Private tour in Panama City Mario G
5.0
(1) review
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Mario G.
5.0
Guide rating
72
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Tours delivered
8 hrs
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I come from a family of hard working entrepreneurs who taught me self respect, global business, common sense, humility, family values, and respect to God, country, fellow human beings, all living creatures and nature in general. Above all, I am a husband and a father to six exceptional girls and boys who make me very proud. I've long enjoyed traveling, for my family owned a construction business as well as the best marble and tile factory in Panama so this required me to travel throughout Europe, Asia and North America since I was 17 years old. I love deep sea fishing around the Peal Island Archipelago in Panama's Pacific Ocean. I also enjoy cooking for my friends and family as well as dinning out at the best European and Chinese restaurants that Panama has to offer. During the pandemic, construction was null and we were on lockdown for almost a year. Later, when we were allowed out again around March 2021, I had to find an alternate business in order to provide food for my family and fulfill my financial commitments. Thank God one of my grade school friends who owns a tour and excursions company, offered me to come and help him with his clients. Since I was educated in the USA, speak fluent English and drive a luxury SUV, so he considered I was perfect for the job. I soon became his student as he taught me all he had learned over the past eight years providing tours and excursions to over 4, 000 guests visiting Panama. Hosting and making friends, showing people my beautiful country, that I love so much, comes very natural to me. The fact that I went to a military school in the USA also gives me the knowledge on the culture and ways of the American traveler as well as being courteous and always on time to all meetings, appointments and events. With tourism I actually found a beautiful side of both, Panama and myself that I didn't know existed. The Monkey Island that travelers enjoy so much, the Sloth Sanctuary, the Embera Indigenous Village Tribe, the rainforest zip-line, the canopy tower at Pipeline Road, the hiking trail at the Metropolitan Park, the history of "Casco Viejo" (Old Town), Panama La Vieja (Old City of Panama), the San Lorenzo Fortress on the Caribbean side, the building and operations of the Panama Canal, the Miraflores visitor center on the Pacific and the Agua Clara visitor center on the Atlantic side of Panama, El Valle Mountain with its waterfalls, thermal water wells, wild animal refuge, mountain hiking, etc. Also the Caribbean Island of Isla Grande, being in the Pacific and Atlantic sides with only one hour apart from each other is priceless. I love Panama and would love to show it to you through my eyes. I enjoy hosting and entertaining guests from all over the world, not only as a local tour guide, but as a friend or family member abroad would do. If you have any questions or special requests, don't hesitate to contact me, I'll make sure we figure out together how best to solve any issues that may be preventing you to make an educated decision. I'm very flexible and easy to work with. I look forward to meeting you and your loved ones on your next visit to Panama. Take good care. Safe travels, Mario Associates of Arts Degree from Valley Forge Military College | June 2nd, 1990. Bachelor of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University | July 31st, 1994. Panama Tourism Authority General Tour Guide License #28098 | May 2nd, 2021 to present.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Mario G.
Panama is an amazing place, full of history, adventure & hidden natural treasures. Part of that is the EMBERAs, one of the original tribes that inhabited here since before the discovery of "The New World" (America) by Christopher Columbus, dating back 1500 years. This experience happens at the heart of the rainforest, around the artificial Alajuela Lake, flooded by the engineers that designed and built the Panama Canal. On this tour you'll get a general idea on how the indigenous tribes lived prior to America's discovery. On my 1st visit to the village, I learned about their history, culture, traditions, education, rituals, beliefs, & how mother nature provides all needed to live. I learned how they make clothing, the ink used to color their handcrafts, materials to build homes; leafs, roots & flowers to make remedies for illnesses; how they prepare food; they even taught me how to dance to their music. It was a very rich & rewarding experience that I'll never forget.
·Tour starts at pickup point previously agreed upon within the downtown Panama City area. ·We'll drive for 1 hour to the Alajuela Lake, where the boat captain will transport us to the Waterfall near the Embera Village. 45 minutes later we’ll be brought to the village. ·On arrival, we’ll be greeted by the community's welcoming committee. ·Then the head of the community's guest relations will take us to the community centre and give us lunch while providing a presentation on the history, customs, language, culture, education and diet of the tribe. ·Later we'll take a tour of the village and see how they live, including their huts and living quarters. ·After that, we'll gather around the community centre to watch the villagers play their ancestral music and dance as they've been taught for generations. ·Following they'll show us all of the handcrafts made by them, to help tribe members with their living expenses. ·At last, we'll get back to mainland and head back to the final drop-off
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A clean and well kept 2015 Lexus LX570 Luxury SUV, with a 5.7 liter V8 gasoline engine, all wheel drive, automatic transmission, leather seats, moon roof, front and rear air conditioning, cool box, 10 speaker sound system, bluetooth, dvd and 5 doors. To reach the village we'll use a 20' panga propelled by a 30hp gasoline outboard engine commanded by one of the villagers.
Panama City, Panamá Province, Panama
Downtown Panama City Hotel; Panama Cruise Terminal; Tocumen Intl. Airport; Albrook Airport; Howard Panama Pacifico Intl. Airport
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