La Pintada

A traditional Coclé village renowned as the home of the authentic Panama hat (sombrero pintado) and its distinctive black-and-white weaving. Visitors can tour hat-making workshops, browse a cooperative market, and experience rural artisan culture.

Things to do

• Tour a sombrero pintado workshop — Watch local artisans hand-weave the distinctive black-and-white Panama hat from fibers of the bellota and junco plants.
• Browse the Mercado Artesanal — Visit the cooperative artisan market on the main square where weavers sell hats, baskets, and crafts directly.
• Learn about natural fiber dyeing — See how weavers achieve the hat's black pattern using the mud-and-plant dye called chisná and pita fibers.
• Visit the town church and central plaza — Relax in the shaded central park of this quiet Coclé village and admire its rural colonial character.
• Day trip to Chorro Las Mozas — Cool off at this popular local river swimming hole and waterfall a short drive from town.
• Buy a custom-fitted hat — Have your head measured so a weaver can size an authentic sombrero to your fit, from cheaper everyday styles to fine tightly-woven ones.

Food to try

• Sancocho de gallina — Panama's national chicken-and-yam soup, made here with local free-range hen, culantro, and ñame.
• Tortillas de maíz — Thick fried corn tortillas served for breakfast, often with fresh cheese or eggs.
• Carne guisada with rice — Slow-stewed beef in a savory tomato-based sauce, a staple lunch fonda dish in the highlands.
• Chicha de maíz — A refreshing homemade corn or fruit drink commonly served in rural Coclé households and roadside stands.
• Bollos de maíz — Boiled corn dough wrapped in husks, a traditional snack sold locally.

Local customs & good to know

• Buy directly from the cooperative — Purchasing from the artisan co-op ensures your money supports the weavers who make the sombrero pintado tradition possible.
• Understand the hat's quality grades — Ask about the number of weaving rings (vueltas)—more rings and finer fibers mean a higher-quality, pricier hat.
• Carry cash — This is a small rural town where most artisans and fondas do not accept cards, so bring balboas/US dollars.
• Visit during the hat festival — The Feria del Sombrero Pintado held in October showcases weaving competitions and the town's proudest craft.

Nearby

• La India Dormida — 30 km
• El Macho Waterfall — 32 km
• El Valle de Antón — 32 km
• Cerro Gaital Natural Monument — 33 km