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.

Two studdents learning afro music lesson at La Escuelita del Ritmo in Portobelo

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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Woman cooking afro Caribbean dishes at Bocas del Toro

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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Panama Bocas Del Toro Afro Heritage Afro Caribbean Architecture Old Banks Comunity

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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View of the Black Christ inside the altar in the church of San Felipe in Portobelo

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.

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