Panama Hat Making Experience: Learn Local Crafting & Savour Beachfront Cuisine in Manta
4.9
9 Ratings
Manta
Immerse yourself in the art of Panama hat making in Manta. Learn from a British ex-pat family and indulge in beachfront cuisine. Book your unique crafting experience now!
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Playa Tarqui - Artisanal fishing market, here you can see the different types of fish that are offered in the Ecuadorian market, what meals you can cook with them, which are the most popular and their prices.
    We will also take a tour right next to where the artisan boats are built.
  • Manta - As an optional stop we can go to a cocoa store, you can try different products made from cocoa, as well as being able to shop for other national products.
  • Museo Ciudad Alfaro - we will travel to the home of the famous Panama Hats, Montecristi. Sheltered at the feet of the Mountain is the town that birthed these sombreros many generations ago. It is was also the Home and Mausoleum of the countries most celebrated President. We will learn of his colourful life filled with revolution, intrigue and very dramatic demise. Your expert guide will take you through the Museum, Mausoleum as well as some of the local artisan exhibitions, before having the option to walk down the wooden deck promenade into the town center or ride down on the bus.

Once in the small town center, your guide will show you the Panama hat makers workshops and stores as well as a huge variety of local artisan goods. We can also see some of the last examples of traditional wooden architecture in the central plaza next to the cathedral.

  • MontecuadorHats - We will show you how the famous Panama Hat is made, wrongly called that way because it actually originates from here.
    You can buy a hat and souvenirs from here Ecuador.

  • Restaurante El Reencuentro - For lunch we will go to a restaurant in the middle of the Pacoche rainforest, you can walk in the garden while you wait for your food or if you prefer you can wait in a hammock

  • Lighthouse San Lorenzo - We will make a stop at the San Lorenzo Lighthouse, which offers us a beautiful view of the ocean.
    San Lorenzo beach is well known for being the nesting place for sea turtles, which instinctively always return to the same beach where they were born to nest.

What's Included
  • Bottled water included
  • Air-conditioned vehicle for comfort
  • All fees and taxes covered
  • Professional guide provided
  • Entrance to attractions included
  • Emergency kit available
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Your in good hands. We are a British ex-pat family that has been living in Manta since 2009. We have 4 generations of family enjoying the sun, sea and sights. We strive to create a perfect day for our clients using our world travel and local experience to find the best tour attractions. We will go out of our way to make your time in Manta an amazing part of your trip.

This is a lovely light activity tour. You can walk as much or little as you like and all areas are wheel chair accessible.

We can do group or private tours on request and are very flexible if you would like to mix things up and have a custom tour. Feel free to check out our website or social media for more information.

Location
Playa Tarqui
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(9 Ratings)
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Go66803848811
Apr 10, 2024
Worth the money - Awesome Tour! I only had one day and I was so glad to pick this one. The guide was great, totally patient. Can't wait to make the local coffee I picked up!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevin_k
Mar 29, 2024
Great - Great tour with a great guide!!!!!! Did not expect this tour to be as great as it was. I would not hesitate to book it again!!!!!
Review provided by Viator
Roxanne_p
Apr 4, 2023
Great day in and around Manta. - Excellent pickup and return. Steven was everything you want in a tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the area, it's history and culture. Our day was filled with a bit of everything! Fish market was fun and hat maker a genuine experience. Group size of 5 was perfect!
Review provided by Viator
Bledsoe2bledsoe2
Feb 27, 2020
Fabulous Tour to Learn About Educador through a Locals Eyes - What a terrific tour. We walked the beach front and saw the local cuisine. It was amazing to see all the people and fish. From the waterfront, we headed off through the forest to a small town to see Artisan goods in the city. It was fabulous. off to the tour of the Panama Hat factory. We enjoyed lunch which was terrific. We enjoyed this trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
582joanh
Oct 27, 2019
Excellent Tour - Tom's knowledge of the area, of the local people and of the wishes of his clients ensured a successful tour. We were invited to express our wishes at several points in the tour. The choice of stops and the commentary were very good. Although the choice of 'Panama' hat maker was not quite what we expected Only one active worker), we learned the process. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_lols
May 23, 2019
Fantastic day out - Montecristi was very interesting. I liked the museum. The walk down to the town center had some amazing views. Service was top notch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahjef
May 17, 2019
Brilliant experience! - My partner and I travelled to Ecuador and only had a short time in Manta. The tour was really informative and showed you part of the real history and life of Ecuador that normally would be missed. The museum was interesting and the guides were really friendly and helpful! Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Manta.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grantfirthkiwi
May 17, 2019
Fun and informative - The guide kept us laughing all day long. we had a nice time at the panana hat workshop got some great deals. the museam was a nice set up with lots of outdoor areas and a landscaped walk down to the town center. we finished up with a great meal on the beach. good day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Itrt
Feb 19, 2024
Tuna Capital of the World - I booked the Montecristi Panama Hat Tour (now known as the Panama Hat Maker, Artisan goods, Museum, Beachfront local Cuisine) with Manta Tour Guides. Manta is known as the "Tuna Capital of the World". Our first stop was at the fish and produce market and the neighboring wooden shipyard. The fish market is the base of the local economy and is where people, restaurants and stores get fresh fish caught earlier in the morning. Manta exports tuna all over the world especially to China. This is the source of tuna we purchase in cans. Other fresh fish included marlin, flat fish, oysters, and shrimp. The covered building charges a fee to rent a stall. Most of the stalls were filled here because it provided cover from the hot sun as compared to those located nearby out in the open. Within the same complex, were people selling fresh homegrown vegetables and fruit. The wooden shipyard next to the uncovered fish stalls area were being repaired and/or built. It was quite interesting to see the massive wooden skeleton of a fishing trawler being built. Before work commencing on construction, a deposit is required from the purchaser. The completed and/or repaired ships are then shuttled to the shoreline.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
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May 2024
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