Portobelo
A wonderful gallery with museum-quality pieces made mainly by Afro-Caribbean craftspeople and artists. Helpful displays explain the cultural background of…
Must-see shopping in Panama
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Panama City
An excellent place to find original Guna embroidery with modern designs and Congo art from Portobelo, Karavan commissions local artists, works closely to…
Panama City
German owned and run, Beermarkt is the go-to place for beer lovers in Panama. Located in the expat area of Clayton, it offers a great range of brews ($2…
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Bocas del Toro Town
This centrally located and heavily stocked shop sells hammocks, clothing and local handicrafts, such as jute bags made by indigenous Ngäbe people, molas…
Panama City
Colorful Casa Latina has a large selection of beautiful handicrafts, ranging from the affordable to a Panama hat on sale for US$2500! Some of the items on…
Panama City
If you’re looking for Panamanian art, then you should visit one of the three branches of the Weil Art Gallery. Each space stocks a selection of paintings…
El Hombre de la Mancha Bookstore
Panama City
Located in La Plaza in Ciudad de Saber, this small but well-stocked bookstore is an ideal spot to find kids' books and toys. Books are in Spanish and…
Panama City
You may not notice the Mercadito Artesanías Catedral if it wasn't for the resellers who sometimes pop out to invite you in. Spread along an indoor gallery…
Panama City
Featuring the classic Panamanian-made guayaberas (tropical dress shirts) made popular in the 1950s, in all colors and patterns, with a few selections for…
Panama City
This fanciful lifestyle store is filled with a curated selection of homewares and curios. There’s also a cafe-restaurant serving light bites and decent…
Panama City
Sells quality huacas (replicas of pre-Columbian gold pendants) and necklaces made of black onyx and other gemstones.
Panama City
The biggest downtown mall, with designer shops, restaurants and a cinema. It's east of downtown, on the way to Panamá Viejo.
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El Valle
El Valle is home to one of Panama’s largest handicrafts market. Indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé people, along with a sprinkling of Emberá and Wounaan, bring a…
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Panamá Province
The nondescript town of Campana, located 65km from Panama City, is home to this famous cheese shop, an institution that few Panamanian drivers can pass by…
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Darién Province
About 3km south of the Interamericana this thatched 'House of Culture' on stilts in Ipetí Choco shelters some two-dozen women artisans who will sell you…
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Península de Azuero
Overlooking the central plaza in Ocú is this outlet of the internationally renowned women's co-op Artesanía Ocueña. The group sells intricate montunos …
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Península de Azuero
Elena Montilla is a nationally known maker of Panama-style hats based in Ocú; she also makes polleras (traditional dresses from the Península de Azuero)…
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Península de Azuero
Visitors are welcome at the Ocú workshop of this nationally known maker of Panama-style hats. Drive or walk north about 1km on Av Central; if you come to…
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Cooperativa de Artesanos Guararé
Península de Azuero
This mini-shop in the center of Guararé and run by the local artists cooperative is an excellent place to pick up locally produced treasures – from…
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Portobelo
This artist-run studio is fascinating for art and culture buffs. Resident artist Gustavo can explain the historical and cultural significance of Congo art…
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Panama City
For a Panama hat with a twist, head to this shop with a small selection of traditional hats dwarfed by other bright, bold designs. Choose from a rainbow…
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Bocas del Toro Town
This upbeat boutique sells women's clothing designed by the Californian owner as well as original jewelry, bags and wallets.
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Panama City
Although Ecuadorian in origin, Panama hats were firmly adopted by Panamanians after President Roosevelt was photographed wearing one at the construction…
Panama City
Next to the bus terminal, this mall has a cinema, a supermarket and dozens of stores, including American and European chains. If you need it, there's also…
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Colón
Second in size only to Hong Kong’s, Colón’s free-trade zone is a huge fortresslike area of giant international stores selling items duty free. Most stores…
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Península de Azuero
For a chance to see how polleras are made, particularly the lace trim, visit this workshop just off the main road run by husband and wife William Reyes…
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Colón
This sterile shopping and entertainment sector geared toward cruise-ship travelers sits on the east side of Colón. Though lacking in any discernible…
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Panama City
Attached to the Iglesia San José, this gallery showcases Rolo de Sedas' manga-cute pop art of Panamanian women in rainbow bursts. Women in Congo dress and…
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Bocas del Toro Town
Sells custom-made surfboards and a few used ones as well. Also has a large selection of swimwear and other island apparel.
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Boquete
A weekly market at the local theater features arts and crafts, jewelry, organic produce and prepared foods.
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Panama City
This cigar shop and bar on a quiet street of the historic district of Casco Viejo aims to bring a little piece of Havana to Panama City. There's a…
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Panama City
Near one of Panama City’s newer Chinatowns, El Dorado also has restaurants, shops and a cinema. It's located near Corredor Norte and Parque Natural…
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Panama City
A collection of shops surrounded by a concentration of pleasant open-air restaurants.
