The two Afro communities in Panamá are clearly distinguished by their influence: one is Spanish and on the other is Antillean. Get to know their stories and cultures with these proposals, which are ideal for you to enjoy experiences full of flavor, rhythm and color.

1. Drums with the Congos
Discover the beating heart of Portobelo, where Congo culture moves to the rhythm of the drum. Take a percussion class at the Casa Congo Museum or the Portobelo workshop and get ready to move your hips in the middle of the Diablos or Pollera Conga folk festivals.
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2. Afro food
The sweetness of the coconut, the spicy flavors and the seafood will give you a veritable burst of sensations. Visit some of the internationally recognized Afro-Antillean restaurants. Try all these flavors in Bocas and Portobelo or, if you’re in the city, stop by the typical Afro-Antillean neighborhood of Rio Abajo.
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3. Explore Old Banks on foot
Visit the small town of Old Banks in Bocas del Toro to learn more about Afro-Antillean culture. The colorful wooden houses and the music coming from the windows on every corner invite you to enjoy every step you take. Make sure you eat some typical dishes and listen to the curious local dialect: guari guari.
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4. Visit the Cristo Negro
Visit the Cristo Negro of Portobelo, a dark wooden figure which arrived in colonial times surrounded by legends. Every October 15, the town is decorated in purple and the figure of the Cristo Negro is paraded through the streets to the sound of music and accompanied by hundreds of pilgrims.