If there is one place in Panama that can be rightfully called the cradle of Spanish folklore and traditions, it is the Azuero Peninsula. Azuero is the wellspring of all that is indigenous to Panama such as the stunning traditional pollera; delicate ceramic handicrafts made in pre-Colombian designs; Panama’s national drink Seco, the exotic sugarcane liquor; and rows of houses and age-old churches with a strong influence of the Spanish-colonial architecture.
Many foreign tourists are not aware that Azuero is popular among Panamanians as the land of festivals. The locals often visit Azuero during the carnivals and religious festivals in order to experience their countryside where it appears the 20th century has not arrived. The contrast that Azuero presents in its laidback lifestyle and go-easy attitude of people has tourists returning to the countryside to enjoy the “going back in time” experience.
Las Tablas and Los Santos, Azuero’s two large towns, come alive with a riot of hue and colors during the carnival in February. The whole town wears a festive look with exquisite colors, intricate and bright embroideries of pollera, unique Panama Hats each hand crafted by local artisans, and many forgotten customs from thousands of years ago. Foreign tourists have to plan their travel to Las Tablas for the carnival at least a year in advance to partake in the celebrations.
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Panama, Azuero is divided into three provinces – Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas. Herrera is mostly land-locked; Los Santos has the longest and the most beautiful beaches in the peninsula, some of them resembling the Panama City beaches minus the bustle and clutter; and Veraguas with its Caribbean and Pacific coast. Both Los Santos and Veraguas offer world class surfing and sports fishing. Venao Beach in Los Santos and Catalina Beach in Veraguas are one every surfer’s list.
Isla Iguana near the Pedasi coast is your window into the wilderness. When you are tired gazing at the giant iguanas, Carey turtles, humpback whales, and the brightly-colored birds, you can go snorkeling or diving in one of Panama’s best waters. For nature lovers, Coiba Islands also has a marine park rich in biodiversity.
Azuero is a curious blend of the ancient and modern cultures. It is not uncommon to see an elegant display of clay pottery and handicrafts, festival masks, and Panama hats for sale in front of houses. While on the one hand Azuero takes pride in some of the oldest archeological excavations dating back 11,000 years, provinces like Chitre and Los Santos have a modern outlook. Chitre has an airport, an extensive network of well-connected transport services, three-star hotels, convenience stores, and movie theaters. The National Highway connects these two cities to the Pan-American Highway giving roadies a pleasurable driving experience. In these parts of Azuero, it is not uncommon to see cow boys on horsebacks and dapper businessmen driving in swanky new cars.
The anthropology and natural history museum transports you to an era as early as 5,000 B.C. showcasing pre-Colombian artifacts and pottery used by the early settlers of Panama. The local folkloric costumes on exhibition are clear indicators that Azuero has progressed along the right lineage. The bell-tower of Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman, an 18th-century church; the statue of Madonna displayed at the Colonial Art Museum; and Iglesia San Juan Bautista in Chitre’s town square just prove the point.
