Two queens from Penonomé Carnival
Carnival - a four-day fiesta of drinking, dancing, eating and decadent behavior begins today in Panama. This country literally shuts down during Carnival.
Panamanians take their parties seriously! Expect the music to be blasting until dawn.
Non-stop dancing, lavishly decorated floats, sexy Carnival Queens and water sprayed from everywhere earmarks the festivities.
Las Tablas (Azuero Peninsula), Penonomé (Coclé Province) and Panama City are the top three places (in that order) to enjoy this extraordinary national party.
Penonomé is the most family-oriented festival with 'G rated' activities. The floats in this parade literally float! They are on barges in the river, propelled underwater by scuba divers. Head down to the river for the parade on Saturday afternoon. (go right off the main drag in Penonomé).
Las Tablas and Panama City have more nudity, more hard-core partying, and larger crowds.
For many Panamanians, Carnival means "get out of town" and head to quieter beaches or mountain retreats - although almost every community has some sort of Carnival celebrations.
