Chichica, Ngöbe-Buglé facts for kids

Chichica is a community located in the Ngäbe-Buglé area of Panama. This area is like a special reservation for the Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous people. Before 1997, Chichica was part of the Chiriquí province. Today, the Ngäbe-Buglé area is divided into three main parts called regions. These regions are then split into districts, and districts are further divided into smaller areas called corregimientos, which are like townships. Chichica is found in the Kadri region, within the Münä District, and it is also the name of its own corregimiento.

Exploring Chichica's Geography

Where is Chichica?

Chichica is part of the Ngäbe-Buglé area in Panama. This special area, called a Comarca, was created in 1997. It has three main regions: Ňö Kribo, Nedrini, and Kadri. Chichica is in the Kadri region, specifically in the Münä District. It is also the name of a local township, or corregimiento.

Land and Climate

The Ngäbe-Buglé area is very mountainous. It has steep slopes and rocky soil that isn't very rich in nutrients. This makes farming quite difficult. However, most people in the Comarca rely on farming to feed themselves and their families.

The climate changes depending on which side of the mountains you are on.

• On the Caribbean side, there is no dry season. It's always wet, and thick tropical forests cover the land.
• On the Pacific side, where Chichica is, there's a windy dry season from December to April. Then, there's a wet season. Because of these changes, the Pacific side has different types of landscapes. You'll see grasses mixed with tropical forests.

Small streams and larger rivers flow on both sides of the mountains. People use these rivers for bathing, washing clothes, and drinking water. Most travel in the region is done by walking or riding horses. However, Chichica has roads that can be used all year round.

How the Land Shapes Life

Chichica's land is full of ridges and valleys. Most people live along these ridges, with some homes extending into the valleys. The main town of Chichica grows from water sources in the valleys up towards the main ridge.

To the North, there's a big mountain range called the Cordillera. This mountain range divides Panama into northern and southern parts. To the South, you'll find the Pacific Ocean and a flat coastal area. This means Chichica has a Pacific slope climate. Even though Chichica doesn't touch the Cordillera or the Pacific Ocean, these big land features greatly affect the weather, how people travel, what they eat, and their daily lives.

Getting to Chichica

Chichica is about 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers) north of Tolé if you travel in a straight line. By road, it's about 15.7 miles (25.2 kilometers) north of Tolé.

If you use public transportation, like a bus, you can catch one at the piquera, or bus stop, in Tolé. The ride to Chichica takes about 45 minutes to an hour. If you have your own vehicle, you'll need a 4x4 because of the roads. This can cut the travel time in half.

The main road in Chichica runs from the southwest to the northeast, along the top of a ridge. As you first enter Chichica from the Río Culebra river and Quebrada Otoe stream, the road goes from northwest to southeast. Finally, in the Cuatro Pinos neighborhood, the road changes to a direct north/south direction.

Neighborhoods of Chichica

As you drive into Chichica from Tolé, the first neighborhood you'll see is El Retiero. It's on the first slope leading into Chichica. From here, the road changes direction.

On your right, you'll find a trail that leads to the Cerro Plata neighborhood. It's about a 45-minute walk from the schools in Chichica. As you continue into Chichica, the La Loma neighborhood will be on your left, just before a store called “La Tiendita.” La Loma goes down the hill and wraps behind the school, connecting with the Las Naranjas neighborhood.

The central part of town, from “La Tiendita” to the Health Center, is called Chichica Centro, or simply Chichica. In this area, a small path goes off to the right, in front of the Evangelical Church. This path leads to the La Jujuca neighborhood. This neighborhood stretches past a stream all the way to a large rock that overlooks La Tinta Valley. This path is also the main way to get to Las Tijeras.

Just after the Health Center, there's a hidden trail on the left that goes to the La Pita neighborhood. This area used to be called Los Mangos. When the main road splits for the first time, you've reached the Cuatro Pinos neighborhood. This neighborhood continues along both roads until it reaches a large hill that goes down towards Cerro Grito and Peña Blanca. The center of Cuatro Pinos, where a bus stop used to be, is at the triangle of land where the road splits a second time. This split sends one road towards Peña Blanca and the other towards Cerro Algadón.

If you follow the road that goes towards Cerro Algadón, you will go down into the town of Las Lajitas. There is some discussion about whether Las Lajitas is its own town or just a neighborhood of Chichica. However, most people agree that Las Lajitas is not part of Chichica. This is based on information from the Panamanian Government. Older people tend to see them as two separate towns, while younger people often group Las Lajitas as a neighborhood of Chichica. There is some confusion because they share a water system and a cultural center for Chichica is actually located in Las Lajitas.

See also

In Spanish: Chichica (Panamá) para niños