in collaboration with the incredible Guna people.