Veragua or Veraguas was the name of five Spanish colonial territorial entities in Central America, beginning in the 16th century during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The term was based on a Central American indigenous peoples name for the region. It was used for colonial territories in present-day Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Indigenous People in Veraguas

Chronicles narrate stories of the indigenous groups encountered by the explorers, as they did not come across a solitary territory. On the contrary, these ethnicities posed challenges for the conquistadors because many of these groups were strong and resilient, as in the case of the Doraces, also known as Dorás, Dorces, Dorados, or Dorasques. The territory of the Doraces was not characterized by the dominance of a single ethnicity. Instead, it constituted a broader politico-cultural entity where various ethnicities and languages coexisted. These ethnicities formed tribes that were allied with the Doraces. Among the tribes associated with the Doraces, the Suríes, Chalivas, Chumulos, Dolegas, Querébalos, Bugabas, Iribolos, Chiriluos, Suasimis, Saribas, Calderas, Gualaca, Montijo, Veragua, Guabalá, Tabasará, Buricas, Vareclas, Boquerón, Musá, Bulabá, Barú, Mariato, Dures, Duraria, Aburema, Aoyaques, Carabaro, Nusa, Cébaco, Borasi, Guaniaga, Tabor, Chiracona, Raquegua, Espalaba, Caizanes, Dururua, and others stood out. These tribes constituted a diverse community that coexisted under the authority and rule of the Doraces within the respective territory.

Territorial entities

The Spanish colonial territorial entities with the name Veragua include:

Governorate of Veragua — 1502–1537

Duchy of Veragua — 1537–1560

Royal Veragua — 1537–1540

Province of Veragua — 1560–1821

Province of Veragua — 1821–1903

Present day

Veraguas Province