Carnivals in Panama

By Juliette Darmon

Experience a Latin America Carnival in Panama! That’s the most awaited date of the Panamanian calendar, and this, since the 1900’s!

Real National Day for four days (before the Ash Wednesday), the whole country is part of the Carnival, and even the littler locality has its own animations! Dances, costumes, music, salsa, merengue and tipico, folkloric popular music are fully part of the carnival. Let’s also enjoy some colorful float, masks and confetti!

Four days of non-stop partying, dancing, singing, drinking and eating, and getting lost in the middle of the crazy crowd!  Check our Glimpse of Panama

Carinval in Panama

The Carnival of Panama is famous for its legendary shows and fanfare, and its impressive costumes. This joyous event is also known for the “culecos” or “mojaderas” tradition: the public is sprayed with fire hose getting out of tankers, on Reggaeton and Latin music.

Tips: Take your precautions with your phone, watch and any other electronic stuff you could have with you.

You will also enjoy the polleras parade (Panamanian traditional dresses).

Of course, no Carnival without the Carnival Queen’s election! But do not be surprised if you run into two queens: it’s a Panamanian tradition named the feud. It comes from colonial days that has been converted into a battle of excess and extravagance for the fanciest costumes and most creative floats between two historically rival neighborhoods: Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo, for which each one has its queen.

The schedule is always the same: opening the Friday, international day on Saturday, the Pollera day on Sunday, costume day on Monday, Queen day and big parade on the Shrove Tuesday and burial sardine ceremony to end the carnival and the entrance in the Lent. This day is the biggest Carnival Celebration day. The party ends in the early hours of the morning for the sunrise.

Naturally, the famous Panamanian fireworks will close the Carnival!

And of course, you will find many places and trucks by street to eat and drink during the whole celebration!

In Panama City, near 25000 of visitors are expected to come, and the largest celebrations take place on the Cinta Costera.

But Las Tablas, in Los Santos province is certainly one of the best places in Panama to celebrate the Carnival!

As it’s high season, we advise you to book your trip and hotels in advance, to have enough possibilities.

Furthermore, in order to fully enjoy the Carnival in Panama, try to stay with Panamanian people, they will bring you to the best places!

 

 

Panama Jazz Festival Marks 12th Anniversary in 2015

On January 12-17, 2015 the annual Panama Jazz Festival, one of the region’s largest music education events held in Panama City, marks its 12th anniversary. Since its foundation in September 2003 by Panamanian Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Pérez, the festival has become a cultural tourist attraction by drawing audiences from across the globe with up to 100,000 people attending each year, as well as numerous international jazz musicians.

Danilo Pérez, who is not only founder of the festival, but also UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Cultural Ambassador of Panama and founder of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music, describes his mission as “inspiring and educating while providing tools and opportunities to build a better future for individuals and their communities”.

Since music education is a great part of the festival, a week full of several master workshops at the so-called “Music Clinics” will be provided again this year by some of the best music institutions and by all invited artists. At the clinics, students from all parts of Latin America and the world will come together to learn from the international masters of jazz music. Artists such as Wayne Shorter, Chucho Valdez, Jack De Johnette, and Randy Weston have given lectures at the festival in the past years. In addition to this, Panamanian Folklore, classical music, production, and many other subjects have been taught.

The event has also become a center for auditions for admissions and scholarships for the participating institutions. In fact, the Panama Jazz Festival is the largest recruiting space in all Latin America for admissions and scholarships for some of the best music schools in the Americas.  For reservations and packages contact us at info@ecocircuitos.comwww.ecocircuitos.com

45 places to go in 2012 – Panama No. 1

The New York Times
January 6, 2012

1. Panama
Go for the canal. Stay for everything else.

It’s been 12 years since Panama regained control of its canal, and the country’s economy is booming. Cranes stalk the skyline of the capital, Panama City, where high-rises sprout one after the next and immigrants arrive daily from around the world. Among those who have landed en masse in recent years are American expatriates and investors, who have banked on Panamanian real estate by building hotels and buying retirement homes. The passage of the United States-Panama free trade agreement in October is expected to accelerate this international exchange of people and dollars (the countries use the same currency).
Among the notable development projects is the Panama Canal itself, which is in the early stages of a multibillion-dollar expansion. The project will widen and deepen the existing canal and add two locks, doubling the canal’s cargo capacity. For those who want to see the waterway as it was originally designed, now is the time. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2014, the canal’s 100-year anniversary.

Other high-profile projects include the construction of three firsts: The Panamera, the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Latin America (set to open in June 2012); the Trump Ocean Club, the region’s tallest building, which opened last summer; and Frank Gehry’s first Latin American design, the BioMuseo, a natural history museum scheduled to open in early 2013. Even Panama City’s famously dilapidated historic quarter, Casco Viejo, has been transformed. The neighborhood, a tangle of narrow streets, centuries-old houses and neo-colonial government buildings, was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997 and is now a trendy arts district with galleries, coffeehouses, street musicians and some of the city’s most stylish restaurants and boutique hotels.

Across the isthmus, on Panama’s Caribbean coast, the Bocas del Toro archipelago has become a popular stop on the backpacker circuit, with snorkeling and zip lining by day and raucous night life after dark. FREDA MOON

9th Panama Jazz Festival

From the heart of America to the rest of the world, the Panama Jazz Festival celebrates its 9th edition with concerts, jam sessions and events for the entire family. Additionally, during the week of the festival some of the best music schools of the Americas audition students for admission and scholarships and the participating artists give master classes.

The theme for this year will be -Del Corazon de America para el Mundo- (From the Heart of America to the World), and it will be dedicated to the great self-taught saxophone player Carlos Garnett, celebrating his successful career as a composer and director of his own band.  Garnett will share his knowledge with young students during workshops at Ciudad del Saber.  This 9th  version of the festival will also feature several Jazz concerts at different venues in Panama City and the as every year an open-air concert in Casco Antiguo on January 21.

The Artistic director of the Jazz Festival this year will be once again its founder and multiple Grammy Award Winner, Danilo Perez. An assistance of around 28 thousand people is expected for the 2012 version of the festival.

For more information and reservations for concerts and Jazz Festival Packages please do not hesitate to contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com

Special Rate at Breezes in Santa Clara

The Breezes Resort and Spa at Santa Clara is offering a special promotion through the end of May.  Guests can enjoy premium super inclusive for $119.00 per person per day in a double occupancy room.

Super inclusive means more than lobster for dinner and unlimited premium liquor by the pool, there is also a host of activities to enjoy at this waterfront hotel as well as entertaining shows.

For more information contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com or call our offices at + 507 3140068

36 hours in Panama – from NY Times

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/travel/24hours-panamacity.html?hpw

Discover Panama – Family Fun Adventure 7 days $870.00

Explore the Soberania National Park and spend three nights at the New Radisson Summit hotel, where bird watching is as easy
as looking out your bedroom window.

Day 1: Arrival Panama
Meet at the international airport and then our driver will transfer to the hotel Raidsson Summit Hotel & Golf Panama. Providing guests with an idyllic location close to the Panama Canal.
Enjoy the facilities in the hotel. Overnight.

Day 2: Visit to the Embera indias at the Chagres National Park
After breakfast depart from your hotel at 8:00 AM for a trip into the rainforest and a unique cultural
experience with the Embera Indians of Chagres National Park. We will go to the pier on the Chagres
River where your Embera guides will be waiting you. Then we travel up river for about an hour in
motorized canoe to their village to spend the afternoon. We will learn about the Embera culture and
traditions, swim under a forest waterfall, enjoy lunch on a banana-leaf plate, and even try their
traditional tattoo painting. (This tour is suitable for children over 6 years.) The estimated arrival time
back to Panama City is 4:00 PM. Spend the night in a hotel in the forest: Radisson Summit Hotel.

Day 3: Free day for optional tours
Available: kayaking tour the Panama Canal, historical tours, Panama Canal Tours, hiking the rainforest.
Overnight at Radisson Sumit hotel.

Day 4: El Valle Tour
This excursion begins at 8:00 AM with a two-hour drive along the Pan-American Highway to the beautiful mountain
town of El Valle de Anton in the Cocle Province. According to geologists, El Valle is the crater of a dormant volcano,
once the largest in Central America. The cool and pleasant climate in this picturesque valley rises 600 meters above
sea level attracts visitors from all over the world. El Valle has a variety of attractions such as Indian petroglyphs, hot
springs, waterfalls, rock climbing and hikes for all abilities. Upon your arrival, visit the picturesque town market where
handicrafts are on sale. The tour continues with a hike into the hills around the valley: “La India Dormida,”
“Cariguana,” or the easier walk, “Pastoreo.” Visit el Macho Waterfall an ecological reserve and hike along the
interpretative trail. Overnight at Los Mandarinos SPA & Resort. Optional: Canopy Adventure –Zip line tour.

Day 5: Relaxing day at El Valle
This day you will enjoy the facilities at Los Mandarinos SPA & Resort.
Optional tours available: horse back riding, hiking, canopy adventure.
Ovenright Los Mandarinos SPA & Resort.

Day 6: Beach Tour and return to Panama City
Today we will spend the day on a Pacific Beach and will swim on the crystal clear waters and enjoy a delisous seafood lunch.
Return to Panama city in the afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in the city. Country Inn & Similar.

Day 7: Departure Panama
At the appropriate time, transfer to international airport for departure.
end of services.-

Includes: all trasnfers, 6 nights of lodging + taxes, entrance fees to all attractions and national parks, bilingual naturalist guide, breakfasts, pic nic lunch on tours, Panama kit.

Book now at sales@ecocircuitos.com
or annie@ecocircuitos.com

check our new video!

Panama Jazz Festival – 2011

Panama’s annual cornerstone cultural event, the 8th Panama Jazz Festival will be held January 10-15, 2011. With upwards of 100,000 people in attendance since the festivals 2003 inception, this year’s edition is dedicated to Panamanian pianist, Victor Nicolás “Vitín” Paz, one of the great trumpeters in the history of Latin music and one of the most remarkable musicians in the history of Panamanian popular music. Some of the artist that will be participating in this version of the festival are Claudia Acuña, Bryan Lynch, Ricardo del Fla, Harlem String Quartet, Isabel Julve, Osvaldo Jorge, Jose Antonio Sanchez and the organizer and panamanian Pianist, composer, educator and social activist, Danilo Pérez who is one of the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time.

For information and reservations, please contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com