Panama City: Made In Panama Walking Shopping Tour in Casco Antiguo

Your friendly local guide will meet you in Panama’s picturesque old town, known as Casco Antiguo. As we walk we’ll chat chocolate first, learning about Panama's world-famous organic varieties, the chocolate of choice for world-class chocolatiers from Europe and beyond. The cacao comes from the Bocas del Toro province and is sold all over the world. This awesome store also exclusively sells other local products such as lotions and soaps.

Next up, it’s time to learn about the legendary Panama hat! Ironically, the Panama hats that you would recognise are actually made in Ecuador, BUT, we’ll show you hats that are actually made in Panama as well. Travellers are often overwhelmed with the number of stores selling these fabulous hats so it makes sense to visit with a local to guide who can advise you on the price and quality before you make a purchase. These hats are true collector’s items!

The next stop will be at a well-known factory that specialises in handicrafts and ornate ornaments. One-third of all the world’s gold has passed through Panama, so it would be wrong not to show you some! We’ll also check out the highest quality artisan crafts like mola, a handmade material often used to form part of the traditional outfit of a Guna Indian woman, and handwoven baskets dyed with natural colours known as canastas. You’ll also see cocobolos (rosewood carvings), taguas (ivory nuts) and plenty more.

We then head out to a shop full of local woven and carved artisanal products. Panama is famous for its seven indigenous groups and this shop represents the Embera and Wounaan groups. Arts and crafts here are made by the indigenous people themselves and it’s a great place for you to learn about fascinating traditional weaves and local carvings!

We’ll finish your Panama shopping tour at an award winning coffee shop and enjoy a cup of the good stuff as we answer any more questions that you may have about shopping in the city. Don’t forget to reach out and ask for tips on what else there is to see and do during your stay.