Discover the magic of Montecuador, the heart of Montecristi, where tradition comes to life in the hat factory. Here, domestic and foreign tourists can see live how these masterpieces are created by hand.
Meet the artisans, interact with them and learn the secrets behind the best hat in the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture unforgettable moments with photos and videos as you immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of this iconic place.
Come and live a unique experience that will make you say “Wow, I want to go visit!” and don’t miss out on discovering this artisanal treasure.
Gallery Tourists visiting Montecuador
Programa su visita! escribe por WhatsApp – Facetime o chat en vivo! te esperaremos con mucho gusto!
The fine toquilla straw hats of Montecristi origin are classified into three broad ranges: Fine, Extra Fine and Super Fine. Below, we present the detailed classification according to its grade or fineness:
Fine Hats
Made with natural toquilla straw fibers, these hats are soft, comfortable and light. They are true handmade jewels created by the artisans of Montecristi. In this category, the number of strands per inch varies between 13 and 20. Its manufacturing time ranges between 3 and 4 weeks. These hats have certifications from UNESCO, origin and personalized quality.
Premium Hats
Made with original strands of toquilla straw (Carludovica Palmata), these hats stand out for having between 21 and 28 fibers per inch. The manufacturing time for a premium hat is approximately 16 to 20 weeks, constituting a true work of art. These hats also have certifications from UNESCO, origin and personalized quality.
Golden Hats
Considered the finest handcrafted jewelry, these super fine Panama hats are made in Pile and finished in Montecristi. They are extremely light, soft and have a fabric-like texture. Its manufacturing time varies between 6 months and 1 year, with a number of strands per inch that starts at 29 and can reach up to 50. This category is recognized as the best in the world, with UNESCO certifications, origin, quality. and recognition.
Important note
All the hats on the website are high-end, remember that we are direct artisans and we send the best of the best from Montectisti, the more threads a hat has per inch, the finer and tighter the weave will be, which gives it greater strength and smoothness. The manufacturing time is also increased, which makes these handmade jewelry more expensive.
Size Guide
Size Guide – Panama Hats Ecuador
It is essential to know the correct measurement before choosing the perfect Panama hat. Generally, women tend to wear sizes small in their head circumference (S or M), while men tend to wear medium to large sizes (M, L, XL). Below, we present three methods to determine the ideal measurement:
Method 1: Using a Tape Measure
With the help of a tape measure and in front of a mirror, place the tape around your head.
Make sure the tape passes one centimeter above your ears and across the center of your forehead, as shown in the image in this section.
Method 2: Using a Rope or Cable
Use a rope or the cable of a charger to repeat the previous exercise.
Place the rope on a ruler or tape measure to obtain the measurement in centimeters.
Method 3: For Gifts
If you want to give a toquilla straw hat as a gift but you don’t know the correct size, you can do the following:
Select the size based on the person’s shirt size (S, M, L, XL).
Request help by contacting Montecuador by call, email or WhatsApp. Send a photo of the person and we will provide you with an approximate size.
Important note
If you are unsure between two sizes, for example, 58 or 59 cm, we recommend opting for the larger size. It is preferable that the hat fits loosely, as it can shrink over time. A hat that is too small could cause discomfort. If you are still undecided, when purchasing, you can request a Free “Reducing Strip” in the order description. This strip is placed inside the sweatband and reduces the size by one to two centimeters.
Additional Resource
If you don’t have access to any of these resources, you can download a virtual tape measure right now by clicking the button below.
Special orders
If your size is not available, you can make a special order by writing to our email [email protected], live chat or contact form – orders.
Size Guide
Size guide – Panama Ecuador Hats
It is very important to know the correct measurement before choosing the perfect Panama hat, generally women tend to be small in the circumference of their head “S or M” and gentlemen “M, L, XL” there are three methods to be able to know the ideal measure.
The first, with the help of a tape measure and looking at a front mirror, you place it around your head, make sure that the tape measure passes a centimeter above your ears and through the middle of your forehead, the same as the image in this section.
The second quick method that you can perform, with the help of a rope, do the same previous exercise, once done, place the lead on a ruler or tape measure and you will obtain the size in centimeters
The third method is aimed at people who want to give a toquilla straw hat, but do not know the correct size, you can do two things, first, you can select the size with reference to the person’s shirt Example: S, M, L , XL; Second, you can request help by making a call to MontEcuadorHats or writing an email – WhatsApp, send a photo of the person and we can tell you an approximate size
Note: If you are doubting the perfect size and you do not know which one to choose, for example 58 or 59 cm, I recommend ordering the larger size, it is better that it fits well, the reason is because if it is too small for you it could hurt your head a bit. If you still have the doubt when you make the purchase in the description write, send me a “Reducing Strip” is completely Free, this places it inside the sweat band and reduces from one to two centimeters.
Important: If you don’t have any of these resources, you can download the virtual tape measure right now by clicking on the following button.
If your size for a hat is not available you can make a special order by writing to our e-mail [email protected] or to our contact form – orders.
Quality Guide
Panama Montecristi Hats, Classification of qualities
In MontEcuadorHats the fine toquilla straw hats of Montecristi origin are classified into three large ranges, worldwide they are also derived into fine, extra fine and super fine, according to their degree and fineness they are the following:
Fine Hats
Made with natural fibers of toquilla straw, soft, comfortable and light, handcrafted jewel made by Montecristi artisans, the fibers in one inch in this category, are from 10 to 22 strands, their manufacturing time is 4 to 8 weeks, they have Unesco certification, Origin and Quality.
Premium Hats
Made with the original strands of toquilla straw or Carludovica Palmata, it is characterized by having 23 to 32 fibers in an inch, the production time of an extra fine hat is approximately 16 to 20 weeks, a true work of art with certification Unesco, Origin and Quality.
Golden Hats
Handmade jewel made with very fine strands of toquilla straw, super fine Panama hat made in Pile and finished in Montecristi, light, soft, really a fabric, its manufacturing time is from 6 months to 1 year, the threads in an inch start at 33, could reach up to 60 fibers, a category considered to be the best hats in the World with Unesco certification, Origin, Quality and Recognition.
Note: All fabrics are of export quality, the more threads a hat has, in one inch, it is finer, tighter, stronger, longer processing time, softer in its texture, for that reason the handmade jewel will be more expensive.
