🚶Walking Atlas

Chitré walking tour & city guide

The folkloric heart of the Azuero Peninsula.

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Chitré, the capital of Herrera province, is the main town of the Azuero Peninsula, known as the cradle of Panamanian folklore, festivals and Carnival.

The town

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist has a beautiful wooden interior. The town is famous for its lively Carnival and Corpus Christi festivals with devil dancers.

Azuero

Nearby La Villa de Los Santos, where Panama's first cry of independence was made, and Parita are colonial towns full of history.

Why it is worth a visit

Chitré is the largest town on the Azuero Peninsula and a good base for exploring Panama's traditional heartland. It is famous for its Carnival, held in February, and for the Corpus Christi festival, when dancers dressed as devils in elaborate masks fill the streets of nearby La Villa de Los Santos. The town of La Arena, next to Chitré, is known for its pottery workshops. Sarigua National Park, nearby, protects an unusual desert landscape and the remains of an ancient settlement.

Top sights in Chitré

  1. 1

    Cathedral of St John the Baptist

    A wooden interior.

  2. 2

    Parque Unión

    The central square.

  3. 3

    Herrera Museum

    Regional history.

  4. 4

    La Villa de Los Santos

    A historic colonial town.

  5. 5

    Playa El Agallito

    Mudflats with birds.

Food markets & where to eat in Chitré

  1. Mercado de Chitré

    The public market.

  2. Parque Unión

    Cafés.

  3. Roadside fondas

    Local food.

Food to try in Chitré

  1. Tamal de olla

    A corn and chicken pot tamale.

  2. Queso blanco

    Fresh local cheese.

  3. Seco Herrerano

    Made in Herrera province.

Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.

Plan your trip to Chitré

Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.

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