The beautiful town of Volcan is located in the uplands of the Chiriqui Province in Panama. Located on the western slope, downhill from the highest peak in Panama, Volcan is famous for its amazingly perfect weather throughout the year. The town is also called the ‘breadbasket’ of Panama due to its year-round cool weather and highly productive volcanic soil. Almost all of Panama’s vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, radish, onions, etc. grow here. Volcan’s weather and altitude also permit numerous species of flora and fauna to flourish in the area.
The town renders a pleasant and relaxing feel for the people, providing a great base for resting and eating, thereby serving as a great starting point for excursions. Apart from the scintillating weather conditions and natural beauty, the town also houses numerous low-cost lodgings and accommodations with excellent facilities and infrastructure.
This small mountain town is a dream destination for people willing to enjoy some simple and peaceful time in Mother Nature’s lap.
Major Tours and Attractions
There is a ton to do in this little Switzerland of Panama. Mentioned below are the must-visit places.
Arte Cruz Workshop
This workshop surrounded by picturesque mountains is located on the Interamerican Highway, on the way to the Baru Volcano. This art workshop owned by the talented artist Jose Da La Cruz is definitely worth a visit as it houses a great variety of exquisite and awe-inspiring wood art and handicraft. Jose designs and sells beautifully designed doors, paintings, sculptures, and other furniture in his workshop, treating the customers to engaging demonstrations. He was trained in Italy and Honduras and his talent and expertise in the field of wooden art are clearly seen in his work.
Área Solvestre Protegida Lagunas de Volcan
This national park, located 4 km west of the town of Volcan, boasts of the highest lake system in Panama. The area houses two beautiful lakes and dense virgin forests that look greener during the rainy season with the picturesque Baru Volcano in the background. The park also serves up spots for birdwatching. Buses do not run on the way to the park; take a taxi and enjoy amazing views and beautiful weather.
Sitio Barriles
Sitio Barriles is a world-renowned archeological site in Panama. It is located 6 km from Volcan in the Chiriqui Province. Pre-Columbian culture ruins dating back to between 300 and 600 AD are the highlights of the area. It houses a privately owned open-air museum with a variety of ancient artifacts, stone carvings, and sculptures on display. The site is called ‘Barriles’ because of a plethora of stone barrels found in and around the area. The place allows tourists to catch a glimpse of the treasures of the past.
Janson Coffee Farm
The Janson Coffee Farm is a privately owned family farm located in the highlands of the Chiriqui town. The farm is a world-famous producer of the award-winning Geisha and Grade Arabica coffees, recognized as the finest in the world. Travelers can take a tour of this highly venerated coffee farm located 3 km to the west of Volcan, which involves tasting the coffee varieties and experiencing the estate. Tourists can also go fishing, horse riding, and birdwatching during the farm tour.
Places to Stay and Eat
The mountain village of Volcan renders various hotels, lodgings, cabins, guesthouses, etc. to look after the resting and eating needs of the visitors. The best options available are:
Mount Totumas Cloud Forest
This 162-hectare cloud forest is among the highest in the country and is located about 19 km southwest of Volcan. The area serves up a beautiful ecological setting downhill from Mount Totumas, a dream lodging for any nature lover. The forest offers twelve rooms across three buildings. The rooms offer hot water, electricity, and internet facilities. A new lodging has recently been added to the forest, which contains five bedrooms, some with a private kitchen. The staff also provides guided hikes to the top of the beautiful 2630 meter high Mount Totumas.
Hotel Dos Rios
Hotel Dos Rios is a beautiful hotel located in Volcan. The infrastructure of the hotel is inspired by local architecture and offers a lush green garden, internet, free parking, and an on-site restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine. All twenty rooms in the hotel are equipped with Cable LCD TVs, seating areas, and private bathrooms. The place is perfect for couples with some rooms offering excellent views of the hills.
Las Plumas Villa
This villa, located in the foothills of the Baru Volcano, is spread over a 2.5 square hectare area, providing a peaceful setting with majestic views. The five bungalows on offer are fully furnished with dining areas and feature Satellite TVs, private kitchens fitted with microwave ovens, and free parking facilities. Some units also feature private terraces. Tourists staying here can enjoy horse riding and hiking, and there are also many good restaurants available nearby.
Volcan Lodge
Volcan Lodge is a beautiful, red-colored guestroom in the town of Volcan. The place features a wide verandah and a balcony rendering scintillating views of the nearby hills. There is a restaurant named ‘Mana Restaurante’ on the first floor, specializing in local Panamanian cuisine. The restaurant is also famous for serving American staples, including hamburgers and chili.
Apart from the hotels and other lodgings offering onsite restaurants, Volcano also features numerous restaurants and eating points, which are very famous among both the locals and the tourists including:
La Carbonera
This peaceful eatery located on the path leading to Cerro Punta specializes in authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant serves delicious pasta and pizza, and also specializes in complex non-vegetarian main course dishes, including chicken breasts with white wine and pork.
Cerro Brujo
This restaurant, housed in a funky and modern infrastructure, is located in the Brisas Del Norte District of Panama. The place offers garden seating with basic chalk and board menu, featuring 3-4 daily dishes. Parti Miranda is the chef on-board, who uses only local and organic ingredients to create mouthwatering dishes. The main attractions include a Squash Blossom soup, Lamb Stew and mahimahi.
Cafe Volcan
It is a popular eating point in the town of Volcan, serving Panamanian specialties along with some international choices like Romanian steak and others. The local trout served here is very fresh and delicious.
Conclusion
The above write-up talks about the beautiful and peaceful mountain town of Volcan. The place is a dream destination for nature lovers all over the world due to its lush green forests, awe-inspiring flora and fauna, and cool weather conditions.
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