Comarcas, the Autonomous Regions of Panama

Comarca, in Spanish, means region. In Panama a comarca indígena, shortened to comarca, is a semi autonomous, indigenous region within the country.

There are three Panama comarcas of province level and two sub province level Panama comarcas.

Province Level Comarcas

• Kuna Yala

• Emberá

• Ngöble- Buglé

Sub Province Level Comarcas

• Kuna de Wargandí

• Kuna de Madugandi

Kuna Yala

This comarca was the first in Panama. After much violence involving the Panama police the native peoples of the San Blas islands and adjacent mainland rebelled in 1925. They gained semi independence with recognition of Kuna’s autonomous status as a region in Panama in 1930. In 1938 the Comarca of San Blas was formed from parts of Colon and Panama provinces. It took until 1953 to define the government structure of this Panama autonomous region. The Comarca of San Blas has subsequently been renamed the Comarca of Kuna Yala, the Kuna people.

The Kuna government welcomes and has developed tourism to the islands and mainland of the beautiful San Blas Archipelago. The best way to visit is to fly from Panama City. There are many package deals with modern hotel accommodations. From walks on pristine white sand beaches to sea kayaking expeditions and visits to indigenous villages Kuna provides a wide range of tourist experiences.

What you cannot do is buy property in the Panama comarca of Kuna Yala. The Kuna fled to the coast in the days of the Spanish Conquistadors and have protected their culture ever since. Come and visit, enjoy, and leave. The Kuna are not selling any part of their autonomous region of Panama to anybody.

Kuna Language

The language of Kuna Yala and of all Kuna comarcas in Panama is Kuna. This is the language of the Kuna indigenous people of Southeastern Panama and Northwestern Colombia. This is not Spanish and certainly not English. You will need an English speaking guide or interpreter for some of your activities in the Panama autonomous region of Kuna Yala, or any of the other comarcas, if you stray very far from the beaten path.

According the web site, native-languages.org, “Cuna is a Chibchan language of Central America, spoken by more than 40,000 people in southeastern Panama and northwestern Colombia. Two varieties of the Cuna language, one known as San Blas or Island Cuna and the other as Border or Mountain Cuna, are usually treated as dialects of a single Cuna language, but some linguists consider them to be closely related but distinct languages.”

Emberá

Emberá is a Panama comarca indígena in eastern Panama created in 1983 within Darién Province which borders Colombia. According to the 2000 census the comarca had about 8000 people living in an area of about 500 square miles. Inhabitants of the Emberá autonomous region of Panama speak Emberá which is a Choco language which in turn is distinct from Kuna.

The Embará live in what is now Chagres National Park. In order to make a living the community has had to resurrect parts of their native culture to display to tourists. As such, the Embará practice not only eco tourism but cultural tourism. Travel up the Chagres River to a “remote” village to witness a display of indigenous culture in a natural setting has become a salable experience.

Ngöble- Buglé

Ngöble-Buglé comarca in Panama was formed in 1997 with lands from the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Veraguas. Ngöble-Buglé has a population of 169,130 mainly Guaymí (Ngöble and Buglé). The Ngöble-Buglé or Guaymí speak Ngäbere which, like Kuna, is neither Spanish nor English. The Ngöble-Buglé comprise the largest indigenous community in Panama.

Improvement of sustainable agriculture practices is an ongoing issue with the Ngöble-Buglé. In this Panama autonomous region eco tourism is on the rise and promises an outside source of income.

Sub comarca of Kuna de Madugandi

Kuna de Madugandi is a comarca in Panamá. It was created in 1996 from the east part of the province of Panamá, in the district of Chepo. The primary ethnicity is Kuna.

Kuna de Wargandí

The Kuna de Wargandí comarca in Panama was also created out of Darien Province. It is an area of about 300 square miles and also is inhabited by Kuna.

The inhabitants of the five comarcas in Panama consider themselves both Panamanian and members of their own autonomous region. All regions welcome tourists and are developing more modern facilities. However, these are currently not areas of investment in Panama and not areas where you can purchase housing.

Consult ABPanama for possible Panama investment and real estate opportunities in Panama.

Kuna-Yala

Native-Language