Location
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| Las Tablas Actualized Map |
The city of Las Tablas is the capital of Los Santos province, Panama. Las Tablas is located on a beautiful plain of approximately 12 km from the pacific coast, having a port called Mensabé. It is quite difficult to know exactly when this city was founded. Tradition indicates that the captain of the navy, Jacinto Barahona, founded it approximately on July 19, 1671. In 1721, the Santa Librada church was already complete. Today this is a National monument and one of the most popular churches in Panama.
Culture
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Diablicos súcios (the representation of evil in the "Corpus Christy" celebration")
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Los Santos province is considered as the cradle of one of the greatest expressions of Panamanian folklore. Located in the Azuero peninsula,the roled played by Las Tablas district has been preponderant for centuries.
Places in Las Tablas such as Santo Domingo, La Palma, San José, among others are recognized for their laborious work in the typical national costume making, “La Pollera.” These places are also well known for their high quality making of "camisillas" (men and women shirts), ,"pintao hats" (hats made with a special dried plant leaves", "cutarras" (traditional footwear) and others.
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Cutarras (traditional footwear)
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Las Tablas district is famous for being the birthplace and guardian of various rhythms of vernacular music and its categories. Some are: The Panamanian cumbia, “el tamborito,” religious songs (“salves” and hymns dating from the Spanish Colony period), “la saloma” (break and mix of male and female voices), “la décima,” “la murga,” old verses, and other musical genres.
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| Tambores (traditional Panamanian drum) |
In Las Tablas town, the violin and flute have always been skillfully performed. This has built some of the great treasures of the Panamanian popular music such as the famous Panamanian “danzones, cumbias cerradas, atravesaos, denesas and puntos,” to name a few. These were the dances of the locals in the 18th and 19th centuries. The tamboreros (drummers) of Las Tablas town have great prestige, thanks to their skill in beating these percussion instruments with their hands, which are also handcrafted in Las Tablas and San José (in the village of Las Tablas).
Average Weather in Las Tablas
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| Source: en.climate-data.org |
In Las Tablas, the rainy season is hot and cloudy. The dry season is very hot, windy and partly cloudy and is oppressive all year round. During the course of the year, the temperature generally ranges from 23 ° C to 32 ° C and rarely drops below 22 ° C or rises above 33 ° C.
Architecture
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| Quincha (Traditional Building Architecture) |
The vernacular architecture of the city of Las Tablas is based on that of southern Spain, highlighting the large houses or farmhouses with wide portals, adobe walls or quincha (mud, straw and bamboo), creole tiles.
Neoclassical style constructions also touched the board with the construction of the "Model School" Presidente Porras in 1924 and in the 1930s with the disappeared Gerardino De León Hospital, as well as the National Police headquarters with a notable Neo-Colonial touch.
Historical Monuments to Visit
Farm “Pausílipo” of Doctor Belisario Porras
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One of President Porras properties (today national monument)
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On May 19, 1994, the farm of Dr. Belisario Porras (three times president of Panama) called "El Pausílipo" was declared a national historical monument and Los Santos regional museum was created. This is the name of the property owned by Belisario Porras Barahona in Las Tablas Town.
Spot where Dr. Belisario Porras was born
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Place where President Porras was born
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On 1953, the place where Dr. Belisario Porras was born in Las Tablas was declared a national monument. At the time of the enactment of the Law, the place where Dr. Porras was born consisted of a piece of land in front of the Porras Park. That same Law ordered the initiation of a construction work that consisted of a building. This building would be called "Palacio Belisario Porras" and would be located on the place declared a national monument. In the City of Las Tablas, it is located The Belisario Porras Museum.
President Porras School No.1
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"Escuela Modelo" (one of the first elementary schools in Panama)
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By the decree 57 0f 1998, the building “Presidente Porras School” was declared a national historical monument in Las Tablas Town. This school has its origins Las Tablas town, 1924. It was known as the “model school” for elementary education. It was built all with bricks. The Presidente Porras School has a symmetrical and heavy architecture. Its large wooden shutter-style windows, central staircase, two projecting lateral volumes as towers and a clock become symbols of the building.
Parochial Church of Santa Librada
The Parochial Church of Santa Librada was built during the Spanish Colony around 1725. On 1954, it was declared a national historical monument. It is located in Las Tablas Town. It is one the most representative churches of Las Tablas and the whole country. This is well known for its beautiful architecture and history. This church dates from the 18th century. The construction of this important Catholic church was completed on March 9, 1789 in Baroque style. However, the entire building had to be rebuilt due to an earthquake that occurred on November 25, 1802. The church has as Saint Patron to Santa Librada.
Traditional Festivities
Santa Librada
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Patrón Saint of Las Tablas
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The Spanish colonization influenced on religious aspects too. This is the case of Las Tablas religious patron, Santa Librada. The devotion the the Galician Martyr, born in Bayonnem, is today Las Tablas' religious patron. Every July 19 of every year, thousands of devotes from all over Panama arrive to Las Tablas to give tribute to Santa Librada, better known as “La Moñona” (long-hair woman).
Carnival
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Panama's most famous Celebration
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This festivity has been traditionally celebrated since 1950´s. the carnival first started between two groups of devotes of different places and patrons with the purpose of choosing one of their saints as the final patron of the town; Santa Cruz and Santa Liberata or Santa Librada. Finally, Santa Librada was chosen as the patron and still is today. The carnival may be quite different from its beginning, but the essence remains today.
Las Mil Polleras Parade
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Thousands of women dressed up with "polleras" attend to this parade
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Las Mil Polleras Parade honors the important work of Panamanian artisans who try to maintain our traditions and make the national costume last. In addition to the parade, other folk events are prepared for visitors to this event.
Corpus Christy
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It represents the fight for the souls between the evil and God
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The celebration of Corpus Christi Day dates back to the years 1192-1258 and to date these festivities of the Catholic Church are held in many countries of the world. Corpus Christi is a feast of the Catholic Church intended to celebrate the Eucharist. Its main purpose is to proclaim and increase the faith of the Catholic Church in Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament.
In Panama, Corpus Christi is celebrated religiously on Thursdays in a town called La Villa de Los Santos in the interior of the country. This festival maintains great significance for its inhabitants.
Playa Las Comadres
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The two rocks tower over the beach
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The story relates the story of two woman, neighbors and friends. One day they had an argue and by the mid of that day, they prettified and became two rocks near the coast. The beach is surrounded by lots of rocks, but these two one are the biggest.
Location:
This tourist site is located in the village of Tablas Abajo, very close to the "Pausilipo" (home of Dr. Belisario Porras). Getting there is easy. You can get there by car.
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Dawn view of the beach
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El Uverito is a beach on the Pacific coast of Panama. It is a familiar beach, with a high level of occupation, white sand and crystal clear waters. The name of the beach comes from a hundred-year-old Uvero tree, under which the joyful "Perote" festivals were traditionally held.
Location:
El Uverito Beach is located 11.2 kilometers from the center of the city of Las Tablas, province of Los Santos.
Other beaches:
Puerto de Mensabé
Playa El Estero
Playa Las Coloradas
Hotels
Presidente Las Tablas Hotel
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Pool view of the hotel
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Presidente Hotel is located in Las Tablas, next to Porras Park. The property has an outdoor pool, Roof bar and restaurant, La Molienda. It also provides free private parking. The rooms in this hotel include air conditioning, plasma TV, breakfast and a private bathroom. Hotel Presidente Las Tablas has free WiFi in all areas. The property offers room service and event facilities for up to 100 people.
Miranda suits
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Private Cribs at Miranda's suits
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Located in Las Tablas, Exclusive Miranda Suites Beach House # 1 offers air-conditioned accommodation with a terrace. The property offers access to a patio, free private parking and free Wi-Fi. The house has 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 2 bathrooms with a shower. There is a barbecue at the property and guests can go hiking nearby. The nearest airport is Pedasí Airport, 85 km from Exclusive Miranda Suites Beach House # 1.
Don Amable Hostel
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A less expensive option for travelers, Don Amable Hostel
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Located in Las Tablas, Hostel Don Amable offers free WiFi. The property has family rooms. The nearest airport is Pedasí Airport, 44 km from the property.
Restaurants
La Maestra restaurant
El Caserón restaurant
Gastronomy
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Some traditional dishes of the Panamanian Cuisine
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The Azuero Peninsula shares many of its recipes of origin with almost all places found in it. Some of the most famous recipes of the Azuero Peninsula are the delicious “Sancocho de Gallina,” the delicious “pastelitos” (baby corn ground and fried), the “lechona” (traditional seasoned pork meat), the “change” (baby corn roasted tortilla). There is also a large list of desserts such as “pesada de nance” (cream made of nance fruit), “cocada” (ground coconut with sugar cane honey), “bienmesabe” (cake of milk similar to a flan, but harder), etc.
Traditional “sancocho panameño”
The traditional “sancocho de gallina de patio” (patio chicken soup) is Panama´s iconic traditional food. This is the type of food that represents the traditional food and authenticity of Panamanian families’ kitchens in the countryside.
To make a good sancocho the next ingredients are needed:
1. 1 patio hen of 2.5 kilos
2. 1 kilo of yam (“baboso” better) in large pieces
3. 4 red creole peppers
4. 8 leaves cilantro
5. 1 tbsp. roasted dried oregano
6. Water to soak the hen
7. Salt and pepper (to taste)
8. 2 baby corn cut into quarters (optional, not included in traditional recipe)
9. 4 minced garlic cloves (optional, not included in traditional recipe)
Steps:
Clarification:
• The baby corn and garlic are not included in the typical Panamanian sancocho recipe, however they add better flavor to the dish. If you are traditionalists, do not include them.
• Depending on the age and size of the chicken, it´ll equal to the cooking time.
Let´s do it!
1. The process is very basic. The patio gen should be cleaned and cut into regular pieces, soaked it in salt water for 1 hour. It´ll absorb the salt.
2. Chop the peppers and cilantro into very fine pieces (it should disappear during the cooking)
3. Add some oil in a pan to fry the chopped pepper, cilantro and garlic. When they get golden brown, add 1 liter of water to boil.
4. Add some salt and let it boil for 3 minutes
5. add the chicken little by little to temper it
6. Cover the chicken five inches above with water and let it cook for about 45 minutes until it is almost soft.
7. While it is boiling, peel the yam until you reach the white part (the slimy white part) and cut it into squares not bigger than two inches.
8. Before the meat gets soft, add the yam and oregano
9. Fifteen minutes later, your sancocho should be ready (check if it is well cooked. If not, let it cook more.
10. When it is done, you can serve your sancocho with some rice and ripe and fried plantain slices.
You can add some spicy to it, this will give EXTRA FLAVOR!
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