Environmental & Cultural Odysseys

Sustainable Student Travel

Od-ys-sey: [od - uh - see].
1. a long wandering and eventful journey with adventures. 2. An intellectual or spiritual quest: an odyssey of discovery...

Soposo Eco/Cultural Excursions

Soposo Rainforest Adventures is designed for people who are searching for a unique and genuine rain forest experience. Visitors will be able to see wild plants and animals seen only in this area of the world. They will learn about the history and tradition of a tribe that pre-dates the Spanish colonization of the Americas. This is an exceptional opportunity to live among the Naso people and experience their world with them through a series of activities unique to their culture.

Our mission at Soposo Rainforest Adventures is to offer travelers a safe and distinctive opportunity to explore the beauty and intrigue that Panama’s rain forests and indigenous cultures have to offer while promoting the conservation of both by allowing the Naso people an opportunity to preserve their traditional lifestyle through their participation with Soposo Rainforest Adventures.

The Naso, also known as the Teribe, have been the inhabitants of the mountainous jungle region of the northwestern corner of Panama since long before the Spanish colonizers ever reached the shores of Central America. The arrival of the Spanish in the 17th century led to a decimation of the Naso population with war, relocation, and disease. Today, the remaining Naso live in 11 small communities located along the Teribe River amid the lush forest of the La Amistad International Park.

The Teribe river is of great historical and modern day importance to the Naso. Although called the Teribe by the Spanish, the original Naso name for the river is Tjër Di . ‘Di’ means ‘water’ and Tjër is the mythical “Grand-Mother”, the guiding spirit of the Naso ancestors. The Naso are proud to be the only remaining monarchy in the Western Hemisphere. The population of about 3,500 Naso people all pay allegiance to the king, who resides in his royal palace in the community Sieyik, the center of the Naso region, located approximately two hours upriver from Soposo Rainforest Adventures. The king governs with the help of his consejo (board of advisers), representatives drawn from the various communities. The Naso reserve the right to switch kings if they become unhappy with him. They can vote him out, but the replacement has to come from the royal family.

The Naso are mostly subsistence farmers who supplement their earnings with the sale of the agricultural products, animals, lumber and some handicrafts which they transport to the relatively nearby city of Changuinola. A great deal of their land is cultivated, common crops are plantains, cacao, oranges, pineapple, peach palm fruit, yucca and other root vegetables.

For hundreds of years, the Naso have enjoyed the riches of the forest - hunting, fishing, cutting trees and extracting plants but they now find their very survival, and that of their children threatened. Many Naso are forced to leave behind their homes, family and culture to seek out jobs in urban areas. The cultural identity of the few Naso who remain is being eroded on all sides: by the dominant Latin culture, by missionaries, by intermarriage with other indigenous peoples, and by dispersion. Although several of Panama’s other indigenous tribes have received large tracts of land from the Panamanian government that are designated as reservations for those tribes, the Naso still do not have comarca (reservation) status for their land. The Naso continue to fight for the creation of a130,000-hectare comarca of their own, but it has been slow going in the Panamanian national assembly.

The Teribe-Changuinola Watershed, home to the Naso and Soposo Rainforest Adventures, is known for its diverse population of birds, plants and wildlife. La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, which is located there, has been designated a "World Heritage Site" by the United Nations and contains Central America's largest intact tropical rain forest. Forests in the area provide a convergence point for 75% of migratory birds in the Western Hemisphere, and, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, harbor 115 different species of fish.

Soposo Rainforest Adventures is dedicated to offering a quality adventure tourism experience by promoting both the rich cultural heritage of the native Naso people and the natural beauty and resources found within the Naso area.

With the changes in society and economics forcing many native Naso people leave their villages and traditional culture behind, Soposo Rainforest Adventures will help the Naso learn to value their own culture and natural resources as it is reflected in the eyes of the visitors. This enterprise will allow many community members the chance to use their traditional skills to augment their income and promote the education of traditional ways among the younger generations.

Soposo Rainforest Adventures works in conjunction with several organized community groups including ASOMETRAN, a group dedicated to continuing the use traditional Naso botanical medicine and Damas Unidas Naso, a group of Naso Women that is responsible for organizing the members from all eleven Naso communities to promote the preservation of Naso culture. Several tours offered by Soposo will visit individual Naso communities to participate directly with the members of the community women's group. A portion of all proceeds earned by Soposo Rainforest Adventures will go to the directly to the community groups for necessary supplies (material for traditional costumes, tools for artisan, gas for travel, etc.), wages for active participants, for the continuation of the group, and for a scholarship fund for participating children.

Soposo will organizationally and financially support community clean up projects, Naso language classes, environmental education for both children and adults, tourism/hospitality training for all involved members, reforestation projects and sustainable organic agriculture.

Soposo Rainforest Adventures advocates and promotes conservation as well as health and nutrition in the community by using sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques in all aspects of the business including solar energy, composting latrines, and organic gardens that visitors, as well as local villagers, can enjoy.

Learn more at the Director Desk.

Details:

Accommodations

Soposo’s guest huts and other associated buildings are located within the tropical rainforest a short distance from the beautiful Teribe River and the border of La Amistad International Park. The facilities of Soposo Rainforest Adventures are designed in a traditional style but focus on comfort and sustainability. One hut features two separate rooms, each with their own double bed. The second hut has a single room with a double bed. Both huts have private porches with hammocks. Both the composting latrine and shower are separate. The huts also feature mosquito nets around the beds, traditional style furniture, and lanterns for light.

Transportation

Travelers will have to arrange for transportation to El Silencio where you will be met by a member of the Naso community and Soposo Rainforest Adventures. Here, you will embark on a journey up river and back in time in a traditional dugout canoe. Once you reach Soposo, you will walk ~1km to the Soposo lodge.

Excursions

Day Trip- Short on time but would still like to experience a day in the life of a Naso Indian? This expedition is designed to give you a rich introduction to the Naso way of life while highlighting some of the spectacular wildlife of the area, all in a condensed 9:00am- 4:30pm schedule so that you can continue your additional travel on a timely basis. Includes round trip transportation to Soposo from Changuinola and back, traditional lunch, guided hike, and cultural activities.

Overnight- Experience a night in the jungle and wake to the calls of tropical birds. This tour offers you the opportunity to hike in the rainforest, get a dose of Naso culture and relax in jungle style. Enjoy a traditional balsa raft trip back down the river on the second day. Includes round trip transportation to Soposo from Changuinola and back, all meals, several guided hikes, one night stay at Soposo Lodge and cultural activities.

Two night/ Three day- This expedition features a day excursion to Sieyik, the Naso capital and home to the Naso king (the only remaining monarch in all of the Americas), located a 2-3 hour boat trip up the Teribe river. Includes round trip transportation to Soposo from Changuinola and back, all meals, two night stay in lodge or with a Naso family, trip up river to Sieyik, several guided hikes, and cultural activities.

Five night/ Six day- For those hoping for a true immersion experience, this expedition offers the option of an overnight home stay with a Naso family in the Naso capital of Sieyik and a trek to Druy, another Naso community, through the pristine mountain wilderness. Includes round trip transportation to Soposo from Changuinola and back, all meals, three night stay in lodge, two night home stay, trip up river to Sieyik, several guided hikes, and cultural activities.

Highlights

Witnessing life of the Naso in one of the world's most biologically diverse regions...