Panama Hat s
Sep 7th, 2006, 12:50 PM
#1
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Panama Hat s
We are going on a cruise to Central and South America in November. I'm in the "market" for a Panama Hat (or hats) . Where can I get the best price and how much costs? We will visit Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.
Sep 7th, 2006, 05:18 PM
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I bought my favorite Panama hat in Panama for $5.00 in a store in Boquete. Check the Balboa craft markets (and expect to pay more but not substantially so). Your trip sounds marvelous. Be sure and post a report.
Buen viaje.
Buen viaje.
Sep 7th, 2006, 09:13 PM
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Manta is just a few miles from Montecristi, the small town that gave birth to the Panama hat. The hat makers in Montecristi are smaller, family-run operations, and their hats tend to be a little more expensive there (but very high quality). You should be able to get a taxi when you get off the ship in Manta, but Montecristi is always part of one of the organized shore excursions.
A really top-notch Montecristi hat, of the type Queen Elizabeth wears (she's a big fan), runs about $300 but you can find them for less.
These days, much of the production has shifted to Cuenca, inland, where the production is a bit more factory-like, making the hats a little lower in price. You won't be anywhere near there, and I seriously doubt Cuenca is a shore excursion. (You'd have to fly there from Manta.)
A really top-notch Montecristi hat, of the type Queen Elizabeth wears (she's a big fan), runs about $300 but you can find them for less.
These days, much of the production has shifted to Cuenca, inland, where the production is a bit more factory-like, making the hats a little lower in price. You won't be anywhere near there, and I seriously doubt Cuenca is a shore excursion. (You'd have to fly there from Manta.)
Sep 9th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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Based on my taxi travels between towns in Ecuador, I'm sure you could do it for a lot less than $58 round trip, but remember, you'd also have to pay the driver for the time he waits for you in Montecristi while you shop. Also remember that stepping off a cruise ship might mark you as someone for whom the driver thinks he can inflate the price.
Jun 3rd, 2016, 05:38 AM
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Could try here - https://www.webury.com/mens-country-...es/panama-hats - they range from like £40-£60.
Hope you find the right one
Hope you find the right one
