Boquete, Panama

Boquete: Adventure Travel in Panama

Situated in the far western part of Panama, the town of Boquete offers a wonderful mountain splendor to all that visit this sleepy little village. Boquete sits nearly 1,220 m (4,000 ft) high on the eastern slope of Volcan Baru, the towering 3,475 m (11,400 ft) tall dormant volcano in Panama’s Chiriqui district. This stately setting creates an environment that makes Boquete one of the most exciting and beautiful locations in all of Panama.

The history of this area dates to the pre-Columbian era, when the Isthmus of Panama was inhabited by the indigenous Cocle tribe, among others. As the Spanish colony period arrived, explorers scattered throughout the isthmus, searching for a shorter land route to move their treasures from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, before heading to Spain. The name Boquete means “gap” or “opening” in Spanish, but the true value of this beautiful area wasn’t a new land route; in fact, its importance wouldn’t be discovered until the end of the 20th century.

As foreigners from locations such as the United States, Canada and Europe have searched for new locations to visit and in some cases relocate, much of the attention that was formerly focused on Mexico and Costa Rica has shifted to Panama. Pleasant climates, familiar amenities and the absence of hurricanes have made Panama very popular, and one of the most attractive destinations has been Boquete. With its high altitude, Boquete has moderate temperatures that are cooler than temperatures in the lowlands. In addition, the area has pleasant breezes and is part of a cloud forest, a weather phenomenon that creates a misty covering of clouds.

This weather not only makes this town appealing to its residents, but it also causes the flora and fauna to flourish as well. Boquete is lush and green and renowned worldwide for its coffee and orchids. Boquete’s coffee has won awards for its flavor with various international tasting organizations, and the country has over 200 indigenous species of orchids, with Boquete being the home of many of them.

The coffee and orchids of Boquete are not only the most famous crops of the area; they are also featured at their own festivals. The Flower and Coffee Fair in January and the Orchid Expo in April each draw thousands of visitors to this little hamlet for a chance to see the beauty of Boquete and understand the importance of these unique residents. These festivals have been annual rituals in Boquete for many years, and people from throughout the country and all over the world return each year to be a part of the celebration.

In addition to these festivals, Boquete is filled with other interesting and exciting activities, such as coffee farm tours, zipline canopy tours, rafting, biking, horseback riding and hiking, just to name a few. Because the weather in Boquete is so ideal, enjoying these events can be done year-round, ensuring that the fun never ends.

Home to some of the most outstanding coffee in the world, many people take advantage of tours to see how this crop is grown and produced. There are a number of coffee plantations that offer tours which give visitors the chance to learn about the production process and see this beautiful area where some of the finest coffee is grown.

Mountain biking, horseback riding and zipline canopy tours have become very popular in Boquete as well. Zipline riders are tethered to a cable descending part of the mountain and can enjoy an exhilarating ride as they see the beautiful Boquete scenery. There are high-energy mountain bike tours just outside of town and bike rentals for leisurely rides around town. Horseback riding tours are enjoyed by many as an easy way to take in the nature of Boquete without the rigors of hiking or biking. 

The ultimate activity in Boquete, however, is hiking to the summit of Volcan Baru.  This journey takes the adventurer on an ascent of more than 2,130 m (7,000 ft) to the highest point in Panama. Nighttime excursions allow climbers to reach the peak in time for a sunrise they will never forget. On a clear day, the pinnacle of this mountain affords its visitors the rare chance to see two oceans (Atlantic and Pacific) from the same vantage point, as well as offering  incredible views of the Volcan Baru National Park, La Amistad National Park, a peek into neighboring Costa Rica and a bird’s eye view of Boquete as well.

Although there are many exciting things to do nearby, life in Boquete can be quite peaceful and relaxing. Panama is one of Latin America’s safest and most stable countries, and it is also internationally acclaimed as an ideal destination for foreigners to relocate. For nearly a decade, Boquete has been considered one of the world’s ideal retirement locations. The pueblo has about 19,000 residents, of which about 4,000 are of foreign descent. Living here is vaguely reminiscent of many of the small mountain towns that existed in the United States in the 60s and 70s.

While there is an old-time feeling, life in Boquete is definitely 21st century. Every modern necessity and convenience is either there or just a short drive away from town: medical care, grocery stores, shops and even cable TV and Internet are common commodities. There are public and private schools in the area and a large selection of international restaurants that feature cuisine from France, Italy, Peru, Lebanon, Mexico and other countries. Many of the new homes in the area are found in gated communities and the prices of these locations continue to rise.  For anyone who is searching for lower-priced residences, housing prices drop as the distance away from Boquete increases.

For those who are only spending a short time in Boquete, the town is replete with hotels, bed & breakfasts, cabins and hostels. These are scattered around the Boquete area, some in town and some in the surrounding areas, and each offers a different level of service and price. Prices can range from $6.50 or $7.00 a night per person at a Boquete hostel or jump to $200 or $250 per night for the elegant suites found at several of the town’s finest hotels. Regardless of the location, all of these places can be reached by phone; many have websites on the Internet and a few even have U.S. phone numbers for international reservations. Websites such as HablaYaPanama.com feature good lists of places to stay with phone numbers and web addresses.

Travel to Boquete is another pleasant part of this Panamanian adventure. Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport is a true international airport with flights coming from not only Central and South America, but also from the United States, England, Spain and other locations. Visitors that enter the country there will have to use the regional air service for $80 to David. Buses travel from David to Boquete, which takes about 45 minutes and only costs a couple of dollars each way for an absolutely beautiful voyage; taxi services are available as well and the fee can be negotiated. In addition, direct flights from Miami, Florida, have recently started that land a visitor directly in David, eliminating the extra journey to Panama City.

No matter whether one comes to this mountain paradise to live or to visit, there is so much to do and see. Stunning vistas, endearing festivals and a refreshing climate make this relaxing destination a peaceful haven as well as an exciting adventure. Boquete is the perfect blend of convenience and tranquility, of elegance and simplicity and of nature and civilization, no matter whether one seeks to spend a week or a lifetime.

About the Author

Michael Williams is a freelance writer and author who has spent the past three years in Panama. He has written about travel, history, finance, sports, real estate and a wide variety of topics in between. In his spare time, he enjoys following the NBA and trying to learn website design and Spanish.