Las Tablas: History, Crafts and Festivals

The District of Las Tablas lies on a plain in the southeast of the Azuero Peninsula. Its cultural history can be seen in places and traditions that offer different perspectives: the history of Belisario Porras, the making of polleras and drums, and festivals with their own customs. For planning your trip, history, crafts and local festival culture are therefore at the center of the experience.

History, Museums and Crafts

Casa Museo El Pausílipo was the country home of Panamanian statesman Belisario Porras Barahona, who served three terms as President of the Republic. It was declared a National Historic Landmark under Law No. 7 of May 19, 1994. The house is located on Vía Las Comadres in the District of Las Tablas and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century rural architecture in Panama. Here, Porras’s political history and the architectural significance of the country home come together.

Museo Belisario Porras opened on January 15, 1959, on the former family estate belonging to Porras’s maternal grandparents, where he was born. Its collection includes diplomas, photographs, awards and personal belongings of Belisario Porras. Two distinct ways of exploring history are found side by side: the former country home, with its rural architecture, and a museum whose collection tells the story of Porras’s political career and personal life.

Local crafts also encompass a range of materials and techniques. The district has gold- and silversmithing workshops; in the corregimiento of La Palma, silversmiths are admired for their artistic renown. In the main town of Las Tablas and the corregimiento of San José, craftspeople make traditional drums from deer hide and wood. In Las Tablas, residents also maintain the tradition of making polleras. Metalwork, drum-making and pollera-making each offer their own perspective on local traditions.

Festivals with Their Own Traditions

Carnaval Tableño is considered one of Panama’s most representative carnival celebrations and takes place over the four days before Ash Wednesday, drawing thousands of people. At its heart is the historic rivalry between the Tunas Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo. The festivities include Culecos, parades, nighttime performances and artistic shows on the district’s main street. During the traditional Topón, the two Tunas meet at Parque Porras: Calle Abajo arrives via Punta Fogón, while Calle Arriba comes via Calle Bolívar. Their different routes thus converge at a shared destination.

The veneration of Santa Librada has been reflected in local religious traditions in Las Tablas for more than three centuries. Iglesia Santa Librada was built in the 18th century and completed on March 9, 1789. Since 1957, the Festival Nacional de la Pollera has been held in Las Tablas as part of the patron-saint festivities honoring Santa Librada. Another festive occasion is the Festival Nacional del Tambor y la Pollera in the corregimiento of San José. It takes place in late November; a law provides for its annual organization as a folklore festival celebrating pollera-making and drumming. Check the event dates when planning a specific trip.

Road Connections in the District

The main road network connects Las Tablas with La Villa de Los Santos and Chitré, then continues to Panama via the national highway. A north–south route runs from Las Tablas via a mountain road and a coastal road through Pedasí to Tonosí, eventually connecting to the road to Tonosí. This overview of the roads complements the cultural attractions with a guide to regional connections.

Discover more destinations: Las Tablas, Pedasí.

Go to the main travel overview: Los Santos.