Panama in your suitcase: souvenirs that tell the story of the Isthmus
- November 17, 2025
When a country’s worth of souvenirs doesn’t fit in your suitcase, these mementos help extend your trip. This selection celebrates the handmade, the patiently cultivated, and the designed with Panamanian soul: a treasure map to take the isthmus with you wherever you go.
By: Alexa Carolina Chacón • Photos: Rommel Rosales
Panama offers much more than postcards and keychains as souvenirs for its visitors. From handicrafts steeped in history to chocolate, high-altitude coffee, local design, and traditional clothing, the isthmus is a true paradise for souvenirs with a unique identity. Here are our recommendations: a complete list for those who want to take home something authentic, different, and meaningful.
Handicrafts with history: from the Isthmus to your suitcase
In addition to well-known pieces like molas, chaquiras, and cutarras, traditional markets offer a surprising variety of handcrafted items. It’s common to find typical pieces such as the pintao hat—declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO—as well as Emberá basketry woven with natural fibers and plant-based dyes. There is also an abundance of ornaments carved from cedar or cocobolo wood, or from tagua nuts; musical instruments like drums and maracas; ceramics inspired by pre-Columbian art; and wooden toys that evoke rural childhood.
In addition, there are t-shirts with Panamanian designs, recycled objects turned into folk art, and decorative pieces that celebrate the biodiversity of the isthmus.
If you want to support local artisans and take home an authentic piece from Panama, visit the craft markets, where you can even watch them at work:
Panama Viejo National Handicrafts Market: located next to the archaeological site, it is one of the most complete in the country, with organized stalls and an excellent selection of molas, textiles, carvings and cutarras.
Balboa Handicrafts Market: very accessible and frequented by locals and tourists; ideal for finding quality souvenirs at a good price.
Esteban Huertas Promenade Artisan Market (Old Town): a row of small covered stalls facing the sea where molas, hats and handmade jewelry are sold.
High-altitude coffee: Gold in beans
Panama is home to one of the world’s most coveted coffees: Geisha. With floral and fruity notes and an exceptional aromatic profile, it’s considered a true luxury in the cup. Ideally, you’d travel to Boquete, in the province of Chiriquí, to tour the farms where it’s grown and experience a sensory journey amidst mountains and mist; but it’s also possible to enjoy it in the city and, while you’re there, buy some bags to take home.
Brands like Kotowa Coffee House, with over a century of coffee-growing tradition and branches throughout the country, offer carefully processed, high-altitude varietals. Café Unido, a pioneer of the specialty coffee movement in Panama, is the place to find exceptional beans. In Casco Antiguo, Sisu Coffee Studio, owned by the Lamastus family—one of the world’s most respected coffee producers—offers a minimalist experience with locally roasted coffee prepared to high quality standards. Altieri Specialty Coffee, an internationally acclaimed boutique farm, features an elegant coffee bar on Calle 50.
In each establishment you can buy a small bag of coffee that will speak of Panama like few other gifts.
Tradition is also eaten
Closely following specialty coffee is chocolate, another Panamanian delicacy that wins over even the most discerning palates. Brands like I Love Panama, with its creative designs; Oro Moreno, specializing in artisanal chocolates; and Bocao Panamá, with its bean-to-bar approach from Bocas del Toro, have taken Panamanian cacao to new heights.
The complete experience is enjoyed at the Casa Coronel Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, where, in addition to exploring the history of this mythical ingredient, you can purchase fine bars and exquisite boxes of chocolates as gifts.
As a sweet and endearing bonus, there are the classic treats that are always a must: milk eggs—small white spheres of condensed milk and sugar, typical of fairs in the interior of the country—and coconut candies—little balls of shredded coconut with caramel—simple yet quintessentially Panamanian. Both can be found in artisan markets and are a delicious dose of edible nostalgia.
Design with identity: Fashion made in Panama
In Panama, a new generation of creatives is flourishing, reinterpreting the country’s folklore and identity through design. With stylish souvenirs in mind, we’ve included here those who offer ready-to-wear and easy-to-transport pieces.
Curu, designer Yami Campos‘ brand, creates accessories, shoes, and handbags inspired by the country’s flora and fauna. Nativo Panamá is a shop specializing in authentic handicrafts and gifts, where you’ll find everything from traditional items to unique designs. Reprosa, established in 1975, is a luxury jewelry brand based on pre-Columbian art and national heritage, renowned for its beautiful gold and silver pieces that tell ancient stories.
Jean Decort is an urban fashion brand whose prints celebrate its designer’s Colón identity. Dar&Co by David Aparicio focuses on exclusive goldsmith designs featuring Panamanian motifs such as orchids and vintage coins. Tu Mi Encanto explores the heritage of the pollera (traditional Panamanian dress) and offers versatile creations suitable for any occasion.
At Modart Panama (@modartpanama), a multi-brand fashion and accessories store, you can find a wide variety of Panamanian designers.
Undercover Boots is a Panamanian brand of rain boots, socks, and raincoats with bold, tropical designs that celebrate the idiosyncrasies of the urban Caribbean. Finally, Monsters Panama, with two locations in Casco Antiguo, designs everyday items with a disruptive and original touch that offers a different perspective on contemporary Panama.
There's no celebration without a toast
Toasting the journey is part of the ritual, and why? not to do it with a bottle that represents the country he visited. The Pedro Mandinga rum, distilled in small batches from raspadura (sugarcane juice drink), is a jewel of Panamanian artisanal liquor, with versions infused with tropical spices, and is also the name of a bar in the Old Quarter and Vía Argentina is a must-visit destination for rum and cocktail lovers. There are also classic labels such as Ron Abuelo, recognized on a global scale Internationally renowned for its quality, tradition, and barrel aging. Many of these spirits are available in special editions or gift sets, sold in stores. gourmet and in the airport duty-free, perfect for taking a taste of the country home with you.
Traditional and elegant clothing: Heritage to be proud of
For those who wish to acquire a stylish and elegant piece of Panamanian attire, there are two surefire options. The Panama hat, although originally Ecuadorian, gained international popularity during the construction of the Panama Canal—hence its name—and has become synonymous with tropical sophistication. At Sombreros Panama Hat Casa Matriz, a store located in the city’s banking district, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of elegant models in luxurious presentations, selected by its owner, Luis Aizaga.
On the other hand, guayaberas made in Panama offer freshness and distinction. Panabrisa is the flagship brand that, since 1954, has crafted this classic garment with Panamanian labor, making it a favorite for formal events in the tropics. Both garments are versatile pieces that convey Panamanian identity, elegance, and character.
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