This zone, in the far northeast corner of the county, is engulfed in a sea of bananas. The unlovely regional centre of Changuinola offers no inherent attractions and is a place to pass through en route to precious wetlands and to indigenous communities that are evolving an eco-touristic aesthetic.

San San Pond Sak Wetlands

These coastal wetlands cover 16125 hectares extending from Rio Sixaola to Bahia de Almirante. They include seasonally flooded forest dominated by oreys, mangroves, palms, and peat marshes. San San Pond Sak was designated an Internationally Important Wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 1994 and is a precious habitat for endangered species, including manatees, river otters, and the tucuxi dolphin.

Wekso Centro Ecotouristico Naso

This project was established in 1995 to orient the indigenous Naso-Teribe people toward sustainable practices, including ecotourism, reforestation, and production of quality native crafts. The Naso retain their own language and are attempting to revitalize centuries-old practices of shamanism and medicinal plant use. They live in 27 communities in the Rio Teribe valley, on the border with Parque Internacional La Amistad.