Excitement and relaxation are both offered by this scenic mountain town, neighbor to the Río Caldera and Panama’s highest peak, Volcán Barú. The hillside here is home to flower farms and coffee plantations, and the locals are delightful. In addition to the gorgeous aesthetics, the opportunities for hiking, climbing, and rafting make Boquete an ideal stop for adventure seekers. And after all that, one can enjoy a soak in the fantastic hot springs.
Boquete is popular for its oranges, authentic coffee, and an annual flower festival, but after AARP ranked it as the best destination for retirement and the town soon witnessed a flood of ex-pats and tourists. Despite the sudden flow, Boquete still retained its small-town charm. The quaint downtown includes a collection of eloquent shops, cafés, eateries, hotels, and parks. Furthermore, the town square is home of the beautiful fountain, Parque de Las Madres. You can also enjoy and afternoon scroll through El Explorador.
Hiking
Boquete offers numerous opportunities for hiking.
Volcán Barú
A 13 km hike to the highest peak in Panama, Volcán Barú (3475 meters) will get you views of both the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts. After only 2 km, if you don’t want to hike all that way, you will be able to catch vistas of the valley and hillsides. Another famous trail starting from the Parque Nacional Volcán Barú is the Sendero Los Quetzals. Joining Boquete and Cerro Punta, this trail offers an amazing hike.
Sendero El Pianista
This full-day hike is definitely worth the effort. To reach the head of this venturesome trail, head north on the right bank of the river and cross over two bridges. About 4 km out of town, just before a third bridge, there is a track leading to the left between a couple of buildings. After 200 km, the path becomes a more leisure incline. Though this hike isn’t that difficult, a guide is always advisable.
Rafting
River rafting is just an hour and a half from Boquete on the Rios Chiriqui and Chiriqui Viejo. Both flow from the rich hills of Volcán Barú. As you pass through narrow canyon walls, you will also encounter waterfalls. From May to December, you can enjoy white water rafting on Rio Chiriqui, and the rest of the year on Chiriqui Viejo. To ensure a safe trip, make sure to use a safety kayak and secure a guide that is well trained in swift water rescue.
Coffee Tours
Boquete offers a number of coffee farm tours for coffee lovers.
Café Ruiz Coffee Tours
Tour Panama’s most famous grower, Café Ruiz. Three hours includes a comprehensive presentation of the history of coffee in Boquete, a tour of a roasting facility, and a tasting session.
Kotowa Coffee Estate Tour
During this nearly four-hour tour, you will learn about Canada’s arrival in 1918, see the production facilities and processing mill, and if reservations allow, experience a tasting session.
Cafes de la Luna Coffee Tour
A three-plus hour tour to the Californian coffee aficionado Richard Lipner’s farm is a must-visit to learn about small scale organic coffee production. This enchanting highland tour above Boquete includes both a roasting and tasting tour of Finca Dos Jefes.
Hot Springs
A jeep ride through the highlands will get you to an eco-reserve just outside of the village of Caldera, where you can find Caldera Springs. Heated by thermal energy from Barú Volcano, with a high mineral content, the hot springs have heath-giving properties.
To sum, Boquete is the home of adventures where, along with outdoor ventures, you can also enjoy the downtown charm. The authentic coffee farms and the mystical flower beds here are the prime attraction for nature lovers. And after fulfilling your cravings for adventure in the cloud forests, you can always relax floating in the hot springs.
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