Tales & Traditions · Panama

Packing for Panama

Sourcing in Panama isn't a quick buying trip. Here's what's in the bag, and why.

By Jen · 3 min read

I'm in Panama. Before the rides and the baskets and the long afternoons sitting beside master weavers, there's the part no one really talks about. Packing. If you watched the short video I posted, you saw what that actually looks like.

The medical kit

• Typhoid vaccine.
• Malaria pills.
• A small round of antibiotics, just in case.

Not because the villages are unsafe. They're not. They're home to families I care about. My body wasn't raised there. I didn't grow up in that climate, drinking that water, sleeping in that humidity. I've learned over the years that if I want to show up well, I need to prepare well.

The less glamorous kit

• A small sleeping tent.
• An inflatable mat.
• A compact pillow.

Nothing fancy. Just practical. The rainforest is beautiful, but it's also hot, damp, and unpredictable. Some nights are long. Some mornings start very early. Rest makes all the difference. When I'm rested, I'm present. When I'm present, I can really listen. That is the most important part of these trips.

The part I always love packing

There's another section of the bag that makes me smile every time.

For the kids

• Pencils.
• Bright pencil cases.
• Animal-shaped sharpeners.
• Small things. Useful things. Things that feel fun.

For the weavers

• Reading glasses tucked into colorful cases.

Many of the women I work with have been weaving for decades. The stitches are incredibly fine. Good vision matters. These small practical gifts often mean more than something decorative ever could. Nothing extravagant. Just thoughtful.

Why I share this

Sourcing in Panama isn't a quick buying trip. It's relationship. It's trust built over years. It's showing up again and again. The packing is part of that. It's how I make sure I can stay longer, sit longer, listen longer.

When you see a basket on RFB Woven Art, it didn't arrive from a catalog. It came from conversations, river crossings, humid afternoons, and women who have spent their lives perfecting their craft. This is just the beginning of this trip. I'll share more once I've made more progress.

— Jen

Frequently asked questions about sourcing in Panama

What do you pack for a Panama sourcing trip?

Health prep includes typhoid vaccine, malaria pills, and a small round of antibiotics. Gear includes a small sleeping tent, an inflatable mat, and a compact pillow. Gifts include pencils, bright pencil cases, and animal-shaped sharpeners for the kids, and reading glasses in colorful cases for the master weavers whose eyes have spent decades on fine stitching.

Why does RFB Woven Art travel to Panama?

RFB Woven Art sources Wounaan baskets directly from artisans in Panama's Darién rainforest. Direct sourcing means meeting weavers in their homes, verifying provenance in person, and paying fair prices. Curator Jennifer Kuyper travels personally to each community.

What does ethical sourcing look like in practice?

Showing up in person, year after year. Sitting with weavers at their workshops. Paying prices the artisans set. Bringing small useful gifts (reading glasses, supplies for the kids). The relationship is built over years, not in a single buying trip.

Why are reading glasses such an important gift for weavers?

Many Wounaan master weavers have been working at hösig di, the finest coil-weaving technique in the world, for decades. The stitches are barely visible under magnification. Good vision is essential to the craft. Reading glasses are practical, useful, and acknowledge the precision of the work.