Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ocú
Twenty kilometres west of Pesé, the larger village of
OCÚ
makes up for the lack of quaint
charm by attracting visitors for its
festivals
and
hat-making
. Above all it is renowned for
the distinctive white sombrero Ocueño, with a thin black trim, which is still produced in the
village's home-based
workshops
. Try
Artesanías Ocueña
(daily 9am-4pm; 6458 4529)
a women's cooperative in the centre of town, on Plaza Sebastian Ocú, which also produces
fine
polleras
,
montunos
and other embroidery items.
OCÚ'S FESTIVALS
The
Festival del Manito
(Aug 16-20) is Ocú's premier event to attend. Apart from the usu-
al parades, there are two stand-out elements: the
tamarind duel
(
duelo del tamarindo
) and
the
peasant wedding
(
matrimonio campesino
). The latter is self-explanatory but a wonder-
ful sight: following a mock church wedding, the bride, decked out in an all-white
pollera
,
is paraded on horseback through the streets while the groom holds an umbrella above her
head to protect her from the sun (or rain). In contrast, testosterone-fuelled duels from by-
gone days, when men fought to the death over women, family honour, or simply from over-
doing the liquor, are re-enacted every year with swords and sabres on a platform in the
centre of the plaza. The town's other five-day extravaganza,
La Feria de San Sebastián
(Jan 16-20), is an agricultural fair honouring the patron saint.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: OCÚ
By bus
Buses leave Chitré bus terminal for Ocú every 20min (6.30am-6.30pm; 1hr) with the
last bus back to Chitré at 7pm. Buses from Santiago terminal also run to Ocú every 20min
(6am-6pm; 1hr) with the last return bus at 6pm.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Residencial Ocú
50m down off the main square by the church 974 1374,
residencia-
patio with rocking chairs and
ham
mocks. Rooms are spotless and offer a/c, local TV and beds
possessing decent mattresses.
$28
El Punto Ocueño
Main plaza opposite the church.
Busy cafeteria dishing up an inexpensive
menu del día
or
cena
for $2.50 or you can have a plate of roast chicken or chow mein for
around $3.
Mon-Fri 6am-6pm, Sat & Sun 6am-noon.
Las Minas, Los Pozos and Macaracas
Though Pesé and Ocú are the more common day-trip destinations in the central peninsula, it
is a pleasant drive, by bus or car, to cover the further 30km through
Las Minas
and
Los Po-
zos
, before either returning to Chitré or continuing southeast to
Macaracas
. There's nothing
particular to see or do in any of these places, except chill out and watch rural life unfold. The
