Visit the birthplace of the Panama hat
Take a trip to Montecristi to see where the misnamed Panama hat originates from.
With a misleading name owing to old trading routes rather than its place of origin, you could be forgiven for placing the centre of the Panama hat industry about 1,000km too far north. But no, it really comes from Ecuador, where it has been popular for three centuries.
Montecristi is the birthplace of the Panama Hat and is still where the finest examples are made, although mass production has moved south to the city of Cuenca. The highest quality ‘Montecristis’ can hold water and even pass through a wedding ring.
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Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
