Pedasí is a town situated on the south-eastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula on Panama’s Pacific coast. It is located in the Pedasí district, in the Los Santos province. It is principally a fishing village with a population of about 2000 people ^[1].

Pedasí’s town boasts medical clinics, a bank, a library, and a handful of restaurants, supermarkets and small shops. The town is equipped with telephone, cable and high-speed Internet service throughout. Pedasí is known for lively annual carnivals, pristine beaches, and activities such as sport fishing and surfing, as well as its proximity to several of Panama’s national parks and preserves.

Pedasí town consists mainly of a central road (Avenida Central), a plaza (city center) about two blocks away, and several nicely maintained civic buildings, surrounded by quiet, residential blocks. ^[2]

With its quaint architecture and neatly laid-out streets, Pedasí is one of the main attractions of the Los Santos region. ^[3]

Geography

Pedasi is located at 7° 32' 0" North, 80° 2' 0" West ^[4], at the tip of the Azuero Peninsula, on Panama’s Pacific Coast.

By car from Panama City, Pedasí is a smooth about four-hour drive ^[5] on well-maintained roads.

Pedasí has a small airstrip that receives regional flights from Panama City’s Albrook Airport Air Panama terminal in the high season, ^[6] as well as are private and charter flights year-round. The government has reportedly reached an agreement with a private company to cut a new 1000-meter landing strip to receive larger charter flights, set to be completed in 2009. ^[7]

Former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso Rodríguez de Arias ^[8], Panama’s first female president, is a Pedasí native. She made it an objective during her term to better the town in which she was born, giving Pedasí improved infrastructure. There is a bust and plaque in the main plaza in her honor.

Attractions

Pedasí town is a little more than a kilometer from the coast, where there are several sandy beaches.

List of beaches near Pedasí:

• El Arenal, used by local fishermen to launch small fishing boats

• Playa El Toro, which has a left and right point break for surfing

• Playa La Garita

• Playa El Lagarto which has left and right beach breaks for surfing

• Playa El Lanchón

• Playa El Cascajal

• Playa Los Destiladeros, which has several breaks for surfing

• Puerto Escondido

• Playa Los Panamaes

• Playa la Miel

• Punta Chumico

Surfing

There are several breaks on Pedasí’s beaches, which range from small for beginners, to overhead when there is a swell. Playa El Toro has a left and right rock bottom point break for surfing, and Playa El Lagarto has left and right beach breaks. Playa Los Destiladeros also has several breaks for surfing. ^[9]

Sport fishing

As the continental shelf drops sharply relatively close to shore, Pedasí’s waters are chock full of pelagic game fish, ^[10] with year-round catch including amberjack, Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus), roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis) and grouper, while dorado (Coryphaena hippurus, commonly called mahi-mahi, or dolphinfish), both bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) are found seasonally, November through April. ^[11]

The fishery rides deep ocean currents running close to shore — much of the fishing can be found within eight miles of the shoreline ^[12] — making the area ideal for light-tackle, deep-sea fishing enthusiasts.

Isla Iguana

Isla Iguana is an island wildlife refuge (see also: Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge), which can be reached with a 20-minute boat ride from Playa El Arenal. The 52-hectare island is surrounded by an extensive coral reef, which gives it two powdery-soft white sand beaches: Playa El Cirial (252 meters long) and Playita del Faro (37 meters long).

It is also home to more than 62 bird species, and a major nesting site for the magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), with a population of more than 5000. The island also houses several reptile species, including the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) for which the island is named.

The refuge also comprises a 40-hectare marine area — including a channel for migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between June and October — and one of the largest well-preserved coral reefs in Panama, ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors to the reefs can expect to see a variety of fish, rays, eels, and sea turtles.

Entrance to the refuge is $4 for Panamanian nationals, $10 for foreigners, and $2 for seniors and students. Children under 12 enter free of charge. ^[13]

Architecture

The area’s local architecture is a combination of the fastidious Spanish colonial style awash with more subdued pastels of Caribbean influence. Most homes feature wide, colonnaded verandas, and several historic homes have hand-painted details. Gardens are well-tended with colorful tropical flowers.

Culture

Pedasí’s townspeople are laid-back, friendly, and regularly greet visitors with a smile. Men can often be seen wearing cuttarras (traditional sandals) and the region’s folkloric black and white hats; women, during festivals and carnivals, don polleras, traditional hand-stitched multi-layered dresses, some of which can take nearly a year to complete. During local fiestas the women will further adorn their polleras with ornate jewelry and gold chains. ^[14]

Carnival

February’s carnival is the annual high point of local life in Pedasí, which is renowned for the most exuberant celebration after Las Tablas. The town divides itself into two factions, Calle Abajo (lower street) and Calle Arriba (upper street), with their respective queens, each trying to outdo the other with floats, music and fireworks. At the end of the celebration, the winning queen is chosen by popular vote. ^[15]

Pedasí also celebrates the fiesta of Santa Catalina (St Catherine’s Day) on November 25th (see also: Calendar of saints).

Notes