More than 100 properties with potential to develop agritourism

More than 100 properties with potential to develop agritourism


Sherly Diaz / The Panama Post


Agriculture, livestock, and flower arrangements are some of the activities that the visitor can enjoy Some of them are located in the provinces of Coclé, Los Santos, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Panama

Exhausted by the stress of any cosmopolitan city, many tourists seek a different alternative to rest and in a way "disconnect" from their bustling metropolis. And one of these alternatives is agritourism, an activity that is beginning to emerge in Panama.

Citizens from across the world go to Panama farms which are certified to offer the service of agritourism, where they learn to develop a variety of country activities such as milking a cow, working with livestock, and harvesting fruit, among other activities involving direct contact with the environment.
Through websites that some of the certified farms have, tourists get ready to take a boat or a bus after arriving in Panama to begin their adventure.
The development of agritourism opens the door to other related activities such as ethno-tourism, health, historic, cultural and adventure tourism.
Many farms border communities such as the Middle East in the Chiriquí province, 366 kilometers from the province of Panama, near the Nögbe Bugle.
Additionally, many have at their borders beautiful beaches and unique flora and fauna in the region, allowing the development of various activities. Even some of their lands have been the scenery of historic events such as the war of Coto.

Early activity

Agritourism began to be formalized two years ago with the active participation of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and the former Panamanian Tourism Institute (IPAT), known today as the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP). Both institutions began to make contact with farm owners. The results of the joint action were the identification of 167 farms which have the potential to develop agritourism. So far, 37 farms have been certified to develop the agritourism activity, said one of the pioneers of this project, José Vence (see box: Some farms).

Each farm must comply with good practices such as waste management of urban activity as agriculture, analyzing the history of each farm animal in order to eliminate suffering from any contagious disease, signs, recycling, and water purification, among others, to achieve certification.
After obtaining certification, a follow up is given to the farm three times a year according to a safety manual. In the future the support of international agencies to improve procedures is sought.
Vence stressed that the highest quality standards are going to be obtained; proof of that is the work being done to achieve international certifications from world-class organizations such as Global Green.

Success Experience

At the provinces of Coclé, Los Santos, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Panama there are farms dedicated to agritourism.
Edna of Landao, co-owner of the property Sitio Barriles in the province of Chiriquí develops with her husband the business of agritourism.
She stressed that the farm is visited by people from the United States, Finland, Europe, and England, among other nationalities.
She highlighted that they have managed to divulge their activities and this allows them to have the support of some tour operators.
Although most visitors are foreigners, they also receive the visit of Panamanian citizens, whether students, retirees or families.
The cost per trip is $ 3.00 for adults and $ 0.50 for children.
While the price for tourists is between $ 6.00 to cover the tour during the day.