Page 156 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

154 The Azuero PeninsulA
enliven the numerous religious festivals. This has led to the region being fondly dubbed
the cuña (cradle) of national culture and traditions by many Panamanians – a statement
that takes little account of the cultural affinities or contributions of the country’s
non-mestizo populations and conveniently ignores the existence of much earlier cultures.
Vestiges of pre-Columbian communities, the most ancient of which was an 11,000-year-
old fishing village at Sarigua – currently the oldest known settlement on the isthmus –
provide evidence both of an earlier history and of the conquistadors’ brutal efficiency in
wiping it out. Still today you’ll notice the region’s lack of indigenous communities.
The Azuero’s greatest appeal may lie in its many festivals (see box opposite), but there’s
more to the peninsula than partying. For nature lovers, Isla Iguana and Isla de Cañas
offer very different but fascinating wildlife experiences; the former is a major nesting site
for the chest-puffing frigatebirds, boasting coral beaches and rich snorkelling, while the
latter affords a rare opportunity to witness the mass breeding of olive ridley turtles. On
the eastern seaboard Cenegón del Mangle and La Ciénega de las Macanas are important
wetlands, teeming with birdlife; while deserted beaches – broad tan, chocolate and
black stretches of sand – welcome top-notch surfing waves and world-class sport fishing
takes place off the legendary “Tuna Coast”, with many enthusiasts using understated
Pedasí as a base. In contrast, the more undulating, and slightly greener western flank of
the peninsula offers a chance to get off the beaten track and explore a more rugged
coastline, boasting more surfing hot spots and glorious sunsets.

Panama City
REFUGIO DE
VIDA SILVESTRE The Azuero PeninsulA
LA CIÉNAGA DE
LAS MACANAS
Santiago
David & Costa Rica Atalaya I N T E R A ME R I C A NA Divisa El Rincón París PARQUE hiGhliGhTs
REFUGIO DE Río Santa Ma ría
Azueran artesanía
NACIONAL
VIDA SILVESTRE
SARIGUA
Festivals
CENEGÓN
DEL MANGLE
HERRERA Parita La Arena Playa El Agallito Isla Iguana
Playa Monagre
Ocú Chitré Playa El Rompio Playa Venao
Pesé La Villa de Isla de Cañas
Río La Villa La Enea Golfo de
Ponuga Río Ponuga Los Santos The Western Azuero
Playa
Las Minas Río Guararé Guararé El Uverito P anamá
Los Pozos
El Toro Las Tablas Puerto Mensabé
Cerro Alto Higo Macaracas
(953m) REFUGIO DE
Río Mariato RESERVA FORESTAL Pocrí ISLA IGUANA
Mariato VIDA SILVESTRE
EL MONTUOSO
Cerro
Playa La Reina Canajagua
(830m)
Malena LOS SANTOS Playa
Torio Pedasí Arenal
Cerro Quema
Punta (950m) Río Oría Playa El Toro
Duarte VERAGUAS
Playa La Garita
Playa
Morillo Cañas Punta
Mala
Playa Los
Golfo de Río Tonosí Playa Playa Destiladeros
Chiriqui Río Pavo Tonosí REFUGIO DE Venao Ciruelo
Arenas Flores Cerro Jobero VIDA SILVESTRE
ISLA DE CAÑAS
Cerro Hoya Cambutal P A CIFIC
(1400m)
(1559m) N
Río Varadero Guánico Abajo
PARQUE NACIONAL Playa Guánico Abajo OCEAN
CERRO HOYA Cambutal
Los Buzos
Restingue Playa Marinera
El Cobachón Playa 0 15
Cambutal kilometres
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