Cuenca Shopping

  1. Barranco

    Barranco has been finishing panama hats since the 1950s, and its factory is now open to visitors. There's a small museum showing the history of panama hats, and someone will walk you through the factory explaining the entire process of finishing hats. There's plenty of pretty hats for sale too.

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  2. Casa del Sombrero Alberto Pulla

    This is the shop of Cuenca's most famous hatter, 78-year-old Alberto Pulla, who has been refurbishing hats since he was six. After he shows you the many hats he has for sale (upstairs), he'll show you all the magazine articles written about him around the world.

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  3. Hat Shopping

    Cuenca is the center of the panama hat industry and one of the best places to buy straw hats. Cuenca's hat tradition - and its haberdasheries - can be roughly divided into two types: hats for export (panama hats) and hats made for and used by local indigenous people.

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  4. Homero Ortega P & Hijos

    More akin to a hat emporium, this is Ecuador's best-known hat seller. The company exports around the world and has a huge selection of quality men's and women's straw hats.

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  5. La Paja Toquilla

    This small store sells some stylish straw hats in both men's and women's styles.

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  7. Sombreros Don Migui

    Another hatter that works more with the local market, this old place has some excellent superfinos for sale.

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