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!

 

 

Carnivals in Panama: An Amazing Experience

Music

Carinval in Panama

by Amber Platschorre- Dutch intern

Being for the first time in Latin America I had no idea what to expect of Carnival. I heard before that it is an amazing celebration and people look forward to this the whole year. I have been in Panama now for 3 months and people cannot stop talking about the Carnival. You will hear it on the radio, the taxi drivers will tell you about it and you hear the music everywhere. Since there is a lot of commotion about this celebration I started to wonder how it would be and I have as much looking forward to it as the Panamanians do.

Finally, there was the weekend of Carnival. I could notice it everywhere. Panama-city is very empty and many people go out of the city to celebrate Carnival in other places (interior towns) that are known for the Carnivals. I heard a lot about the places Chitre and Las Tablas because there, the celebrations must be really big. I preferred to go to one of these places to see it myself.

I left Panama City by car around 5 in the morning to make sure we would be ahead of the traffic jams, but lots of people thought of this idea and the roads were crowded early. Once Arrived in Chitre around 10 in the morning the party had been started in the city already. I could hear the people scream: AGUA, AGUA, AGUA. I saw people everywhere, soaking wet and having lots of fun. Panamanians celebrate carnival with lots of water, music, drinks and floats they have been working on the whole year. The city was totally packed and a mess, although this did not influence the atmosphere…

During carnivals the Panamanians party all day long. The party starts at different places in the city during the day. At the end of the day around 5 the music stops and people go for something to eat. Everyone takes a rest and when they are fit enough again they will party during the night. This can be in the streets or in clubs. People are partying everywhere and having an amazing time. I was surprised that the next day people had still lots of energy left to start the party again like they did the day before. I think this party was even better!

For a tourist like me this has been a great experience since Carnivals is very important for the Panamanians. These few days when celebrating carnivals I felt part of their culture. I was partying side by side with the Panamanians and created some amazing memories during these few days.

Celebrate Carnivals 2013 in Panama

The Carnival of Panama, also known as King Momo’s party, is celebrated for the four consecutive days leading up to Ash Wednesday (February 13th).

The Panamanian Carnival festivities begin in the morning with mojaderas or culecos, when trucks with tanks of water parked in public or private places spray water on the crowds that are enjoying popular music, which can last all morning and into the afternoon. At the night parades, the queens ride on floats dressed in Carnival costumes and accompanied by dancing musical groups. Dance festivals are also held parallel to these activities, whether in mobile dance clubs, city squares or along avenues.

Enjoy 5 days of Carnivals in Panama arriving on Friday February 8th, 2013: all transportation, 4 days lodging + taxes at hoel in Panama City, the Panama Canal Transits, 4 breakfast, 1 lunch,  kit for the Carnival days parade and lot of fun.   Prices from:  $450.00 per person in double room. **
For details and itineraries contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com or call our 800 number:  1-800-830-7142