When people refer to Las Tablas, they usually think of the town with the most dazzling carnival in the country or Santo Domingo, birthplace of la Pollera. However, the District of Las Tablas has more towns that, although smaller, have a lot of history and interesting places to visit.
La Candelaria
It is a peasant town located in Pocri county, inhabited by simple and hard-working people. This town saw the birth of the “Great Tiger of Candelaria”, Victorio Vergara, one of the greatest exponents of typical Panamanian music. The mud house where he was born is still preserved and is inhabited by his brother Augusto, who tells anecdotes to Visitors of the great Victoria Vergara when he was a child.
This town was also a military base during World War II to protect the canal, as the United States Army built an airstrip. You can still see the remains of the abandoned military bunkers once the world conflict ended.
Another attraction to visit this town are its traditional houses that have been maintained over time, where you can breathe tranquility.
San Jose
This town is known as a place where artisans of la Pollera dress live, where the small stitch is still sewn, a tradition that passes from one generation to another. A perfect place to have a close experience with the traditions of the town and its people.
Just like La Candelaria, the town of San Jose is the birthplace of pioneers of typical music, musicians and violinists such as Ulpiano Vergara and Alfredo Escudero.
El Cocal
This town is located only 5 minutes from Las Tablas and was founded in 1909. Where the central plaza is located today, it used to be a bullring, and Visitors who came from other parts of Panama stayed in the houses surrounding the park. A Town of Andalusian and Galician roots of Spain. Visitors can walk its streets and enjoy the architecture of many houses made of thatch that are around 100 years old and are preserved to this day.
The Las Tablas District is also a destination for tours full of nostalgia and memories, which bring back memories of a lifestyle that has evolved and of personalities who left a legacy in the culture and traditions of Los Santos Province.
