It has been widely believed that "Pesé" was named after an Indian chief who ruled these lands in pre-Columbian times; however, some authors consider that this theory is not founded on any historical facts that prove the existence of that native person.

Another theory proposes that the name for "Pesé", like other cities in Azuero, has its origin in the Ngöbe language, which does not have the "p"sound. According to Eladio Tugrí, who is familiar with the Ngöbe and Buglé languages, "besé" is the word for a wooden stirring utensil used to stir the food in the pot or pan in the Ngöbe kitchen.

Before being called The Mines, it was known in many parts of the Republic by the name of Mines of Bracamonte or Mines of Forest Cow. Those who called it Mines of Bracamonte suppose that it must have been named after its founder, Don Jose Agustin de Bracamonte. Others say that a Spaniard whose last name was Bracamonte had some gold panning stations in those parts and so people started calling the place Mines of Bracamonte.

As for the name of The Mines of Forest Cow, some believe that the name was given because of the numerous wild animals known as the cow, meaning tapirs, found in the area. What is certain is that in some official documents the name appears as The Mines of Forest Cow.

The pirate raids off the Pacific coast around the year 1740, commanded by Vice Admiral Jorge Anson, who attacked villages in the interior of Panama, including La Villa de Los Santos, perhaps incited a fear of pirates in many of its inhabitants and spurred them to hide in our mountains, and over time they stayed there.

 

Its highest point is Boss Hill at 1,000 meters above sea level. With a cool breeze and cold temperatures, through the thick fog and dense vegetation, the Panama Canal is visible, alongside the majestic Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. For being so near to Panama City, this has become a very popular place among locals and foreigners.

Guna Yala is an indigenous territory in Panama, inhabited by the Guna ethnic group. The region was formerly called San Blas, until 1998, and Kuna Yala until 2010. Its capital is El Porvenir. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, the province of Darién and the Emberá Wounnan indigenous territory to the south, Colombia to the east and the province of Colón to the west.

Guna Yala in the Guna language means "Guna Land" or "Guna Mountain." The area was formerly known as San Blas, and later on as Kuna Yala, but was changed again in October 2011 when the Panama Government recognized the petition of the Guna people that in their native language it was not equivalent to the letter "K" and that the official name should be "Guna Yala".

Panama is the ideal place to demonstrate biodiversity. Its wealth of natural life, environmental diversity, and abundance of water combine to produce an incredible intensity in each level of the chain of life.

In order to be able to show Panama's diversity of life, the Bridge of Life museum is located in a park that highlights the natural diversity of Panama in an area that is accessible and easy to visit.

This park's landscape is designed by the world-renowned landscape architect Edwina Von Gal & Company. Ms. Von Gal and her team produce landscapes recognized for their clear but free structures, which make them an ideal complement to the design of the Bridge of Life building.

The Bridge of Life building, which is being designed by one of the world's leading architectural firms, Frank O. Gehry & Associates, will be a new icon for Panama. In addition, it will be a stunning building, very different from any other structure that visitors may have seen before.

The Amador Causeway is a road that connects the mainland of Panama City with four islands in the Pacific Ocean that form a small archipelago. These islands are Naos, Perico, Culebra and Flamenco. The road begins in an area near the southern entrance of the Panama Canal, nearby the township of Ancón.

This causeway was built in 1913, with rocks excavated from Snake Cut during construction of the Panama Canal. The site was originally part of a U.S. military complex known as Fort Amador, established to protect the entrance to the canal. After these areas were reverted under the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, the place was transformed into a thriving tourist attraction. Some vestiges of the military installations can still be seen on the islands.

Ancón Hill in Panama is a touristic place where you can view Panama City, the Panama Canal, Amador Causeway and Albrook. It is a good way to see Panama City from another perspective.

For lovers of mountains and outdoor camping, the perfect place does exist. It is at San Carlos Lagoon, located 800 meters above sea level and about two hours from Panama City. It is not natural but a man-made lagoon, formed on the slopes of Picacho Hill (1,182 m). The water is hued an interesting shade of green, as its surface reflects the surrounding mountains. The lagoon is not large and can be easily walked around in 15 minutes. Only rainwater fills the lagoon, as there are no rivers that empty into it. Therefore, the level can fluctuate by almost 2 meters between dry and rainy seasons.

From your camping site, you can take advantage of several paths and climb up the mountain to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the landscape and the Pacific. If you plan to camp, don't forget to bring appropriate clothing to ward off the occasional chilly breeze. It's also a good idea to bring mosquito repellent. You can buy essential goods at a kiosk 15 minutes from the lagoon, but you should bring your own food and plenty of water.

Parita is the oldest indigenous Spanish settlement in the Azuero region, since it was founded in 1558 as a result of the suppression of the Indian mission by the Mayor of Natá, as decreed by the Spanish Crown on March 21, 1551. Among its founders were Don Juan Ruiz de Monjaraz and the Dominican friar Pedro de Santa Maria. This means that this year Parita will celebrate 454 years since its foundation, which ranks it as one of the oldest populations in the country.

Parita preserves the legacy of the colonial era practically intact. The exact date of its foundation is uncertain, and it was not until 1937 that August 18 was established as the official date of this celebration. Parita preserves its ancient church as a symbol of its history, which dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Priests and notable persons were buried in this church, as was the custom in those days. In addition, the town has an enormous colonial plaza, surrounded by brick houses, some of which also date to the 18th century. Most of these houses have high porches that were transformed into bleachers to watch bull fights and other activities of the patron saint festival. Parita is named after the Indian chief Paris, who lived in those parts.

The name of Ocú means "Cornsilk", because for many years this has been one of their main crops. In Ocú two styles of the traditional pollera skirt are made, the Ocueña (all white, for weddings) and the Montuno (daily use), which is the local costume for women and men. The production of these folkloric elements has been passed down from one generation to the next, thanks to the handiwork of the regional artisans. This region celebrates the National Manito Festival, a quintessential folkloric festival in the Republic of Panama, recognized for being the most authentic and for best showcasing the customs and traditions of Panama and its countryfolk.

That festival is the result of the vision of a group of educators from Ocú, who saw the need to formalize those festivals and fairs that have been held in Ocú by their ancestors, ever since the era when Panama was still part of Colombia. This important festival was first celebrated in August of 1967 (when those festivities that have been celebrated since the beginning of the Republic of Panama were first named).