Frommer's Panama (Complete Guide) by Gill Nicholas
Author:Gill, Nicholas [Gill, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FrommerMedia
Published: 2016-05-31T04:00:00+00:00
Western Coclé Province & Penonomé
145km (90 miles) W of Panama City
The Coclé Province from Penonomé to Aguadulce is scarcely visited by foreign tourists. Historical, cultural, and natural attractions are scattered around in such a fashion that renting a vehicle or booking a custom tour is key to exploring the area, unless you’re headed straight for Cerro La Vieja outside of Penonomé. Travelers normally visit this area on their way to the Azuero Peninsula or as a side trip from the Pacific Coast.
The capital of the Coclé Province is Penonomé, a town that for a few years during the 17th century was the nation’s capital after Panama City had been sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan. Little of the town’s colonial history is evident today. The Mercado de Artesanías (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm) is located on the Interamericana Highway just before the exit for Penonomé. You’ll find a limited selection of mostly Ngöbe-Buglé indigenous handicrafts and clothing. Near the plaza is the small yet interesting Museo de Penonomé ( 997-8490; Tue–Sun 9am–12:30pm and 1:30–4pm; $1 adults, 25¢ kids) on Calle San Antonio at Parque Rubén Darío Carles in what’s left of the San Antonio colonial neighborhood. The museum occupies four adjoining homes and displays colonial religious art, pre-Columbian artifacts, and artifacts from the town’s initial stages.
Heading north out of Penonomé, La Pintada village (see below) is regionally known for its own handicrafts fair and especially for its locally renowned straw hats and cigar factory.
Getting There & Departing
By Bus Buses leave every 20 minutes from Panama City’s Albrook Terminal to Penonomé; it takes a little over 2 hours and costs $5. You’ll be dropped off on the Interamericana Highway on the opposite side of the Hotel Dos Continentes. From there, local buses to La Pintada leave every 20 minutes and cost $1.50. You can also grab a taxi to take you to La Pintada for $4 to $6.
By Car The drive to Penonomé takes 2 hours. The exit is clearly signed and is at the Hotel Dos Continentes.
La Pintada
About 20 minutes from Penonomé is the charming, sleepy village of La Pintada, known for its sombreros pintados, or “painted hats,” made from intricately handwoven black and white fibers of the bellota plant. It’s a long, arduous task to create this traditional hat, and prices average $75 to $100, twice that amount if bought in Panama City. You’ll find a good selection of sombreros pintados at the Mercado de Artesanías La Pintada (Tues–Sun 9am–5pm), as well as montuño embroidered shirts, woven rugs, dolls dressed in folkloric dresses such as the pollera, and other regional knickknacks. The market is on the left side of the main road from Penonomé, once you enter La Pintada.
Ancient Burial Grounds
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