Page 157 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

Chitré and around The Azuero PeninsulA 155
FESTIVALS IN THE AZUERO
the azuero’s festivals reel in thousands of Panamanians from all over the country, particularly
for the major parties of Carnaval in Las tablas and Chitré, Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos
and the Festival de la Mejorana in Guararé. despite being championed as fine examples of
the country’s Spanish heritage, the festivities actually illustrate its hybridity: solemn religious
ceremonies combine with pagan rituals and hedonistic excess; traditional folk groups are followed
by dJs blasting out reggaeton, bachata and salsa; and stylized andalusian-inspired dances such as
the tamborito (Panama’s national dance) and punto are imbued with african and pre-Columbian
rhythms using drums, gourds and seed pods. More than five hundred festivals are held annually in
the region, so you could spend a whole year here in a permanent alcoholic haze drifting from one
celebration to the next, soaking up (literally and metaphorically) the legendary azueran hospitality.
MAIN EVENTS
Jan 6 Fiesta de los reyes Magos and Encuentro del Canajagua, Macaracas.
Jan (second Sat) desfile de las Mil Polleras, Las tablas (see box, p.167).
Late Jan (date varies) Feria de San Sebastián, ocú (see box, p.161).
Feb (date varies) the country’s biggest Carnaval celebration, Las tablas (see box, p.167).
March/April (date varies) Semana Santa, celebrated most colourfully in La Villa de Los
Santos, Pesé and Guararé.
Late April Feria internacional de azuero, La Villa de Los Santos.
May/June (date varies) Festival de Corpus Christi, La Villa de Los Santos (see box, p.163).
June 24 Patronales de San Juan, Chitré.
Panama City
REFUGIO DE July (third week) Festival de La Santa Librada and Festival de la Pollera, Las tablas (see box, p.167).
VIDA SILVESTRE The Azuero PeninsulA
LA CIÉNAGA DE Aug (second week) Festival del Manito, ocú (see box, p.161). 4
LAS MACANAS
Late Sept Festival de la Mejorana, Guararé (see box, p.165).
Santiago
David & Costa Rica Atalaya I N T E R A ME R I C A NA Divisa El Rincón París PARQUE hiGhliGhTs Nov 10 the “First Cry for independence”, La Villa de Los Santos.
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 Chitré and around
Playa Monagre
Ocú Chitré Playa El Rompio Playa Venao CHITRÉ, the provincial capital of Herrera province and the main urban centre in the
Pesé La Villa de Isla de Cañas Azuero Peninsula, makes an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area and for
Río La Villa La Enea Golfo de attractive colonial centre, Chitré was founded in 1848, though indications are that
Ponuga Río Ponuga Los Santos The Western Azuero attending the region’s numerous festivals. A laidback commercial town with an
Playa
Las Minas Río Guararé Guararé El Uverito P anamá conquistadors had been there since the mid-1500s. Life centres on the bustling streets
around Calle Manuel María Correa (where you’ll find the interesting regional museum)
Los Pozos
El Toro Las Tablas Puerto Mensabé and the well-manicured Parque Unión with its splendid cathedral, notable for its
wooden interior. The compact colonial quarter of Chitré can easily be explored in a
Cerro Alto Higo Macaracas couple of hours, leaving time to peruse the crafts in the northern suburb of La Arena,
(953m) REFUGIO DE
Mariato VIDA SILVESTRE noted for its garish ceramics. Nature lovers will also be drawn to the nearby mud flats
Río Mariato RESERVA FORESTAL Pocrí ISLA IGUANA
EL MONTUOSO
Cerro of Playa El Agallito and the wetlands of Cenegón del Mangle and La Ciénega de las
Playa La Reina Canajagua Macanas, which attract prolific birdlife, particularly migratory waders. Of more general
(830m)
Malena LOS SANTOS Playa interest is the picturesque village of Parita, possessing a delightful church and, further
Torio Pedasí Arenal afield, the surreal desert-like Parque Nacional Sarigua. Some of these destinations are
Cerro Quema
Punta (950m) Río Oría Playa El Toro not easily accessible without your own transport, especially in the rainy season.
Duarte VERAGUAS
Playa La Garita
Playa
Morillo Cañas Punta
Mala Catedral de San Juan Bautista
Playa Los
Golfo de Río Tonosí Playa Playa Destiladeros
Chiriqui Río Pavo Tonosí REFUGIO DE Venao Ciruelo Parque Unión • Daily 6am–8pm • Free
Arenas Flores Cerro Jobero VIDA SILVESTRE The imposing Catedral de San Juan Bautista, built between 1896 and 1910, underwent
ISLA DE CAÑAS
Cerro Hoya Cambutal P A CIFIC a major restoration in the late 1980s, which took the unusual step of exposing some of
(1400m)
(1559m) N
Río Varadero Guánico Abajo the exterior stone walls to provide a striking contrast with the snow-white facade and
PARQUE NACIONAL Playa Guánico Abajo OCEAN
CERRO HOYA Cambutal bell towers. The restrained, polished wooden interior also makes a refreshing change
Los Buzos
Restingue Playa Marinera from the ornate decor in many Catholic churches, especially the gilded mahogany altar,
El Cobachón Playa 0 15
Cambutal kilometres which is complemented by bright stained-glass windows.
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