Cartí travel guide

The community of Cartí, south of El Porvenir, consists of several densely inhabited island villages and a mainland settlement with a landing strip. Cartí Sugtupu is the usual port of call, with its interesting folkloric museum and crowds of mola vendors. There’s lots of social amenities in this busy community, including a school, post office, library and medical centre. Sadly, it’s also quite polluted, particularly around the port. If you’re looking for an encounter with traditional Kuna culture, this isn’t the best place. Many people here have exchanged their traditional clothing for Western-style attire and cruise ships frequently descend on the area bringing crowds of gawping tourists, which is actually the best time to see the locals dressed like Kunas, if you can stand the ambience. If you’re looking for a more natural locale, the rather lovely Isla Aguja lies nearby, with its beaches, palm trees and handful of inhabitants. Some people get to this region by road, travelling north from the village of El Llano, which lies east of Panama City on the Interamericana . It’s also possible to reach Cartí by boat from El Porvenir, US$25, speak to your hotel about arranging the trip.