Ola offers two distinct reasons to visit: religious festivities in the town and waterfalls in the wider region. When planning your trip, it helps to keep these focuses separate. The festivities are directly associated with Ola, while the natural attractions are in other regional locations.

Historical Background and Festivities

Ola was founded in 1556 under the name San Lucas de Olá. The founding ceremony took place on October 18, the feast day of its patron saint, San Lucas. Fray Pedro de Santa María and the chief magistrate of Natá attended. The founding account thus connects a specific date with the patron saint and the historic name San Lucas de Olá.

The religious festivities include well-attended novenas and a procession; both take place before the street celebrations. After the religious festivities, the popular celebrations begin each year with a folkloric gathering. This sequence gives the festivities a clear structure: the popular celebrations, with their folkloric opening, follow the religious observances.

During the festivities, children can visit an amusement park. At the San Roque Festival, vendors sell souvenirs to the faithful in Ola’s park. Both details are part of the festivities and not year-round leisure activities. If the festivities are the reason for your trip, check the current event dates in advance.

Waterfalls in the Wider Region

Los Chorros is located in the corregimiento of La Pava, in the district of Olá. Three waterfalls form the course of the Río de El Caño; Los Chorros is considered Panama’s second-highest recorded waterfall. The river’s course and the waterfall’s ranking provide two different points of reference, describing both the landscape and the waterfall’s standing.

Another regional attraction is the Las Mesitas waterfall in the community of Hijo de Dios, in the corregimiento of El Copé de Olá. It is considered worth visiting for its natural beauty and is known as the “little Eden of Coclé.” Its precise location distinguishes it from the festivities directly associated with Ola.

The Chorros de La Pava have pools that are considered suitable for swimming. Swimming is therefore a separate focus from the descriptions of the waterfalls. If it is important to your trip, check the current access conditions in advance.

The things to check when planning your trip depend on your plans: if you are traveling for the festivities, time your trip around the current dates; if you plan to visit the swimming areas, check access. When looking for a vacation rental in Ola, it may help to decide whether the local festivities or the natural attractions in the wider region will shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Antón, Juan Diaz, Penonomé, Aguadulce, El Roble, Rio Hato, Pajonal, Ojo De Agua

For the broader travel overview: Coclé.