Made In Panama Shopping Tour
Panama City, Panama
From USD 79.00
Office phone number: +507 6780 3010
Made In Panama Shopping Tour
Panama City, Panama
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Explore the coolest part of Panama, the Casco Antiguo world heritage site and discover the best shopping in town with a local guide by your side on this speedy tour! Marvel at the charming architecture of the old town as we stroll the historic streets, introducing you to some of Panama’s most famous exports and unique crafts and souvenirs. Find out the stories behind them and learn about the processes that go into making them before purchasing whatever you like at the best possible prices. It’s souvenir shopping that’s fun, easy and informative all rolled into one! Join us, won’t you?
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Highlights
- Visit a unique artisan shop named after the traditional basket of Panama and stock up on a wide selection of 'Made In Panama' products including chocolate, rum and, of course, wicker baskets!
- Discover the surprising story behind the legendary Panama hat and bargain your way to a reasonably priced hat of your own with your local guide there to help you
- Check out a fancy handicrafts museum, factory and store all rolled into one that shows off the best of Panama’s craft products, including mola, cocobolo, canastas and lots more
- Enjoy an artisan coffee at one of our favourite award-winning coffee shops
- Learn about one of the most famous commodities in the world, GOLD! Did you know that over one-third of all the gold in the world has passed through Panama? Shop or swoon for the yellow metal at the famous Reprosa store.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- A portion of every tour fee is given to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Casco Antiguo, contributing to its protection for future generations.
- We visit only shops owned and run by local people, including a local handicraft store run by women from the Embera and Wounaan semi-nomadic indigenous people.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 1.5 hour
- Meeting point:
EL MOTETE, located next to Super Gourmet.
View on Google Maps.
- Starting time: 4.30 PM
- Ending point:
The Bajareque Café
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
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.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: There is no standard dress code for this tour.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: If a place listed on the tour is closed, we will substitute it with another very similar shop.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
If you don’t like coffee, we can substitute for another drink at the coffee shop.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +507 6780 3010
Email address: info@panamacityurbanadventures.com
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