Op soek na ‘n Panama sombrero

After crossing the border, the team visits the banana-growing region of Machala. Further into the interior, the town of Zaruma offers the highest-yielding gold mines in the world. At Guayaquil, the team has the Cruisers serviced. Then, it is a visit to Isla de la Plata, the poor man’s Galapagos. The week concludes with a search for the real Panama straw hat – manufactured in Montecristi, Ecuador.