Barcelona
Barcelona is an inland comuna of Manglaralto parish at the foot of the Chongón–Colonche hills, a short ride up from Valdivia and San Pedro. Local people call it the toquilla capital of the peninsula.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Manglaralto, Santa Elena canton |
| Known for | Paja toquilla (toquilla straw) |
| Forest | About 1,103 ha protected by families under the Socio Bosque programme |
| Farming | Toquilla palm, lemons and passion fruit |
| Water | Junta Regional de Valdivia |
Toquilla straw
About 1,000 ha of toquilla palm grow around Barcelona, and roughly 80% of the residents work with it. Families wash, cook, dry and sort the fibre; you will see it hanging on lines in front of the houses. Most of the straw goes in bundles to weavers in Azuay and Manabí, where it becomes the famous toquilla hat (sold abroad as the "Panama hat"), recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Some stays in the village for local hats and crafts.
Visiting
Barcelona is a working village, not a tourist stop: be respectful, ask before taking photos, and buy directly from the families if they sell.
See also
Sources: Expreso, Dec 2025; PDOT cantón Santa Elena 2023–2027.