Panama Culture

Panama Culture

Panama connects the world, not only because it’s the bridge between North and South America but because for centuries it has been a crossroads for humanity and a meeting point for people, goods and ideas. Settled thousands of years ago by ancient civilizations, the land that has become modern-day Panamá boasts a rich mosaic of cultural diversity where indigenous roots meet African heritage and Spanish influence. While in Panama you will be exposed to the oldest colonial relics in this part of the world—including the oldest Spanish fort and the first European settlement in the Pacific.

Apart from its rich history, Panama has 7 indigenous communities: Guna, Naso Tjër Di, Ngäbe, Buglé, Bri bri, Emberá and Wounaan). Most of them live in protected territories, located all over the country. These native ethnic groups practice ancestral forms of government, preserve dances and songs, and hold on to their deep cosmological beliefs and cultural expressions.

The Panamanian indigenous communities are composed of expert craftsmen who produce exquisite wood carvings, wonderful miniatures from the hard-ivory palm seed, beautiful baskets, masks, bags woven with vegetable fiber and colorful clothes like the Mola. It is possible to visit them whether their location is by the sea, like the Gunas, in high mountains, like the Ngäbe, or nestled deep into the rainforest like the Emberá. These indigenous communities enjoy sharing their culture with visitors on an equal basis.