×

Panama🇵🇦 | townsParitaClay workshops, bahareque houses, seventeenth-century church, dusk plaza | things to do and best time to go

Explore MacaracasExplore San Miguel

Backpacking in Parita
👀 For curious travelerstown ranked #17
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán on Parita’s plaza has a colonial facade and a small plaza that locals still use as their living room in the evening. Parita sits in Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, in Herrera Province, a short detour off the Pan-American Highway. I expected a museum piece and found a working town, with kids on bikes and pottery sold from front rooms. Hostels are absent, so it works as a half-day stop, not a base. Bring cash, because the few shops and eateries rarely take cards.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Panama Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #17 town in PanamaWhat makes this town worth visiting

Parita rewards travelers who like quiet colonial streets more than ticking off sights. It works as a slow, short stop between Azuero’s bigger towns, and most people spend a few hours rather than a night. The draw is the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the surrounding Spanish-era streets of low houses with tiled roofs and wooden balconies, plus the local pottery tradition you can see in workshops. It is not social and has no nightlife, so it suits solo travelers, history fans and anyone building a loop through Herrera who wants a calm break from the road.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán: The 17th-century church is the town’s landmark, with a plain whitewashed facade and a carved wooden altar inside. Go in the morning when it is cool and open. Entry is free, and 20 to 30 minutes is plenty.
  2. Plaza de Parita: A shaded square ringed by old houses, where locals gather at dusk. It is the best place to watch daily life. Free, 20 to 40 minutes, best in late afternoon.
  3. Colonial street walk: The blocks around the plaza hold quincha and bahareque houses with wooden balconies and tiled roofs. Walk them slowly in the morning light. Free, about 45 minutes.
  4. Pottery workshops: Family workshops around town shape and fire clay by hand, and you can buy pieces directly. Most are open on weekday mornings. Pieces run roughly US$3 to 20, and a visit takes 30 to 60
… read more 👉
  1. Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán: The 17th-century church is the town’s landmark, with a plain whitewashed facade and a carved wooden altar inside. Go in the morning when it is cool and open. Entry is free, and 20 to 30 minutes is plenty.
  2. Plaza de Parita: A shaded square ringed by old houses, where locals gather at dusk. It is the best place to watch daily life. Free, 20 to 40 minutes, best in late afternoon.
  3. Colonial street walk: The blocks around the plaza hold quincha and bahareque houses with wooden balconies and tiled roofs. Walk them slowly in the morning light. Free, about 45 minutes.
  4. Pottery workshops: Family workshops around town shape and fire clay by hand, and you can buy pieces directly. Most are open on weekday mornings. Pieces run roughly US$3 to 20, and a visit takes 30 to 60 minutes.
  5. Casa Cural area: The old buildings beside the church give a sense of the colonial town layout and make good photos. Free, 10 to 15 minutes.
Parita is close to Chitré and Los Santos, whose museums, the Playa El Agallito bird flats and La Villa de Los Santos are easy day trips. The church and plaza pair well in one relaxed morning, followed by the pottery workshops before lunch.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Parita

Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake

Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake

5.0(64) 5h 30m
From €227
per personViator
Panama Canal Zone Bike Tour By Paradox Experience

Panama Canal Zone Bike Tour By Paradox Experience

5.0(54) 2h 30m
From €36
per personViator
Day End Tour: Casco Viejo, Amador Causeway & Sabroso Panama

Day End Tour: Casco Viejo, Amador Causeway & Sabroso Panama

5.0(51) 4h
From €68
per personViator
Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included

Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included

5.0(48) 8h
From €86
per personViator
Electric Bike Rental El Valle de Antón (Best Rated Activity)

Electric Bike Rental El Valle de Antón (Best Rated Activity)

5.0(47)
From €32
per personViator
River Tubing - Fun and Nature Experience

River Tubing - Fun and Nature Experience

5.0(45) 3h
From €50
per personViator
Shuttle to Riu Playa Blanca Hotel: Round Trip or One Way

Shuttle to Riu Playa Blanca Hotel: Round Trip or One Way

5.0(45)
From €68
per personViator
VIP Experience Agency

VIP Experience Agency

5.0(44)
From €36
per personViator
The Craziest Panamanian Jungle 4 wheels is BACK

The Craziest Panamanian Jungle 4 wheels is BACK

5.0(41) 4h
From €358
per personViator
Full Day - Panama Canal Coast to Coast - By Land

Full Day - Panama Canal Coast to Coast - By Land

5.0(41)
From €182
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsUnderstanding the local layout

Parita is small enough to cover on foot in an hour, so the useful question is what each pocket offers. The layout follows the old colonial grid, with everything leaning toward one plaza.
  • Plaza and Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán: The core of town, with a colonial church from 1656 facing a shaded square. Streets are flat and quiet, and you leave with the best-preserved colonial facade in the Azuero region and a bench in the shade.
  • Old Streets of Quincha Houses: Just off the plaza, low adobe and bahareque homes with tiled roofs line narrow lanes. Walking them takes 20 minutes, and you get photos without a single tour bus in frame.
  • Main Highway Strip: The Carretera Nacional edge holds fondas, bakeries and a few shops, because traffic feeds them. Expect noise and dust, but a fried chicken plate
… read more 👉
Parita is small enough to cover on foot in an hour, so the useful question is what each pocket offers. The layout follows the old colonial grid, with everything leaning toward one plaza.
  • Plaza and Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán: The core of town, with a colonial church from 1656 facing a shaded square. Streets are flat and quiet, and you leave with the best-preserved colonial facade in the Azuero region and a bench in the shade.
  • Old Streets of Quincha Houses: Just off the plaza, low adobe and bahareque homes with tiled roofs line narrow lanes. Walking them takes 20 minutes, and you get photos without a single tour bus in frame.
  • Main Highway Strip: The Carretera Nacional edge holds fondas, bakeries and a few shops, because traffic feeds them. Expect noise and dust, but a fried chicken plate with a cold drink is cheap and quick.
  • Riverside and Fields: Cattle pasture and the Parita river flats lie a short walk out, quiet at dusk, with open skies and birds.

⌛️ 1 dayA smart one-day plan

8:00 AM: Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Start at the colonial church on the main plaza, one of the oldest in Azuero, dating to the 1600s. Go before the sun climbs so the whitewashed walls are cool and the doors are often open. Ten to 20 minutes is plenty, and it sets the town’s old story before the day begins.

9:00 AM: Breakfast on the plaza
Walk a minute to a small fonda or bakery near the square for fried hojaldras, a cheese-filled empanada and strong coffee. Locals stop here on their way to work, so you hear the town wake up and pay very little.

10:30 AM: Back streets and old houses
Wander the quiet side streets where quincha and tile-roofed houses survive among newer concrete. It is not a standard stop, and you will mostly share it with chickens and neighbors on porches. Nod hello and … read more 👉
8:00 AM: Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Start at the colonial church on the main plaza, one of the oldest in Azuero, dating to the 1600s. Go before the sun climbs so the whitewashed walls are cool and the doors are often open. Ten to 20 minutes is plenty, and it sets the town’s old story before the day begins.

9:00 AM: Breakfast on the plaza
Walk a minute to a small fonda or bakery near the square for fried hojaldras, a cheese-filled empanada and strong coffee. Locals stop here on their way to work, so you hear the town wake up and pay very little.

10:30 AM: Back streets and old houses
Wander the quiet side streets where quincha and tile-roofed houses survive among newer concrete. It is not a standard stop, and you will mostly share it with chickens and neighbors on porches. Nod hello and you will often get a chat and directions.

12:30 PM: Lunch at a local comedor
Sit down for a plate of rice, stewed chicken and fried plantain, the Azuero staple. Eat unhurried, because the midday heat empties the streets anyway.

2:30 PM: Riverside and farmland edge
Follow the road toward the surrounding cattle and sugarcane country for a short, flat walk. The light softens by late afternoon, and you see how the countryside actually feeds the town.

5:00 PM: Plaza evening
Return to the square as families gather. Grab a cold drink and watch the town settle into the night.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Parita

Parita is best from late December to April, when rain largely stops and roads stay dry.
  • Dry Season (Dec to Apr): Hot and breezy, around 32 to 35°C (90 to 95°F) by day and 22 to 24°C (72 to 75°F) at night. Azuero is one of Panama’s driest zones, with long daylight and the most visitors, mainly around Carnival in February or March.
  • Green Season (May to Nov): Daytime highs of 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F), with afternoon downpours. Fields turn green, rooms stay easy to find and prices soften slightly.
  • Festivals: Local patron saint celebrations bring music and crowds for a few days.
Go in the morning, since midday heat in March and April is strong.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
panama-city-parita
© Google |

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutPanama Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Panama
The digital guide (272 pages) contains:
✅ 89 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Panama

Chitré, about 15 to 20 minutes away, is the best base, since Parita itself has very few beds. Chitré has the real choice of hostels and budget rooms, ranging roughly US$12 to 25 a night, with restaurants and a bus terminal within walking distance. Streets are lit and calm after dark, though the center gets noisy on weekend nights. If you want quiet, a simple guesthouse in Parita itself suits a single night, but check availability ahead because options are limited. Buses and taxis link both places until early evening.
Best hostels in Panama


Best quality hotels in Panama

🚌 Getting aroundTransportation options and practical tips

Taking a bus to Chitré and expecting to find a direct line from Panama City to Parita itself costs the most time, because long-distance buses run along the highway and drop you at the junction or in Chitré. Walking covers the whole town, and the plaza is flat and shaded in places. For anything further, the options are simple.
  • Walking: The old center takes under an hour, free, and you see tiled roofs and the church up close.
  • Local bus from Chitré: Frequent minibuses run from the Chitré terminal, about 15 to 20 minutes for US$0.60 to 1, and you step off near the plaza.
  • Intercity bus from Panama City: Buses to Chitré take about 3.5 to 4 hours for roughly US$10 to 12, then you transfer. Leave early to arrive with daylight.
  • Taxi: A ride from Chitré costs about US$6 to 10, and the driver drops you at the door of a fonda or the church.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Parita costs about US$38 to 55 a day for a backpacker who sleeps in nearby Chitré, and the table uses US$46 as the total.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 18Beds are mostly in Chitré; high season sits near US$15.
MealsUS$12 to 18Fonda plates of rice, chicken and plantain cost US$3 to 5.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Minibuses cost under US$1 each way; US$4 is typical.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$0 to 8Church and streets are free; a pottery workshop may cost a few dollars.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 8Water, snacks, SIM data. Cash is king.
Total Daily BudgetUS$46Per person, per day, in high season.
Eat the set lunch at a fonda, which usually costs less than a la carte dinners.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Parita sits in the middle of Azuero, so day trips by bus and taxi are easy, with Chitré as the usual connection point.Chitré: Panama’s Herrera provincial capital offers a cathedral, a museum and markets, only 15 to 20 minutes away for about US$1 by bus. Go on a weekday morning to see the market at its busiest.
👉 Explore ChitréLa Arena Pottery Village: Clay workshops make pots and figurines with traditional methods. Count about 30 minutes each way and US$2 to 4 round trip by bus and a short taxi. Buy directly from workshops for lower prices.
Los Santos and Las Tablas: Las Tablas is the festival capital, with a big Carnival in February or March, about an hour away for US$3 to 5. Many first-timers arrive in the afternoon, when streets are empty, so go in the morning.
👉 Explore Las TablasPlaya El … read more 👉
Parita sits in the middle of Azuero, so day trips by bus and taxi are easy, with Chitré as the usual connection point.Chitré: Panama’s Herrera provincial capital offers a cathedral, a museum and markets, only 15 to 20 minutes away for about US$1 by bus. Go on a weekday morning to see the market at its busiest.
👉 Explore ChitréLa Arena Pottery Village: Clay workshops make pots and figurines with traditional methods. Count about 30 minutes each way and US$2 to 4 round trip by bus and a short taxi. Buy directly from workshops for lower prices.
Los Santos and Las Tablas: Las Tablas is the festival capital, with a big Carnival in February or March, about an hour away for US$3 to 5. Many first-timers arrive in the afternoon, when streets are empty, so go in the morning.
👉 Explore Las TablasPlaya El Rompío: A quiet Pacific beach near Los Santos province reached with a taxi from Chitré, around 45 minutes and US$20 to 30 total if shared. Dry season gives the calmest water.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Parita is quiet and low-risk, and most problems are small. Streets around the plaza are safe in daylight, and after dark you should stick to lit roads and avoid the dark highway shoulder, where traffic moves fast and there are no sidewalks. Solo travelers, including women, should expect friendly attention but little trouble. Keep your phone and cash tucked away on buses, particularly in Chitré’s terminal. Tap water is generally drinkable, though many travelers prefer bottled. Midday sun is the biggest annoyance, so carry water and a hat.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Parita

Parita is worth a short visit rather than a long stay, mainly for its colonial church and old adobe streets. Most travelers spend two to three hours, then continue to Chitré, 15 to 20 minutes away, or to the pottery village of La Arena. It suits history lovers more than beach seekers.
Half a day is enough for Parita itself, and one full day if you add La Arena pottery workshops. Spending two to three days across the Azuero peninsula, with a base in Chitré for US$12 to 25 a night, lets you add Las Tablas and nearby beaches.
Parita works very well as a day trip from Chitré, about 15 to 20 minutes by minibus for roughly US$1. From Panama City it is possible but long, around 3.5 to 4 hours each way by bus to Chitré, so staying overnight in Chitré is smarter.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Panamanian towns near Parita

Explore more nearby:

  • Chitré—Azuero hub, Herrera museum, public market, La Arena pottery| 11 km away
  • Macaracas—Inland Azuero, patron-saint festival, plaza fondas, straw hats| 31 km away
  • Guararé—Mejorana folklore, pollera workshops, Zárate museum, river walks| 33 km away

💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Panama including Parita and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all towns

Or checkout all Panama has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Panama
Country photo of Panama
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Parita

Parita rewards slowness. Most people overlook the pottery workshops tucked behind the plaza, which are where the town’s craft still lives. I would visit on a weekday morning when they are working, and carry small cash for a piece.

✈️ When did I visit Panama?
Panama I visited during my half year trip through South and Central America back in 2003

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Panama, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story