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 285 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Shadow & Light Afro-Panamanian Tours provided one of the absolute highlights of our trip. Our guide was not only incredibly well-informed on every aspect of Afro-Panamanian history and culture, but his passion for sharing his culture was truly inspiring. From deep historical context to vibrant local cultural details, I walked away with a whole new perspective and appreciation for the community. I highly recommend this tour 100% to anyone looking for a meaningful and enriching experience!
Very informative, our tour guide was Gabriel. He was great and knows a lot. The walk wasn’t actually bad. And he kept us in shaded areas as much as possible and brought us water. The lunch at the market was really good too. We saw a Congo dance and the Afro Panamanian museum
It is very informative and I love hearing about the history and how no matter where we are in the world, we are connected by culture, art, and music. Thank you, Gabriel!
The tour was very educational and engaging. It was great to learn about Panama’s connection with Africa and America.
I really enjoyed this tour. The guide was excellent and gave us a true taste of Afro-Panamanian/Caribbean life in Panama. I enjoyed the Caribbean museum, the murals and street life. And the food at the market was delicious. I would highly recommend this trip.
Absolutely phenomenal experience! This Afro-Panamanian walking tour was, without question, one of the highlights of my time in Panama.
The guides, Meli abd Gabriel, were exceptional. Their wisdom, expertise, and depth of historical knowledge brought Afro-Panamanian history and culture to life in a way that was engaging, thoughtful, and deeply meaningful. What made the experience especially powerful was their genuine connection and commitment to the culture and the community. This wasn’t simply a tour—it felt like being invited into a living history, shared by people who clearly care about preserving, honoring, and celebrating the stories of Afro-Panamanian people.
And the lunch was AMAZING! The lunch experience was such an unexpected bonus and the perfect way to complete an already incredible day.
I highly, highly recommend this tour. If you are visiting Panama and want an experience that is culturally rich, informative, authentic, and memorable, do not miss it.
Hands down, this is the best walking tour in Panama!
Great way to learn about the afrocarribean history of Panama. Gabriel was a great guide. Light clothing and good walking shoes are a must.
I have lived in Panama for 4 years and enjoy participating in activities as a tourist and learning more about the country. The tour was very informative and a great way to spend your morning. She covered the afro history and afro Caribbean history of Panama and I learned many things that are not covered in the museums. I highly recommend this tour anyone visiting Panama.
The tour provided an in depth look at the Afro Caribbean/Antillean contributions to the country and more importantly the construction of the Canal. Meli ( and Gabriel) were GREAT! This truly was a positive experience rich in history!
There are some experiences you have that stay with you long after it is over, and this excursion is definitely one of them for me! They were incredibly knowledgeable, informative, and captivating from start to finish. The walk was enjoyable, engaging, and full of interesting stories and insights. And to make it even better, we got to enjoy a delicious taste test from a nearby bakery! This was truly a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone looking for something memorable and special.
Very educational. Both guides were friendly and knowledgeable. I loved their passion for spreading the knowledge concerning their history.
The tour was excellent. The tour guides were informative, friendly and helpful throughout the tour. The presenters treated participants like a family.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Bring a sun hat and umbrella, as the weather may quickly change during the tour.
Great experience learning about Panamá from the Afrocentric perspective. Mel discussed history, culture, and food. Thank you Mel for your in depth knowledge.
This was an amazing experience- very informative and interactive. Our guide was great and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend to other guest to the area- make sure you do the lunch option- the market is a wonderful experience!
A must do cultural treasure! You won’t hear or get to know about the real Panama without this tour. Meli is truly a historian. 5 ⭐️
This tour was amazing!! Meli presented the information in a beautiful way to connect the past to the present and on to the future. She was thoughtful and took her time to answer questions. We danced with performers in the Santa Ana square and it was beautiful!!! She provided us with a sweet treat and gave us the history of the cuisine and culture in Panama from a historical African perspective. How we came to be integrated in the culture and our contributions to the development of the city. This tour is for anyone who wants to learn about the diverse cultures of Panama through the lenses of an African experience!! This tour is a must if you visit!!!
Meli provided a dynamic and thorough presentation of the Afro-Colonials and Afro-Antilleans in Panama. She was very knowledgeable and had an overall beautiful spirit. Her passion for sharing Panama's rich and complex history pours out in every story and leason. Wear comfy shoes and be prepared to take in all of the sights and sounds. She also threw in a few nice surprises! Continued blessings to Meli and team!
The tour was fun and super informative. We learned all about the different stages of Panamanian history and even got to see a movie scene being filmed. It was pretty cool!
This tour is a must-do event for everyone not just the African diaspora. It was informational and educational and provided insight into the African and Caribbean influence on the Panamanian culture.
The tour guide Meli was the enthusiastic and such a gracious host. She was extremely knowledgeable and organized which made the entire walking tour relatable and enjoyable.
Book your tour today!
Great tour! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and she had such a pleasant spirit. I enjoy understanding our ancestral linkage through travel. May her journey be fruitful and filled with positivity.
Meli has done her homework on Afro Panamanian culture and history! She will make sure that you have an awesome experience! Make sure you book the lunch!
An immersive guided tour with a fantastic guide Meli! Blending history, culture and ethnicity of the black and colored stories that made Panama.
Our personable tour guide Meli shares a lot of wonderful information in a very organized way. There is a lot of walking but it was manageable and necessary to experience the areas discussed along the way.
The tour is well worth your time. The tour guide Meli is well organized and keeps your interests up throughout the whole tour. Anyone seeking to know more in depth history about the Afro Panamanian history will appreciate this tour.
The level of detail is outstanding and the tour guide, Melie, is wonderful, knowledgeable, and personable
The tour was an informative, interactive, and enriching cultural experience. From the cultural significance of Panamanian architecture to the dance and food, I feel connected and empowered to share all that I learned. The host was inviting, kind, and punctual. I highly recommend booking this tour.
This walking tour is great for those wanting to learn about the fascinating history of the Afro-Panamanian diaspora. This immersive experience included authentic Panamanian dancing, authentic cuisine (if you can, opt in for the authentic Panamanian lunch) and a tour of the Afro Antillian Museum. Our guide, Meli, was excellent! Her passion came through as she engaged us and shared her infinite knowledge on this fascinating journey through time!
I took this tour today with two friends. One brought her 6- or 7-year-old daughter. It was an extraordinary experience and I learned so much. Our guide Meli is Panamanian going back many generations. The tour was well-organized and well-attended; it was on time and stayed on topic. The walk from Casco Antiguo to 5 de Mayo was the highlight for me.
My friend's little girl was welcomed and loved by the tour guides. The tour was engaging enough to keep everyone, including the young lady, completely captivated. There were nice surprises along the way, too.
I moved to Panama 1 year ago from Lisbon. I'm originally from NYC. I wish I had taken this tour sooner. It made so many cultural experiences that I've had clear to me. I now understand my new home country much better. Meli gives this part of Panamanian history in a easy to understand narrative. I highly recommend this tour as part of your visit or relocation to Panama. Thank you Meli for sharing your research, knowledge and love for Panama.
This tour is so necessary.
Every country should offer something like this because Afro heritage is on every continent!
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$57.00
per personWas $60.00(-5%)
up 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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