If you’re planning your next trip or if you’re just looking for the perfect gift from Panama to bring back from this tropical paradise, you have come to the right place! We’re about to dive headfirst into the ultimate guide to Panama souvenirs and gifts.
Whether you’re looking for gifts for a Panamanian who misses home, or for travelers who are obsessed with this paradise, we’ve got it all. From edible gifts to fun books, and from small keepsakes to large home decor ideas, you will find a Panama gift for every budget and occasion!
Are you short on time? Check out the editor’s top three gifts from Panama by budget.
- Large budgets: Panamanian rum (#1)
- Mid budgets: Panamanian coffee (#9)
- Small budgets: Panamanian Spanish book (#17)
Table of Contents
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Panama gifts for large budgets
#1 Panamanian rum
Panamanian rum is one of the best souvenirs from Panama for people who love a good drink. Abuelo is a famous rum brand from Panama, and this 12-year-old rum is one of their most popular bottles, making it the perfect gift.
#2 Phone case in mola style
Are you looking for Panamanian gifts for someone who spends most of his time on his phone?
Then one of the 161 Panama-themed phone cases on Zazzle is perfect!
You can go for the one with the birds of Panama, or pick one yourself.
Keep in mind that Zazzle only offers phone cases for iPhones and Samsungs, though.
#3 Panama experience gifts
We couldn’t write a guide to the best Panama gifts without including the very best gift for people who love Panama.
A Panama experience gift!
Head over to Skyscanner and find the best flights and hotels in Panama. Or if the recipient is currently in Panama or will be in Panama soon, check out all the fun tours on Tinggly. One example of a tour is visiting the famous Panama Canal, which I did when I was in Panama.
And if you are not sure when and which experience to give, go for the Tinggly gift card.
#4 Map of Panama
I always say this when I add a map to my lists, so I apologize for repeating myself. But travelers love maps. And that’s why maps of their favorite country are always a great gift idea, such as a map of Panama for people who are obsessed with Panama!
And what’s cool about this map is that it’s a 1930 pictorial map, which gives it an antique and vintage look. Though check out Etsy for more styles.
#5 Water bottle
The Panama-inspired water bottles on Zazzle are great souvenirs from Panama for sustainable travelers. Recipients can reuse this stainless steel bottle, instead of buying plastic bottles. And each time they drink from this bottle, they are reminded of their favorite country in the world!
You can go for the sailing Bocas del Toro bottle, or check out the other options on Zazzle.
#6 Panama travel poster
This vintage travel poster of Panama is a cool decor item for people who love to bring a bit of Panama into their homes. Whether they’re a local Panamanian or a visitor who fell in love with the country, this poster works for everyone.
#7 Panama jigsaw puzzle
Are you looking for fun gifts for Panamanians who miss home?
Then this 1000-piece puzzle of the world-famous Panama Canal is the perfect gift. For more inspiration for puzzle lovers, check out the puzzle gift guide.
#8 Panama City gifts
Are you looking for gifts for someone who loves Panama City?
Or is the recipient a Panama City local who moved away?
Then this print with the skyline of Panama City is perfect!
The poster comes in many different sizes and does not come with a frame. So if you want to make this gift complete, you can add a beautiful frame too.
For more unique gift ideas inspired by Panama City, check out Etsy.
Panama gifts for mid budgets
#9 Coffee from Panama
This is one of the best souvenirs from Panama for people who love coffee. Freshly roasted ground coffee from the mountains of Boquete in Panama.
Even though Panama only makes up about 0,1% of the world’s coffee production, Panamanian coffee is generally known for its high quality, especially coffee from the Boquete area (source).
#10 Mola de Panama gifts
Mola de Panama or simply molas is a form of art that is typical of the Kuna people. An indigenous Panamanian tribe that lives in the San Blas region.
Mola is a kuna word that means cloth or clothing. And it refers to the colorful textiles produced by this tribe, such as these adorable headbands. Check out Etsy for more unique mola souvenirs from Panama.
For more Mola de Panama gifts, check out #15 and #21.
#11 Books about Panama
The history of Panama
This is one of the best gifts for people who are interested in history. The Greenwood Histories of the Moden Nations Series publishes great in-depth history books.
The tailor of Panama by John le Carré
Are you looking for Panama gifts for people who love thrillers? Then this thriller is the gift you need. It’s about a spy in Panama during the Cold War era and the influence of the Soviet Union, The USA, and England in Panama.
Erased: the untold story of the Panama Canal
This is a great book for people who want to learn more about the Panamanian side of the story of the famous Panama Canal.
#12 Travel mug
Are you looking for more Panamanian gifts for people who love coffee?
Then a travel mug in Panama style is perfect to go with the coffee beans! You can find over 100 different Panama-themed mugs on Zazzle, so you will surely find one the recipient will love.
#13 Panama hat
Even though the Panama hat isn’t technically from Panama. Nor is it made in Panama, I still felt like I had to include it on this list of Panamanian gifts.
Panama hats are actually handwoven in Ecuador. But they got their name from the immense popularity among construction workers of the Panama Canal. And because President Theodore Roosevelt wore one of those hats when he visited the construction site back in 1906. The term Panama Hat was introduced by a newspaper and has stuck ever since.
But for the record, just so we’re clear about this. Panama hats have always been imported from Ecuador. And as of today, Ecuador is still the main manufacturer of these hats.
#14 Panama travel guides
Lonely Planet: Panama
Are you looking for gifts for someone who is traveling to Panama soon? Then a travel guide is a great gift idea. The Lonely Planet is the most up-to-date guide that I could find for Panama. Their guidebooks are best for budget travelers
Insight Guides Panama
Insight Guides are great guidebooks for people who love visual guides. And for people who love to learn more about Panama’s history and the background stories of the places they visit. But the Insight Guides are not the most helpful when it comes to actually planning a trip, because they hardly include any practical travel tips.
#15 Luggage tag
Are you looking for practical Panama souvenirs for people who travel a lot?
Then a luggage tag in Panama style is perfect.
If you love the Mola de Panama style, you should go for the Mola luggage tag. For other options, head over to Zazzle.
#16 Cookbooks
The Panama Canal zone cookbook: back to the zone: the multicultural foods of my childhood in the Panama Canal Zone
This book offers beautiful recipes that come from the Panama Canal Zone. A region with immigrants from around the world, resulting in the most interesting mix of food.
Perfect Panama recipes
Are you looking for Panama souvenirs for people who love cooking? Or for people who miss Panamanian food? Then a cookbook to bring Panama into their kitchen is the perfect gift.
Panama gifts for small budgets
#17 Panamanian Spanish book
This is one of the best Panamanian gifts for people who want to truly understand the locals. Even though Spanish is the official language in Panama, they still have their own vocabulary and pronunciation, which is very different from Spanish in Spain.
So if you want to help someone blend in and talk like a native, this book is the gift you need.
#18 Panamanian chocolate
Just like coffee production, cacao production in Panama only makes up a small part of the world’s cacao production. But they do make up for their size with quality.
So if you are looking for souvenirs from Panama for chocolate lovers, this chocolate bar made from Panamanian cacao beans is perfect.
#19 Handmade potholders
These handmade potholders are one of the best Panama souvenirs for people who love spending time in the kitchen and who would love to bring a bit of Panana to their home; a pair of potholders in traditional Panama style.
#20 Necklace
Are you looking for souvenirs from Panama for women?
Then this cute necklace in the shape of the map of Panama is the gift you need. It’s small, subtle, and sweet.
#21 Mola pattern coloring book for adults
Research has shown that coloring books for adults can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep. So if you are looking for gifts from Panama for someone who could use some stress relief, this is the perfect gift!
#22 Online Panama cooking class
This is one of the best Panama gifts for people who love cooking and for people who love Panamanian food!
In this online cooking class, Chef Chris will teach them how to make Panamanian chicken curry, octopus curry, ceviche, Panamanian patacones (a type of fried plantain), and much more.
#23 Panama travel journal
This is one of the best gifts for people who are traveling to Panama soon. They can keep track of their memories and travel plans in this journal.
If you would rather go for a travel journal that the recipient can use for any country, check out these 25 travel journals.
#24 Keychain
Are you looking for small and practical Panamanian souvenirs?
Then a keychain is always a good idea. It barely takes up any space and they can easily take it on a trip.
#25 Tote bag
Tote bags are great Panamanian souvenirs for sustainable travelers. If you buy one of the 96 different Panama-themed bags on Zazzle, of course!
Save these Panamanian gifts
Did you save these Panamanian gifts on Pinterest yet?
Final note on Panamanian gifts
Alright since you are still reading this post all the way to the bottom, I am assuming you need some more help. So perhaps the top three gifts from Panama from the editors will help you out!
- Large budgets: Panamanian rum (#1)
- Mid budgets: Panamanian coffee (#9)
- Small budgets: Panamanian Spanish book (#17)
