The air quality and forests make the area a popular tourist destination for outdoor activities such as hiking and bird watching.

[3][failed verification] After the Spanish conquests in the Americas, what is now the province of Veraguas was awarded to Columbus’ grandson Luís, who launched several expeditions to subdue the native population and firmly establish control.

Contact with the outside world was severely limited because of the absence of any paved roads, which made it impossible to travel to the much bigger town of Santiago during most of the year.

By 1971 his popular peasant movement had grown well outside the boundaries of Santa Fe, and Gallego was viewed as an adversary by the country's populist dictator, Omar Torrijos.

However, Santa Fe got connected by road in 1971, and the cooperative founded by Héctor Gallego continues to function until this day.