149 Playa El Aguillito Parque Sarigua Nacional Parita © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © 3478M ELEVATION: SEA LEVEL TO SEA LEVEL TO ELEVATION: „ ( p156 ) AREA: 2341 SQ KM AREA: 2341 SQ KM „ ( p155 ), a tidal ), a tidal p155 ( Parque Nacional Nacional Parque Parita ( p151 ) Playa El Aguillito ( p156 ), a sad monument to environ- p156 ( festivals festivals mudflat that attracts rare migratory seabirds migratory mudflat that attracts rare Sarigua mental devastation down and living it up at any of Herrera’s down and living it up at any of Herrera’s lively

Strolling through historic at Birding Beholding the apocalyptic your hair letting Kicking shoes, off your POPULATION: 107,830 107,830 POPULATION:

„ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

Today, Herrera (particularlyToday, Herrera Azuero) legacy, which is best evi- proudly upholds its Spanish However, history and culture didn’t arrive in Herrera with the . Long before Long before with the Spaniards. in Herrera didn’t arrive history and culture However,

„ experience that complements time spent exploring ’s more scenic attractions. scenic more Panama’s experience that complements time spent exploring traditional tourist sights, partying proud locals is a wonderful with fiercely in the streets cultural window into the rich Spanish heritage of this province. Although Herrera is lacking of Although Herrera in terms window into the rich Spanish heritage of this province. which ultimately revolve around copious amounts of eating, drinking around copious a and dancing, provide revolve which ultimately Jesus’ imprisonment are performed during the week preceding Easter. All of these festivals, All of these festivals, performed Easter. Jesus’ imprisonment are during the week preceding Easter. In the town of Pesé, lively public re-enactments public lively of the Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal and In the town of Pesé, Easter. feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated with great merriment (and a large appetite) 40 days after 40 days after appetite) merriment (and a large with great of Corpus Christi is celebrated feast by the joyous parading of newlywed couples through the streets. In the town of Parita, the In the town of Parita, through the streets. by the joyous parading of newlywed couples denced by the province’s famous festivals. In the town of Ocú, the patron festival is marked In the town of Ocú, the patron saint festival famous festivals. denced by the province’s many were able to later find refuge in the Chiriquí highlands. find refuge able to later many were p157 ). Sadly, the Ngöbe-Buglé were forced out of the province by early colonists, though by early colonists, the Ngöbe-Buglé). Sadly, forced out of the province were p157 from an excavation site near present-day Parita (for more information, see the boxed text, text, information, see the boxed (for more Parita near present-day from an excavation site what we know about the pre-Columbianwhat we know about the practices group was obtained of this indigenous home to the Ngöbe-Buglé, who left behind a rich archaeological record. In fact, much of home to the Ngöbe-Buglé, record. who left behind a rich archaeological the Spanish conquistadores began carving up the region, Herrera (and even Azuero) (and even was Herrera began carvingthe Spanish conquistadores up the region, considering that many residents of Azuero back to Spain. can trace lineage directly residents considering that many ranching centers. It is also the strongest bastion of Spanish culture left in Panama, especially left in Panama, bastion of Spanish culture It is also the strongest ranching centers. country’s heart and soul, the Península de Azuerocountry’s heart country’s major farming and is one of the and soul, the Península closely resembles rural USA than the American tropics. Looked upon by Panamanians as their Looked upon by Panamanians American tropics. rural USA than the closely resembles Herrera Province is centered on the Península de Azuero, landmass that more a semi-arid the Península on is centered Province Herrera Herrera Province 8º00'N

HERRERA PROVINCE lito, Parque Nacional Sarigua,the historictown atPlaya ElAguil-Humboldt EcologicalStation Arena,include theceramic shops the inLa board forexploring thepeninsula. Highlights the earlydaysof Spanish settlement. nate red-tiled rowhomes,which harkbackto streets ofToday, thecityishometoseveral or- is oneof inthecountry. theoldestsettlements as early1558,which indicates thatChitré records indicate thatthere wasavillage here thecitywasfounded in1848,colonial though ofcultural andhistoriccapital theregion. Al- largest cityonthePenínsula deAzuero,andthe ofChitré, thecapital Herrera Province, isthe pop 46,000 150 CHITRÉ 7º45'N HERRERA PROVINCE

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