With its verdant mountains topped with fluffy white clouds that seem close enough to touch and year-round spring-like climate, Boquete is one of the most interesting and magical places in all of Panama. Because of its location just over an hour from both the Pacific and the Caribbean, Boquete is home to an extensive array of flora and fauna which flourish in the area’s many micro-climates. This tropical mountain paradise is one of Panama’s prime attractions, thanks to Amistad International Park (which it also shares with the Bocas del Toro and Costa Rica) and Volcan Baru, which overlooks Boquete and is Panama’s highest mountain at over 11,000 feet. Plus, some of the world’s best coffee is grown right outside of town. So whether you’re a birdwatcher, hiker adventure-seeker, coffee aficionado or you just want a picturesque place to sit back, relax and watch the sunset, there’s likely something you’ll like about Boquete.
There are plenty of charming, high-quality lodging options in Boquete. I recommend staying outside of town for the best views and wildlife-spotting opportunities. I stayed at the Coffee Estate Inn (www.coffeeestateinn.com), a short drive uphill from mainstreet, which is owned and operated by Jane and Barry, a friendly and helpful Canadian couple who go above and beyond when it comes to making guests feel at home on their property. The Coffee Estate functions as both an inn and a small coffee farm, and there are three, elegant, secluded bungalows, all suite-style with seperate sleeping and sitting areas, and all guests are greeted with Barry’s tasty, homemade breads. At $145 a night, the Coffee Estate is a great deal: The owners don’t cut any corners when it comes to services or amenities and the views are breath-taking. Plus, all guests can go on Barry’s private coffee farm tour and have an opportunity to purchase coffee, freshly roasted however you like it. Some of my other Boquete lodging favorites are the Riverside Inn (riversideinnboquete.com), the Panamonte (www.panamonte.com) and the Boquete Garden Inn (www.boquetegardeninn.com). If you’re looking for a larger, more chain-like option, I recommend the Hotel Valle del Rio (www.valledelrioboquete.com).
Barry and I at the Coffee Estate Inn.
Now that you’ve got your lodging under control, you’re probably looking for a bit of adventure. If you’re a birdwatcher, I recommend contacting Coffee Adventure Tours (coffeeadventures.net) , owned and operated by Terry and Hans. Terry is an avid, experienced birder who leads private groups in and around Boquete. Chago (6626-2200) is Boquete’s best-known birding guide and is famous for his near perfect record when it comes to quetzal-spotting. Coffee Adventure Tours also offers coffee tours and hiking excursions, as does Boquete Mountain Safari Tours (www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com). Hans from Coffee Adventure Tours gives a spirited and entertaining tour of Kotowa Coffee Farm and is my favorite coffee tour guide. For rafting excursions, contact Chiriqui River Rafters (www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com) or Boquete Outdoor Adventure (boqueteoutdooradventure.com), which also offers other, non-rafting excursions to Boca Brava and Isla Coiba. Lastly, adreneline junkies won’t want to miss Boquete Tree Trek’s (720-1635) canopy zipline adventure. Your hotel should be able to provide your with hiking trail information if you’d rather head out on your own.
When it comes food, Boquete isn’t exactly Panama City, but a large expat community means there’s much more variety than you’d expect from a town the size of this size. Jane from the Coffee Estate Inn recommended I head over to Tammy’s at the edge of town (behind Roxanne’s) for the vegetarian platter. Run by Israeli chef Tamara, the restaurant is low-key and unassuming, but their vegetarian platter was amazing — perhaps the best I’ve had in Latin America. Machu Picchu (264-9308) is a long-time favorite off of mainstreet serving up Peruvian specialties. For Italian, head to Il Pianista, a cozy, family-oriented spot with a great Italian wine list and a friendly Italian chef. Sabroson on mainstreet is a good, cheap spot for typical Panamanian fare, Art Cafe el Crepe a good choice for a light meal, and the newly remodeled, renamed and reopened The Rock (www.therockboquete.com) is the best choice in town for international cuisine.
If you’re going to visit Boquete, don’t come in a rush. There’s so much to do that there’s no way you can do the town and the surrounding area justice by staying just a day or two. I STRONGLY recommend renting a car, preferably and 4-wheel drive. Attractions are a bit spaced out and some roads are a bit rough and unpaved, making getting around much easier with a 4-wheel drive.
Click here to read more about where to live in Panama. Or, for more mountainous locations in Panama, check out El Valle.
For the avid hiker/climber, summiting Volcan Baru is a bucket list trip. On a clear day, you can see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Thanks for the info. We’re heading to Boquete in a few days time so look forward to visiting a coffee plantation climing Volcan Baru.
I hear you can take Spanish courses there too so may do one of those as well.
Great, thorough description of the Boquete area. I was there recently and in addition to the above listed places would say, for anyone who will be in Boquete for a while, add Caffe Pomodoro/Wine Bar to your list for its pleasant outdoor patio and service. Also Bistro Boquete (though temporarily closed for renovation). At the Cafe Ruiz store I was able to buy a “cheap” bag of Geisha coffee beans for $30…an award-winning strain of this bean (under a different brand) broke world records recently, auctioning for $170 a pound.
Cheers,
Jessica Ramesch
Editor
International Living, Panama
I have been watching and reading your website. Congratulation!!! You haves good information about this interesting topic.
Please, let me tell you respectfully, that there are many reasons to Retirement in Panama, Living in Panama or to make tourism in Panama.
Panama is considered as a country of traffic, of destiny or reception of immigrants, to being converted really in “Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe”, “a crucible of races”, or well, in “the path to be discovered”, as reported by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), and therefore, activities like the tourism, the immigration and investment will continue expanding and growing in all its demonstrations, specially, in the tourism sector, one of the fastest growing sectors of the Panamanian economy.
The growth of tourism, the alien immigration and investment in Panama, traditionally flourishing in Panama and Colon Provinces, is being expanded to other important regions of the country, such as Cocle, Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui, among others.
As reference, among these regions, Chiriqui is a Province located at the extreme Western of the Republic of Panama, bordered to the west by the Republic of Costa Rica, to the North by the Province of Bocas del Toro and Ngobe Bugle Reserve, to the East by the Province of Veraguas, and to the South by the Pacific Ocean. It has a surface of 6,476.2 km. and a population of 400,321. Its seat is the City of David, the third most important of the Country after the cities of Panama and Colon, characterized by a variety of commercial activity. Chiriqui is the third most important province of the Country, outstanding for its leadership in the national agricultural production and the quality of its cattle and coffee industries. Certainly this province is The Valley of the Moon as indigenous people called it, because it offers a diversity of tourist attractions for any visitors, such as beautiful beaches and high mountains, landscapes paradise, refreshing climate, fertile soils, rivers, flora and fauna. Baru Volcano is located in the highlands of Chiriqui, the highest elevation in Panama, with 11,450 feet (3,475 m.) above sea level, in which zone the City of Boquete and the Volcano, Bambito and Cerro Punta towns are located.
If you want to know more about that, please read the article of Chiel’s Law Firm (www.chielslaw.com) “Tourism, Immigration and Investment in Panama”.
Greetings!!!
Great blog! Boquete really is a wonderful place to live!
You definitely need a minimum 4 days in Boquete – simply to adjust to the pace. Dawn and dusk are the most magical times of the day – be sure and take a stroll on foot by the river and a drive up in the highlands during these times of day. Don’t forget to visit Volcan – even if you are staying in Boquete. It is definitely worth the drive. Read more about living in the highlands of Panama at: http://www.kaluyala.com/community/designing-the-village/highlands-living-in-panama/
I have to say that reading several articles/posts here has left me with a real longing to travel to these places and Boquete just sounds like an earthly paradise! Especially for someone who loves nature, good food, coffee and wine – the good things in life! Boquete is now on the top of my list of must-go destinations. Thanks for this great introduction, opening up new possibilities in beautiful, as yet unexplored (by me) territories. This is a beautiful blog altogether. Just one question for anyone who might be able to answer it: do you think that a working knowledge of spanish is necessary to really make the most of the experience?
It is nice description of the Boquete area. Does anyboyd map of this area whre to start and what to visit step by step? (…)