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If there’s one thing I can say about our group, it’s that we’re not like the rest. We have a unique energy, a special way of living each

We’re not the perfect group, but we’re real. We laugh, we argue, we support each other, and most importantly, we share moments that will stay with us for a long time.

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•Ceviche: Freshly caught fish marinated in citrus juices, onions, peppers, and cilantro.

•Sancocho: A hearty chicken soup with yams, corn, cilantro, and local spices.

•Rondon: A traditional Caribbean dish.

•Empanadas: A variety of fillings, including beef, beef patties, and plantain.

•Fufu Broth: A soup with fish, tubers, and coconut.

•Saltfish and Akke: A dish featuring saltfish and the Jamaican fruit ackee.

•Bon Bread: A unique bread.

•Yanny Cake: A coconut bread.

•Icing Glass: An exotic seaweed smoothie.

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Bocas del Toro is a province in the northwest of Panama, made up of mainland territory and several islands in the Caribbean Sea. Its name, which means “Mouths of the Bull” in Spanish, has several legends—one says it comes from the sound of waves hitting the rocks, resembling a bull’s roar.

The area was originally inhabited by indigenous groups, especially the Ngäbe and Buglé peoples. Later, it became an important stop for Spanish explorers and traders during the colonial period.

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Collage Vertical Recuerdos del Verano Aesthetic Blanco

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Strategic importance and develoment of the City of bocas del toro

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Strategic importance and develoment of the City of bocas del toro

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Bocas del Toro, on Isla Colón in Panama, holds strategic value as a key Caribbean tourism hub, known for its natural beauty, marine biodiversity, and eco-friendly activities. It significantly contributes to Panama's economy through international tourism, hospitality, and adventure travel. Its proximity to Costa Rica enhances cross-border trade and cultural exchange. The region is crucial for environmental conservation, hosting marine parks and protected areas. It also preserves rich Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé cultures, making it important both economically and culturally.

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Bocas del Toro, in Panama, is a Caribbean paradise that offers beaches for all tastes: from quiet bays ideal for relaxing to challenging waves for surfers.

Boca del Drago

A quiet beach with turquoise waters and coconut trees. It is ideal to relax and enjoy local cuisine in nearby restaurants.

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Bocas del Toro, located in Panama, is home to a rich variety of wildlife. The region’s tropical climate and lush rainforests provide the perfect habitat for many unique animals. One of the most famous is the red poison dart frog, known for its bright color and small size. It is often seen as a symbol of Bocas del Toro.

In the sea, you can find dolphins, especially in Dolphin Bay, where they swim freely. The coral reefs also host colorful tropical fish, sea stars, and sea turtles. On land, sloths, monkeys, and many species of birds like the toucan and hummingbird are common sights.

These animals not only live in Bocas del Toro but also represent its natural beauty and ecological importance.

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Bocas del Toro is known for its beautiful beaches and islands. Isla Colón is the main island with restaurants and hotels. Starfish Beach is famous for clear water and starfish. Isla Bastimentos National Park has coral reefs and jungle. The Zapatilla Cays are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

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Traditional women’s clothing in Bocas del Toro

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Traditional women’s clothing in Bocas del Toro

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Panama, reflects the region’s rich cultural diversity, influenced by Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, and mestizo communities. Among the Indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé women, the most representative garment is the nagua, a long, ankle-length dress with short sleeves, made from brightly colored cotton fabric. These dresses are decorated with geometric patterns made from ribbon or bias tape, often carrying cultural or spiritual meaning. Naguas are worn both in daily life and during traditional celebrations.

Afro-Caribbean women in the region wear clothing that reflects their Antillean roots, including lightweight skirts or dresses with tropical or floral prints, loose blouses with lace or embroidered details, and colorful headwraps or turbans.

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In Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean province of Panama known for its rich cultural diversity—including Afro-Antillean, Indigenous, and Latin influences—several traditional dances reflect this unique blend of heritage. Some of the most representative dances include:1. Maypole Dance (Palo de Mayo)

Music: Calypso, soca, and other Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

•Tamborito

Origin: Mestizo/Panamanian

Description: A traditional couple’s dance where women wear folkloric dresses and men wear simple formal attire. It is accompanied by drums, a small box drum, and call-and-response singing.

Presence: Although more common in Panama’s interior, it is also performed during national celebrations in Bocas.

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🌴 Dish Overview

The dish consists of rice cooked in coconut milk, which gives it a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a creamy texture. It typically includes garlic, onion, peppers, and sometimes pigeon peas (a native bean). The rice is accompanied by fried fish, usually whole, seasoned with local spices.

📍 Where it's most common

It's most common on the Atlantic coast of Panama, especially in Colón, where it's part of celebrations, festivals, and family meals. It's also found in restaurants that offer Afro-Caribbean or Creole cuisine.

📜 Origin of the dish

This dish has its roots in Afro-Antillean culture, brought to Panama by Caribbean immigrants—primarily from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad—who came to work on the construction of the railroad and the Panama Canal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These people brought their culinary traditions with them, including the use of coconut, fried fish, and green plantains.

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Disc overview

"One Pot Colonense" is a traditional Panamanian dish, especially popular in Colón, which consists of cooking several ingredients (rice, coconut, proteins like pork and shrimp, etc.) in a single pot. It's a way to use up leftovers and prepare a hearty dish with Afro-Caribbean flavors.

Wher it`s most common

One Pot Colonense is a common dish in Colón, Panama, often prepared in homes and offered in some restaurants.

Origin of the dish

The "One Pot Colonense" is a traditional afro-colonial dish from Colón, Panama, known for its one-pot cooking style and rich flavors. It's a dish that traditionally uses leftover ingredients and often includes rice, dried shrimp, pork, and other ingredients like bacalao, vegetables, and spices.

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One Pot colonense, Isaac Villaverde en La Tapa del Coco

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La Tapa del Coco es un restaurante de cocina afropanameña, fundado por el cocinero Isaac Villaverde en Ciudad de Panamá. Nació con la misión de preservar el legado culinario de la comunidad afroantillana, instalada en el país a mediados del siglo XIX. Trabajadores antillanos llegaron a la provincia de Colón para participar en la construcción […]

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The origin of the province of Colón dates back to the creation of the city of Colón in 1850 by the Panama Railroad Company. This company sought to establish a base of operations for the construction of a railroad across the isthmus. The city, originally named Aspinwall, was later formally recognized by the Provincial Chamber of Panama in 1850.

The name "Colón" for the city and province in Panama is a tribute to Christopher Columbus, the Spanish explorer and navigator who arrived in the Americas in 1492. The city was initially named Aspinwall by the American community that built the railroad, but the Hispanic community and the Panamanian government insisted on naming it Colón in honor of the discoverer. Detailed explanation: Tribute to Christopher Columbus:The city of Colón was named in honor of Christopher Columbus, who arrived in these lands on his fourth voyage in 1502. Proposal by Mariano Arosemena: The proposal to name the city "Colón" was made by Mariano Arosemena Quesada, a member of the Provincial Chamber of Panama in 1850. Name dispute: The American community that built the railroad preferred the name Aspinwall, in honor of William Henry Aspinwall, one of the company's shareholders. Official name: After a long period of controversy, the Panamanian government finally decided that the official name of the city and province would be Colón. Colón Island (Bastimentos Island): Exo Terra explains that Colón Island (also known as Bastimentos Island) was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and was called Bastimentos because it was a place to replenish supplies for his fleet.

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⌈Strategic Importance and Development of the City of Colon⌋:

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⌈Strategic Importance and Development of the City of Colon⌋:

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The city of Colón, located on Panama’s Caribbean coast, has played a key role in the country’s commercial and geopolitical history.

Its strategic importance lies mainly in its proximity to the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal, making it a key point for international maritime transit.

It is also home to the Colon Free Zone, the second largest free trade zone in the world, which significantly boosts regional and international trade.

In terms of its development, Colón emerged as a railway hub in the 19th century, linked to the construction of the transisthmian railway and later the Canal.

Over time, it has faced challenges such as inequality and urban decay, but has also been the focus of renewal and investment projects to improve infrastructure, attract tourism, and strengthen its economy.

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Among the most common are cotton, linen, wool, and silk. These materials are highly valued for their softness, breathability, and sustainability.In Colón, the most common clothing tends to combine elements of Afro-Antillean and Panamanian culture, with influences from African and European culture. Traditional attire can include pieces such as the pollera (for women) and the montuno (for men), as well as the attire of the Congos of Colón.

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The pilon-style shirt, made from a variety of fabrics, had short sleeves with one or two eyelets and mismatched buttons at the back, front, or side. Women of rank also wore a white round-neck shirt with long sleeves and a button-down front.

Vibrantly colored fabrics, such as orange, yellow, and blue, are characteristic of Afro-descendant attire. Additionally, there are African influences that favor ochre and earth tones, with designs in straw and henequen.

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Congo dance, a unique and vibrant tradition in the province of Colón, Panama, is a form of cultural expression celebrated primarily during the Carnival season and the Festival of Devils and Congos. Declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, this dance reflects the history and resilience of Panamanians of African descent. It is a blend of music, dance, masks, and colorful costumes that represents a symbolic struggle between the "congos."

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Key aspects of Congo dance:

Origins:

Congo dance has its roots in African cultures brought by slaves, fused with Spanish cultural elements.

Meaning:

The dance celebrates the resilience and joy of runaway slaves and satirizes oppressors.

Visual elements:

Dancers wear masks, colorful clothing, and drums to create a festive and ritual experience.

Rhythms:

Congo music is based on African rhythms and is characterized by drumming and singing.

Celebrations:

Congo dance is especially prominent during Carnival and the Festival of Devils and Congos in Portobello and other towns along Colón's Caribbean coast.

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In Colón, Panama, traditional dances reflect the rich Afro-Panamanian culture, with the Congo dance being a standout, a deeply rooted tradition declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This dance, along with other expressions such as Cumbia, Bullerengue, and Calypso, celebrates the region's African and Caribbean heritage.

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The dances of the Congo culture, especially in the province of Colón, Panama, are characterized by a blend of African, European, and local elements. These dances are rhythmic, festive, and convey a rich cultural history. Music, costumes, characters, and movements are key to expressing this tradition.

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In Colón, calypso is a musical and cultural genre of great importance, with roots in Trinidad and Tobago and a strong presence in the Caribbean region of Panama. It has taken root in the local culture thanks to the influence of Afro-Antillean migration during the construction of the railroad and the Panama Canal.