Travel Guide Montecristi

Founded in 1741, Montecristí was briefly the capital of the province of Manabí. Today, this large town, which languishes under the sun, is reduced to a few streets on either side of the road linking Guayaquil to Manta. Accessible in half an hour by bus from Manta, the village is known for its straw toquilla hats, the famous Panamá hats that have covered the head of more than one famous person. You will see skilled craftsmen weaving them on site. On the street leading up to the church and the central square, one craft shop after another displays its straw and wicker work (furniture, baskets, hats, etc.) on the sidewalks The village has given its name to a very fine Panamá hat, the Montecristi, one of the most expensive of all straw hats, which can take up to eight months to weave, often by women. To discover the real panamas, fino and superfíno quality, you just have to let the children lead you; they will guide you as soon as you arrive in the village and will show you one of the last authentic workshops where these famous hats are made. Beware, the whole world comes to visit Montecristi for its headgear, and the prices are inevitably affected.A few kilometers from Montecristí, towards Manta, we arrive at La Pila, where copies of pre-Columbian ceramics are made.