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Some of the most vivid folklore performances of the season can be enjoyed in the town of La Villa, province of Los Santos, during the Corpus Christi festival, scheduled May 19-June 5.
The celebration, which dates back to medieval Spain, is a mixture of the religious fervor of the Roman Catholic faith and native traditions, both of which are strong in the Azuero Peninsula (the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos). The combination results in ten days of color, dances and humor, best represented by the diablicos sucios (dirty devils), odd-looking characters depicting the triumph of evil following the death of Christ.
The religious element of Corpus Christi starts on May 21 with a mass known as "Cuarteo del Sol". The highlight of the religious part, however, takes place May 26 with the Corpus Christi mass, which signals the beginning of the dance performances at the town's main square.
Visitors are especially encouraged to attend the festivities on Tourism Day (June 4), which will feature, dances and recreational activities for all ages. Activities formally conclude with Women's Day (June 5), on which the ladies of La Villa, dressed in costume, will harrass and scare visitors throughout town.
Accommodations in La Villa, which is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Panama City, are few, but the town is only a bridge away from Chitré, the largest city in the Azuero region, where most hotels are located.
An excellent bus service departs to Chitré, La Villa and most towns of Azuero from the National Bus Terminal, located in Albrook. Visitors can also fly into Chitré on daily, scheduled flights departing from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, also located in Albrook.
