Azuero – Land of Traditions (5 days)

Details:

  • 5 days/4 nights
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Minimum: 2 persons

Includes:

  • Bilingual guide
  • A/C Transportation
  • Daily Breakfast and lunch
  • Entrance fees to included attractions
  • Accommodations in selected hotel

What to Expect

Enjoy a great adventure at the Azuero Peninsula, the Cradle of Panama’s traditions and folklore.

Visit authentic Colonial towns in the region and the workshops of different local artisans who will show you their skills at making the famous “Sombrero Pintado” (the real Panama hat), scary Dirty Devils Mask, Handmade Drums and the hard labor of hand sowing a beautiful Pollera, the national dress of Panama.

You will also learn about local agriculture and of some of the products that come out of this rich area, like salt, sugar, rum and the delicious wood oven bread from “la Arena”.

Photos

Itinerary

Day 1. Transfer to the Azuero Peninsula

Start your adventure with an interesting ride, through Panama’s colorful countryside, to the town of La Pintada, where well-known local artisan, Reynaldo Quirós, will teach you all about the “Sombrero Pintao”, the real Panama hat, part of our most treasured traditions.

From here you’ll go on a short drive to El Caño archaeological site.  Featured in the January edition of National Geographic 2012 in the article “Panama’s Nata Chiefs”, the area had great importance during pre-Columbian times as a ceremonial, ritual and commercial center for cultures from all over America and it’s considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the century.

After this interesting visits we will continue to your final destination of the day, the town of Chitré.

Meals included – Breakfast and lunch
Night at your selected hotel in Chitré

Day 2. Made in Azuero

Today you will begin with a short drive from your hotel to the nearby agricultural areas observe the traditional extraction of salt from the Pacific Ocean, using the same technique the indigenous tribes developed in pre Columbian times, then visit the village of La Arena, famous for its magnificent pottery and see how hard it is to use the potter’s wheel to produce this magnificent works of art that decorate most of our houses.

Afterwards, visit a traditional sugar cane mill to see how the refreshing sugar cane juice called “Guarapo” is made and how sugar cane honey is cooked. Finally learn how the local bread, called “Pan de La Arena”, is baked in clay ovens and what’s the secret behind its unique taste.

At noon, taste a delicious traditional Panamanian lunch at a local “Fonda”.

In the afternoon you will learn from the experts about the handcrafting of the Pollera, the pride of every Panamanian home.  You will also visit the studios of local artisans dedicated to Panama’s Folklore: A maker of the fearful devil’s masks used for the folkloric dances of the Dirty Devils and the Corpus Cristi festival; and a drum maker that hand makes wooden drums that are the most important part of Panama’s traditional music

The inhabitants of the Azuero Peninsula live their traditions and their folklore proudly and this is visible in their daily lives.

Meals included – Breakfast and lunch

Night at your selected hotel in Chitré

Day 3. Snorkeling and hiking at Isla Iguana

Today you’ll be taken to Playa El Arenal in Pedasí, where your boat takes you to Iguana Island – a wildlife refuge 8 kilometers off the coast. The island is famous for its white sand beach, crystal waters, extensive mangrove forests and coral riffs including 12 different types of corals that shelter more than 300 species of fish. Dolphins are frequently seen, turtles and – between June and October – humpback whales that migrate from cold waters to Panama’s Pacific coast with warmer water temperatures.

Iguana Island is also home to a large breeding colony of frigate birds and – as the island’s name indicates – iguanas. On the island you will explore a hiking trail that crosses the island from West to East to observe the iguanas and marine birds with your guide. You will then settle at the beach and explore the different coral reefs and the colorful submarine world snorkeling. Enjoy some relaxing time at the beach while your guide prepares a snack with fresh fruits, sandwiches and cookies for you. A traditional lunch of fried fish and plantains will be served once back on the mainland.

Meals included – Breakfast and lunch

Night at your hotel in Panama City

Day 4. The Rum Abuelo Tour

Start your tour with a brief, informative introduction before going on an ox cart ride through the sugarcane fields all the way to the distillery where you will learn about the steps needed to produce the alcohol and the molasses from sugar cane.  Then, we will visit the bodegas, lined with oak barrels where the rum will age 5, 7, 12 or 30 years before it is ready to be sold and exported. 

Finish the experience with guided rum tasting of the different aged rums produced in the Hacienda. With the help of an in-house expert, you will enjoy the existing varieties, including the Abuelo Centuria, an award-winning solera rum aged for 30 years. After this, you will enjoy a traditional Panamanian lunch and an open-bar of rum- and seco-based cocktails.

After this interesting experience, you are ready to head back to Panama City and enjoy a free afternoon and explore this fast growing and cosmopolitan place.

Meals included – Breakfast and lunch

Night at your hotel in Panama City

Day 5. Transfer to International Airport

At the appropriate time a Dynamo Travel representative will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the international airport of Tocumen for your flight back home.

Map

Tour Highlights

Authentic Colonial Towns
Local artisan workshops
Wildlife observation
Snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean

What to bring:

  • Fresh clothes
  • Sun protection
  • Bathing suit
  • Camera
  • Comfortable walking
  • Shoes
  • Backpack
  • Raingear
  • Water