In Las Tablas, the pollera is more than an object of celebration: residents keep alive the traditional craft of making the garment. Drum making is another local tradition: in the cabecera and the corregimiento of San José, traditional drums are made from deer hide and wood. The district also has gold- and silversmith workshops; La Palma is associated with silversmiths admired for their artistic work. Clothing, instrument making and jewelry thus reveal different facets of local craftsmanship.
Crafts and historic sites
Two houses also offer different ways to explore history. Casa Museo El PausĂlipo was the country home of statesman Belisario Porras Barahona, who served as president of the Republic three times. It was declared a National Historic Monument under Law No. 7 of May 19, 1994. Located on VĂa Las Comadres in the Distrito de Las Tablas, it is considered one of Panama’s best-preserved examples of 19th-century rural architecture.
Museo Belisario Porras opened on January 15, 1959, on the former family property: it belonged to Porras’s maternal grandparents and is where he was born. The collection includes diplomas, photographs, awards and personal belongings. A visit to the museum offers a tangible encounter with the statesman’s life, while El PausĂlipo is associated above all with its former role as a country home and its architecture.
Another historic stop is Iglesia Santa Librada. It was built in the 18th century and completed on March 9, 1789. Santa Librada is also closely connected with Las Tablas’s religious tradition: for more than three centuries, local religious customs have reflected devotion to the saint. Since 1957, the Festival Nacional de la Pollera has been held as part of the patron saint festivities in her honor. In 2020, the festival was held virtually due to the pandemic. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the dates and program for the year in question.
Folklore on the festival calendar
The Carnaval Tableño’s festivities are shaped by the historic rivalry between the Tunas Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo, as well as by Culecos, parades, nighttime performances and artistic shows. Celebrated in the city of Las Tablas, Carnaval Tableño is considered one of Panama’s most representative carnival celebrations. It lasts for the four days before Ash Wednesday and draws thousands of people.
For the traditional TopĂłn, the two Tunas meet at Parque Porras: Calle Abajo arrives via Punta FogĂłn, while Calle Arriba comes along Calle BolĂvar. The park thus becomes the setting for their encounter. The routes and location give the TopĂłn its own clearly defined place within Carnaval Tableño.
Another folklore event is the Festival Nacional del Tambor y la Pollera in the corregimiento of San José. It takes place in late November and is designated by law as an annual folklore festival celebrating the making of the pollera and the playing and beating of the drum. One edition also featured competitions in drum, violin and accordion, as well as performances by folklore groups and musical events.
In the wider destination of Los Santos, the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana, also known as the Festival de Guararé, adds its own folkloric touch. It has been held in Guararé since 1949 and is considered Panama’s most important folklore event. The festival includes competitions for camisillas, hats and violin. This look at Guararé complements Las Tablas’s rich festival culture without conflating the two places or their events.
Landscape and getting around
The Distrito de Las Tablas lies on a plain in the southeast of the Azuero Peninsula. Two routes are useful for navigating the roads: the main road network connects Las Tablas with La Villa de Los Santos and ChitrĂ©; from there, the national highway continues to Panama. A north–south route heads toward TonosĂ either via a mountain road or along a coastal road via PedasĂ. Along with historic and cultural discoveries, these routes offer a sense of the region’s geography.
Discover more destinations: Las Tablas, PedasĂ
See the wider travel overview: Los Santos.
