Black History: Shadows & Lights- Afro Panama heritage experience
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Panama City, Panama
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Bottled water
- SnacksAfro panamanian snack
- Afro panamanian guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Plaza HerreraPanama City, Panamá Province, Panama
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
- Museo Afroantillano de PanamáM 628, M 628, Panamá, Provincia de Panamá, Panama
In front of 5 de Mayo Metro station
Itinerary
1
Plaza Herrera
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Santa Ana, Panama City
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Avenida Central
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Afro-Antillian Museum (Museo Afro Antillano de Panama )
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
San Felipe Neri Public Market
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 109 reviews
Jeff_D, Mar 2026
We absolutely loved this tour! Meli is so knowledgeable, passionate, and kind. She answered all of our questions confidently and showed us areas that we would have never explored on our own. She provided bottles of water which was very nice as it was a hot and humid day. She was also very attentive to the needs of all on the tour. She slowed the pace for slower walkers, made sure we all headed off in the right direction after the tour, and even helped me find and negotiate a fair price for an item I’d been looking for at the market we walked through. This tour was like an interactive history lesson and we enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend this tour!
Valletta_G, Mar 2026
Be prepared for a very informative tour. Insight into the less seen and heard side of Panama. Mili was very professional in her presentation . She is very proud of her country and her heritage, it showed in her tour.
Would recommend this be one of your activities in Casco Viejo.
Kimberley_H, Mar 2026
A thorough education on Afro-Panamanian culture. Our guide was amazing! I highly recommend this one!
Patrice_C, Mar 2026
This tour was everything and more. We learned so much and experienced the culture in the perfect way. I can't express how much it touched me to see people preserve their culture in this way. Round of applause.
Nicole_B, Mar 2026
Meli was absolutely fantastic! She also took us to the local market with the best food since we have been here
Kenneth_H, Mar 2026
Very informative and engaging. Love that interactions and the Afro history behind Panamá. Just proves my theory that my ancestors played a key role in the development of many countries in the West no matter how much they try to erase our history.
Michael_B, Mar 2026
I found the tour fascinating. I enjoyed discovery the part of Panama that represents the Afro-Panamanian people. Meli was a great and interesting guide.
Definitely a tour to take to round a visit to Panama!
Marie_F, Mar 2026
I had an absolutely amazing experience on this walking tour and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Panama who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Afro-Panamanian history and culture. The tour beautifully highlights the interconnectedness of African culture across the globe and its profound influence on Panama’s identity.
Our guide, Meli, was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about sharing the stories, history, and cultural contributions of Afro-Panamanians. Her insights made the experience both educational and deeply meaningful.
I also opted for the food package and, as someone who is plant-based, I truly appreciated the opportunity to dine with locals and enjoy authentic flavors. The meal included delicious coconut rice and beans, fried plantains, and mixed vegetables — simple, flavorful, and a wonderful way to connect with the community.
This tour was one of the highlights of my trip. If you’re looking for an enriching cultural experience in Panama, this is truly a must-do.
Ola_F, Mar 2026
Do this tour! Meli has a passion for the history and current contributions of AfroPanamanians. I learned so much on this tour! The museum is also a must. It’s small but there is a lot of information. I also did the lunch add on which was a treat. The food is really good. Best of all was getting out of Casco Viejo (you don’t go too far) and experiencing more authentic parts of the city.
Jazmin_L, Feb 2026
A must when visiting Panama! I learned so much about the culture and history. Meli is a gem. Visiting the local market and museum was the best experience. Highly recommend this tour for everyone. Will do it again when I visit. Thank you Meli!
Trecia_R, Feb 2026
Very knowledgeable and you get more than your money's worth. I will be doing this tour again with family.
Debra_O, Feb 2026
Meli did an awesome job! Her knowledge of Panamanian history is superb. I really enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot about Panamá and its rich history and culture!
JAY_P, Feb 2026
This experience was one of the most meaningful parts of our time in Panama. Meli was amazing — passionate, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable. She brings more than facts; she brings heart, context, and lived understanding to a history that deserves to be seen, honored, and remembered.
We also chose the optional fondas lunch at San Felipe Neri Market, which was the perfect way to end the experience: comforting local food, refreshing natural juice, and more time to reflect on everything we’d learned.
If you want a tour that goes beyond sightseeing — one that connects you to the soul, struggle, and brilliance of Afro-Panamanian heritage — this is it. Meli brings the shadows and the lights to life with grace, depth, and genuine care. Highly recommended.
Djenaba_R, Feb 2026
This tour was so interesting and informative about the Afro-Panamanian experience. It is amazing to see how similar the African diaspora culture is so similar no matter which country our ancestors lived. Mili (our tour guide) was kind, friendly and full of knowledge. If you are part of the African diaspora or interested in learning more about the full history of Panama this is a must do while in Panama City!
Joseph_R, Feb 2026
Meli was very personable and knowledgeable as our tour guide. We learned so much about African contributions to the western hemisphere.
Imani_M, Feb 2026
We took the Black History: Shadows and Lights tour as part of our school’s Afro-Panamanian field study, and it was outstanding! Our guide, Meli, brought incredible energy, knowledge, and genuine passion for Afro-Panamanian culture and history. Her storytelling made the experience engaging, meaningful, and deeply personal.
As a Montessori educator and a lifelong student of Black history throughout the diaspora, I was honestly surprised by how much I learned. The tour provided historical context and perspectives that are often overlooked, and it deepened my understanding of Panama’s important role in the Afro-diasporic story.
This is far more than a typical city tour, it is thoughtful, educational, and inspiring. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Panama City who wants a richer understanding of the country’s history and culture.
Patricia_W, Feb 2026
Meli is so passionate and knowledgeable. You will learn so much and truly experience the community. I definitely recommend the tour.
I did the lunch option, which added even more value. Delicious food and great conversation. We even met some other tourists who shared interesting stories with us, including a bodyguard from Jeff Bezos’s wedding 👀.
Take the tour!!
Mary_R, Jan 2026
Highly recommend this tour for learning about the Black generations who helped build Panama up to present times. Meli is thorough and engaging. We loved the pace, seeing Casco Viejo and outside the walled city.
Paul_B, Jan 2026
Afro-Panamanian history told by those who live it. Meil is that person. You’re getting a semester worth of knowledge from someone passionate about history.
Cheryl_C, Jan 2026
Meli is a very knowledgeable and creative historian tour guide!!! She made the Afro Panamanian history come alive. Meli made sure that the group was hydrated and was attentive to our needs. I learned so many interesting historical facts about the Afro Panamanian culture and experience. Meli is the simply the best!!! I highly recommend this tour and would happily book it again in the future!!!!
Erica_P, Jan 2026
Meli and her assistant gave our family including my 12‑year‑old nephew an unforgettable and deeply meaningful tour of Afro‑Panamanian history. You can feel her passion from the moment the tour begins. She’s not just a guide; she’s someone who has truly found her purpose, and I’m grateful for the care she puts into preserving and sharing this history with others.
We also booked the lunch experience, which was absolutely fantastic. Meli and the food vendors talked us through the options, helped us choose our meals, and made sure we enjoyed every part of the experience.
Lanika_J, Jan 2026
As others have stated this tour can't be missed. It gives you "OUR" perspective on the contribution we made to the city of Panama . I was glad to share this experience with my son
Daphne_Y, Dec 2025
Meli, our consummate tour guide, passionately and proudly taught us so much about the lives, the cultures, and the contributions the Afro Panamanians have brought to the table as the country of Panama has evolved. Any person taking her tour will be the wiser for it. Such an eye opener, well articulated, and memorable. Thanks Meli!
Rick_C, Dec 2025
Book Black History Shadows and Lights with Meli if you want more than the typical tourist checklist. Black History Shadows and Lights takes you into the real Panama City and brings Afro Panamanian history to life while connecting it clearly to the broader Afro Latino story. This is not a surface level walk or a boring lecture. Meli guides, explains, and anchors everything in real places you can physically walk through and experience, so the history feels lived, not abstract. You can tell she cares about telling the Afro Panamanian and Afro Latino story the right way, with respect, accuracy, and depth.
What impressed me most is how she helps you see what most visitors miss, the people, the neighborhoods, the context, the roots. Her knowledge is deep, her delivery is engaging, and her passion for Afro Panamanian and Afro Latino history is obvious from the first stop. Here’s the real-time proof, while Meli was guiding my tour, a couple overheard her speaking, stopped to listen, and were so captivated by what she was sharing that they wanted to book for the next day on the spot. That says it all.
Bottom line, Black History Shadows and Lights with Meli is a must do in Panama City. You’ll leave educated, inspired, and more connected to Afro Panamanian and Afro Latino history than you expected. Highly recommended.
Aqlia_T, Dec 2025
This is a must do while visiting Panama. Highly recommend doing this before a Panama Canal tour.
Meli is very knowledgeable and passionate about her culture and Panamanian history, this tour is educational but not in a boring lecture way. It is a walking tour so wear comfortable shoes. She’s very patient, easygoing and knows all the cool spots.
Tracey_S, Dec 2025
Meli was super knowledgeable about this hidden gem of a tour! I was impressed by her research, her passion and for answering questions about various things noted along the way. What I loved about her was her enthusiasm to learn even more. Example, I asked her something she didn’t know about that wasn’t a part of our tour but she made a note to research the topic in case a guest asked in the future… I LOVE THAT!!
The museum of Afro-Antilles history she took us too was also well documented. It was air conditioned and perfect for a rainy day activity. I enjoyed the murals and learning about the history behind it. Also loved the stop into the marketplace seeing all the fresh meats and tasting delicious fresh juices. I really liked this part because the fruit and juices in the U.S. are basically GMO crap (sorry not sorry)
The lunch was very tasty. I tried “red” potato salad (the beets make it red/pink color) it was tasty! You could choose which items you wanted and I devoured everything I ate when I returned home!! Oh and Meli gave us pastellitas or fruit filled pastries that were delicious and gave us history behind the cultural gastronomy of the pop tart like treat.
I’m so very grateful that Meli offered this tour. I came to Panama to understand more of the indigenous Afro cultural history not just the typical visitor tours that are offered on a surface level. I like to go deep and beyond and the Afro-Panamanian Shadows and Lights tour DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! WELL DONE MELISSA!!
Estelle_R, Dec 2025
This experience took us to the Panama that we need to know as Afro Caribbean people. Melissa provided such history and gave us a view of another Panama. I highly recommend you won’t be disappointed.
Vedia_B, Dec 2025
This tour was fantastic! We learned about the history of the African people in Panama pre-colonization through today. We walked through various neighborhoods as well as to the markets. It was such a mind opening experience. Everyone needs to take this tour.
Drae_F, Dec 2025
Meli is fantastic! Her energy is contagious and makes this experience effortless. Meli is now like family, just like the other tour members.
Grace_B, Dec 2025
I highly recommend this experience. Melissa was amazing and very knowledgeable. She provided so much more insight and filled in a lot of gaps about the Afro experience in Panama. Be mindful it is a walking experience, come ready to learn, engage, wear walking shoes and comfortable, cool clothing.
From $45.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Black History: Shadows & Lights- Afro Panama heritage experience
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