Black History: Shadows & Lights- Afro Panama heritage experience

5.0 (295 reviews) Panama City, Panama
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Duration3h - 4h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 15 travelers

Overview

Step back more than 500 years and explore the rich — and often overlooked — history of African ancestry in Panama. This walking journey unfolds through two defining chapters: the colonial era, marked by the harsh realities of slavery and powerful acts of resistance, and the West Indian migrations — a period of labor, resilience, and cultural legacy that helped shape Panama’s identity.

• Our walk begins in Casco Antiguo, moving beyond the former walls that once divided the elite from the working-class community of Santa Ana.
• We continue along Central Avenue, a vibrant area filled with stories and local life.
• Then we visit the Afro-Antillean Museum to explore the lives and contributions of West Indian migrants who helped build the nation.

Optional: Lunch at San Felipe Neri Market for local comfort food and a refreshing natural juice. Book the Walking Experience + Lunch option.

This experience invites you to discover the shadows and lights that shape Afro-Panamanian heritage.

Options

Walking Experience + Lunch

Lunch at local market : Hearty Panamanian comfort food from a nearby market eatery with natural juice.
Meeting Point: Plaza Herrera, Casco Antiguo
Not included: Transportation
Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours

Walking Experience Only

Step into history: Afro-Panamanian heritage walking experience with stops along the way (1.5km/ 0.9 miles)
Meeting point: Plaza Herrera, Casco Antiguo
Not included: Transportation and lunch
Duration: 2.5- 3 hrs

What's included

  • Bottled water
  • Afro panamanian guide
  • Afro panamanian snack

What to expect

  1. Plaza Herrera
    40m
    At our meeting point, we'll explore Panama's colonial history, understanding its roots and foundations.
  2. 20m
    Here we’ll enjoy a traditional Afro-Panamanian snack while closing the chapter on the Afro-colonial period and beginning the transition toward the West Indian influence.
  3. Avenida Central
    30m
    We'll immerse ourselves in a walk along Central Avenue, appreciating the local Panamanian vibe and their daily lives,
  4. Afro-Antillian Museum (Museo Afro Antillano de Panama )
    1h
    This former small chapel, now transformed into a museum, has so much history. It also features a beautiful outdoor mural that narrates the life and labor of West Indians in the Isthmus of Panama.
  5. 1h
    (Optional) This stop is included in the Walking Experience + Lunch package.

    We’ll cool off with a refreshing natural juice and sit down to a comforting, flavorful local lunch.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

We will gather next to the statue in the middle of Plaza Herrera. I'll have sign with the name of the tour.

End point

In front of 5 de Mayo Metro station

Additional information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (295)
From
$60.00 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by The Afro Panama Experience · Booked through Viator
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