Guararé

A small town at the heart of Azuero folklore, home to the National Festival of the Mejorana that celebrates traditional music, dance and crafts. It offers an intimate glimpse of the region's living cultural heritage.

Things to do

• National Festival of the Mejorana — Attend Panama's most important folkloric festival each September, featuring mejorana guitar music, traditional dances, and costumed processions.
• Museo Manuel F. Zárate — Visit the museum dedicated to the festival's founder, displaying polleras, masks, instruments, and Azuero folklore artifacts.
• Iglesia de San José — See the town's simple colonial-style church that anchors the central plaza and hosts patron saint celebrations.
• Watch tamborito and mejorana performances — Experience live drumming and the plucked mejorana guitar, the small five-string instrument that gives the festival its name.
• Browse artisan pollera and craft stalls — Shop for hand-embroidered polleras, tembleques hair ornaments, and leather sandals made by regional artisans.
• Day trip to nearby beaches — Head to the Pacific coast near Guararé for quiet beaches and views of the Gulf of Panama.
• Explore surrounding folklore towns — Visit nearby Las Tablas and La Enea to see more of Azuero's living traditions and pollera-making workshops.

Food to try

• Sancocho de gallina — A hearty chicken and yam soup seasoned with culantro, considered Panama's comfort dish and common in Azuero kitchens.
• Tortillas de maíz — Thick fried corn tortillas eaten at breakfast, often paired with fresh cheese or eggs.
• Carne guisada with arroz — Slow-stewed beef served with white rice and beans, a staple of countryside fondas.
• Chicha de maíz — A refreshing traditional corn-based drink sold at festivals and family gatherings.
• Dulces y raspadura — Sample regional sweets made from raspadura (unrefined cane sugar) and coconut candies from local vendors.
• Seco de gallina — A drier braised chicken dish flavored with local seasonings, popular at rural celebrations.

Local customs & good to know

• Visit during the Mejorana Festival — Plan your trip for late September when the town fills with music, dance, and folkloric competitions, though accommodation is scarce then.
• Respect pollera traditions — The embroidered pollera is a cherished symbol of identity, so ask permission before photographing women wearing it.
• Bring cash — Small-town vendors, fondas, and artisans rarely accept cards, so carry balboas/US dollars.
• Learn a few words of local pride — Azuero residents are deeply proud of their folklore, and showing genuine interest in the mejorana opens warm conversations.

Nearby

• Las Tablas — 6 km
• Chitré — 23 km
• La Arena — 25 km
• Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge — 39 km