Festival de la Fundacion de Panama Viejo

Festival de la Fundación de Panamá Viejo

View on map
Cultural & TraditionalPanama City
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsPanamá Viejo predates every other
Language["es"]Currency: PAB
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Festival de la Fundacion de Panama Viejo in Panama City

Festival de la Fundación de Panamá Viejo marks the August 15, 1519 founding of Panamá Viejo, the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, now a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site within modern Panama City.

On August 15, 1519, the Spanish administrator Pedro Arias Dávila and roughly one hundred settlers established a city on Panama's Pacific coast that would become, within two years, the first city of the Spanish Empire founded on the Pacific side of the Americas.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Panamá Viejo predates every other Pacific-facing colonial city in the hemisphere, and for more than 150 years it served as the Spanish Empire's transshipment point for silver mined in Peru before it crossed the isthmus overland toward Portobelo and the Atlantic

02

The mystery stays covered

The Welsh privateer Henry Morgan destroyed the settlement in 1671, and rather than being rebuilt on the same ground, the new Panama City rose several kilometers away, leaving the original site as an intact ruin

03

The city starts moving

The anniversary festival is staged directly among the surviving stone remains of the cathedral tower and colonial street grid, not a reconstruction, giving it an unusually direct physical connection to the history it commemorates

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Commemoration of the city's founding

Water and renewal

Living ritual

guided heritage-site interpretation

The sacred route

Living ritual

and civic pride tied to the site's 1997 UNESCO World Heritage designation

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Light tropical clothing, sturdy walking shoes for uneven archaeological terrain, and a sun hat.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Panama City you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["es"] · PAB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map8.99 N, 79.52 WOpen in Google Maps

Panama City, Panama, Panama

Nearest airportPTY — Tocumen
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Panama City you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Panama City via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Panama City, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearLight tropical clothing, sturdy walking shoes for uneven archaeological terrain, and a sun hat.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Panama and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival de la Fundacion de Panama Viejo?

Festival de la Fundacion de Panama Viejo is listed for August. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival de la Fundacion de Panama Viejo take place?

The festival is listed in Panama City, Panama. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Panama City, Panama, Panama

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLtourismpanama.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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