Las Tablas District

It is important to note that Las Tablas (and the Azuero peninsula, for that matter) is within the five oldest settlements in the history of the continent, dating back many centuries. Las Tablas is made up of 24 towns: Las Tablas, Bajo Corral, Bayano, El Carate, El Cocal, el Manantial, el Muñoz, El Pedregoso, La Laja, La Miel, La Palma, La Tiza, Las Palmitas, Las Tablas Abajo, Nuario, Palmira, Peña Blanca, Río hondo, San José, San Miguel, Santo Domingo, El Sesteadero, Valle Rico, and Vallerriquito. Most popular, of course, is Las Tablas city, home of what is without question the most popular destination for the yearly Carnaval festivities take place in early March.

The Los Santos Villa

The Los Santos Villa, or “Villa de Los Santos” as it is known in Spanish, is a small town located in the Azuero Peninsula. It is part of the Los Santos province, with a cattle and agriculture-based economy that pushes the region forward. The townsfolk is very friendly and approachable, no doubt influenced by the increasingly steady flow of tourism that the area enjoys due to the fairs and Carnival festivities that take place every year.

The Azuero Peninsula

The Azuero Peninsula (or Peninsula de Azuero in Spanish) is located in the southern part of the republic of Panama surrounded by the Gulf of Panama to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the South. The peninsula is famous for many things, most notably it proud sense of Panamanian heritage, easygoing lifestyle, and its place as one of the favorite tourist destinations by both locals and foreigners.

The most popular times of the year to visit the Azuero Peninsula include the yearly Carnival celebrations taking place all across the country between late February-early March, the Mejorana Festival, where people from all over the world visit to see Panamanian customs, dances and parades.

Pedasí

Pedasí is a district of the Province of Los Santos. The district is divided in the following towns: Mariabé, Pedasí, Los Asientos and Purio. Pedasí is notable because it is the hometown of the first female Panamanian president, Ms. Mireya Moscoso. As part of the Azuero Peninsula, Pedasí is full of Panamanian heritage and is also a favorite spot for people visiting Azuero to stay.

Isla Iguana

Isla Iguana is the site of the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, a wildlife reserve that spans 58 acres and is located roughly 5km off the Los Santos Province. The U.S. Army used Isla Iguana as a bombing range during World War II and, as a result, many dormant mines and bombs were left on the site. All of them, including two 1000lb bombs clustered in the surrounding coral reef, had to be detonated in order to comply with the reversion of these previously U.S.-operated territories in the late 1990’s. Now it’s the home of exotic fauna and flora, including various species of frigates and sea turtles.

Filed under: Los Santos on June 3rd, 2008