Panama Hat

We are cruising the Panama Canal in November...Can anyone tell us the best place to purchase a Panama hat in port? Best prices/best hats?

Are you actually stopping/docking in Panama? Most cruises don't. If so, where?

Edited October 19, 2016 by CruiserBruce

We will be stopping in Cartagena, Colon, & Costa Rica

At Colon, you will only have access to the market on the pier.

Does that market have a decent selection? Any idea?

Real Panama hats are made in Ecuador and are pricey. We didn't see any of those on our Panama cruise last year.

 

 

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Does that market have a decent selection? Any idea?

 

I don't have any idea.

Thanks for your info...I will keep my eyes open for one, but won't get my hopes up :(

You will be able to purchase them in Cartagena and the price will be reasonable.

 

The Panama Hat was first made in Manta, Ecuador.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TzsyV-xlSRA/UQagkoQDAsI/AAAAAAAAY64/7K7Zdgwwau0/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg

 

You can find Panama Hats at the Walled City in Cartagena as well at other locations.

 

Keith

The stuff in the "market" in Colon is "touristy" stuff...mostly crap, IMO....trinkets and useless items. There is a duty-free shop in the confines of the marketplace...but I don't recall hats!

Good to know about Cartagena...we were planning to go to the old walled city, so that is perfect!

And I did wonder what items were available in the market outside the ship in Colon...hopefully I have some success in Cartagena.

Thanks!

Yes, you will find them at Cartagena.

 

Keith

The stuff in the "market" in Colon is "touristy" stuff...mostly crap, IMO....trinkets and useless items. There is a duty-free shop in the confines of the marketplace...but I don't recall hats!

 

I agree ... I would not plan on spending much time in the Colon market ... better to stay on the ship in many ways ... :) ... OP - by any chance are you doing the partial transit of the canal on Princess?

Edited October 20, 2016 by Slopoke15
typo, missed a word

We are doing the full transit through the canal with Celebrity...soo excited!

 

I'm not hearing the best things about Colon...quite unsafe apparently? We have a ship tour booked of the locks :)

Edited October 21, 2016 by dcat2

We are doing the full transit through the canal with Celebrity...soo excited!

 

I'm not hearing the best things about Colon...quite unsafe apparently? We have a ship tour booked of the locks :)

 

excellent ... I expect you will enjoy the cruise very much ... what you hear about Colon is correct ... not the safest place, and not much to offer itself ... so an excursion off the ship is definitely the way to go ... one thing about the "panama hats" in Cartagena ... there will be lots of vendors approaching you with shirts and hats, including what they call panama hats ... my suggestion would be to be selective, and have an idea what you want ... no need to buy the first one you see, as you may see a nicer one a bit later ... speaking from first hand experience :)

Thanks for the great advice!

We did the full transit in 2013. We had a tour with Claudia in Cartagena and I bought a nice Panama style hat in the marketplace for under $10. Still use it during the summer. :)

Wow, what a deal..$10! I can only hope to find a deal like that...& it has survived since 2013 :)

We will be stopping in Cartagena, Colon, & Costa Rica

We are stopping in Cartegena, Colon and Costa Rica on our trip next month. We arranged a private tour into Casco Viejo in Panama City because Colon is scary and tacky. I'd do that if looking for better quality goods. We're going with Panama on Wheels, a highly-rated tour.

We are doing the full transit through the canal with Celebrity...soo excited!

 

I'm not hearing the best things about Colon...quite unsafe apparently? We have a ship tour booked of the locks :)

Are you going on the 9th? We're on that one. We've booked a private tour in Panama City. Room for two more if you're interested.

We are doing the full transit through the canal with Celebrity...soo excited!

 

I'm not hearing the best things about Colon...quite unsafe apparently? We have a ship tour booked of the locks :)

 

Colon is not the type of place you would want to strike out on your own self guided walking tour with your new Hasselblad camera slung around your neck and your diamond crusted Rolex sparkling in the sunlight!;) However nothing inherently unsafe about travelling through Colon on a tour or even in a private taxi. The shopping area connected to the pier is fine to browse around in and pick up that necessary T shirt or even that "Panama" Hat if you haven't purchased one yet. Colon is just not the best front door for a country.

Edited October 22, 2016 by BillB48
oops

s2kreno...Yes, we are sailing on the 9th & thanks for the offer, but we are doing a ship tour of the Gatun locks. We have heard all of the 'safety' warnings of Colon & figured it might be best to take a ship tour this time!

If you miss finding a hat in Panama you can have one sent directly to you from Ecuador.

 

Not cheap but they look very, very nice.

 

http:// https://www.panamahatsdirect.com/

 

Enjoy your holiday!

If you miss finding a hat in Panama you can have one sent directly to you from Ecuador.

 

Not cheap but they look very, very nice.

 

http:// https://www.panamahatsdirect.com/

 

Enjoy your holiday!

 

 

I'm going to save this link...just in case :) Thanks!