Sigsig

About

Sitting in a valley, surrounded by jagged mountains, Sigsig boasts some incredible views. In the pleasantly manicured central plaza, you’ll find the Zanqueros monument - statues of stilt-legged warriors - standing in front of the blue-domed church, framed by green hills. But the real attraction here are the famous toquilla hats, which come from a tradition pre-dating the arrival of the Spanish. And though toquilla straw hats originated in Ecuador, they’re better-known as Panama hats. While the bustling Sunday market sees makers from the surrounding region gather to sell their wares, for a more intimate look at the tradition, the Asociación de Toquilleras Maria Auxiliadora is the place to go. Located in an old hospital on the outskirts of town, this women’s hat-making cooperative is happy to share the process and history that goes into making each hat, and of course, sells them for much cheaper than vendors Cuenca or Quito.