Most lodges offer tours to an indigenous village, or you can pick a company in Bocas Town to go through.
6 different indigenous tribes exist in Panama, and the Ngöbe-Buglé live in Bocas del Toro. Despite the increasing influence of modern society, many of these tribes hold onto their traditional culture and language. Most groups live on ancestral lands in semiautonomous reservations called comarcas. Indigenous people typically make a living through a combo fo farming, fishing, hunting, and handicraft sales, though some groups are expanding to ecotourism. However, most are still extremely poor and their infrastructure is made largely from materials harvested from the land. The Ngöbe-Buglé have largely resisted outside influence and have preserved their culture, partially because their communities are scattered within huge undeveloped areas. They have political autonomy as well as representation in Panamanian legislature.
We opted for the tour through Popa Paradise Beach Resort which began with a boat ride through a narrow channel in the mangroves. We then followed an indigenous and local guide through the rainforest where he pointed out interesting plants and bird species. You’ll walk along planks over swamp water (hold onto the poles sticking out of the water!) and end on a dirt path. You’ll then emerge to the beautiful village of Popa Dos. Our guide showed us his house and walked us through the village, pointing out the different buildings. At the end was the option to buy jewelry and handiwork from the locals (but it was extremely non-pressured and a really delightful experience). Boat back to your lodging.
Talk to your lodging about options, but some other options if you aren’t staying at Popa Paradise: