The Ngöbe (pronounced: “No-Bay”) are the largest indigenous group in Panama.
The Ngäbe make up over 60% of Panama’s indigenous population and are closely affiliated with a smaller group known as the Buglé. Both communities were previously referred to as Guaymi.
Ngäbe villages are scattered throughout the Bocas Del Toro region with some having populations of 800 or more people.
They traditionally survive off of subsistence farming and fishing but now there is growing interest in ecotourism. It is said that the Ngäbe people were the fiercest warriors in Panama and were the only indigenous group capable of kicking the Spanish out of their lands.
Today, many Ngäbe villages offer community-based ecotourism projects. If you are visiting Bocas Del Toro, a Ngäbe guide Rutilio Milton in the village of Bahia Honda between the islands of Bastimentos and Solarte offers an excellent tour on the Sloth Trail to the beautiful Nivida Bat Cave in Bastimentos National Park.
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Added By Kyle Pearce
I started Nature Retreats to spotlight ecolodges, retreat centers and ecotourism projects following sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities and protect fragile biodiversity.
I have been running mindful hiking retreats for the last 7 years that integrate mindful awareness, experiential learning and community building practices.
I have been an experiential learning designer for over a decade through my company DIY Genius, which helps creative people productize their expertise.
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