Los Santos is a province on the Azuero Peninsula in southern Panama, the heartland of Panamanian rural culture. This is where the country's traditions run deepest — the pollera dress, the sombrero pintao, and the folk dances that define the national identity all originate here. If you visit during Carnival, the celebrations in Las Tablas are among the wildest and most genuine in Central America — the rivalry between the town's two halves makes this feel nothing like a tourist performance.
Outside festival time, Los Santos is a quiet, agricultural region of dry grasslands, cattle ranches, and small colonial towns. La Villa de los Santos holds significant historical importance as the site of Panama's first declaration of independence. The coastline along the Pacific has empty beaches and decent surf, particularly around Pedasí and Playa Venao. Isla Iguana, a short boat ride from Pedasí, has pristine coral reefs and a large frigatebird colony. The region sees far fewer tourists than Panama City or Bocas del Toro, which is part of its appeal.