The village of Montecristi is renowned for the hand woven straw hat that originated not in Panama but right here in Ecuador. Lying at the foot of a large hill of the same name, the quaint little town has many attractions to visit. We also visit the Cancebi Museum, which preserves the ethnographic history of the Manabí region and its people, viewing some of the almost 300 original objects used in days of yore. But the highlight of this moderate, half-day tour is surely the chance to browse the shops where Montecristi's skilled artisans display ceramics, wicker ware and the famous Panama hat. Made from toquilla straw, hand-split into strands not much thicker than thread and woven so finely the finished product seems to be made from the softest linen or silk, these stylish chapeaus sustain a thriving cottage industry.