Boquete Panama

Boquete is a thriving valley town, standing in the foothills of the extinct Barú volcano in the Chiriqui province of Panama, near the border of Bocas del Toro. Famed for its California oranges, delicious coffee, cool spring air shimmering with rainbows, it is one of the fastest-growing retirement and expatriate communities in Panama. The statuesque landscape runs from 2500 to 10,000 feet high, richly lined with vegetation nourished by black volcanic soil.

The volcano marks the highest point of Panama, and holds a commanding view of the Pacific (and on a clear day, Atlantic) ocean. Rainforests in the surrounding hills are lush and verdant, and home to many rare species, including the highly prized quetzal, a brilliantly colored bird in danger of extinction. Read the rest of this entry »

The Boquete valley and the Caldera river basin have always been a natural attraction for the many indigenous peoples, local residents and foreign visitors who have been fortunate enough to travel or live in this area. But only in recent times has the work of professional guides and outfitters in Boquete become a major industry that now serves visitors from around the world.

This new “eco-tourism” has recently become an economic asset to the community and increasingly permits more travelers to experience the pristine and often rugged environment of the mountains and trails of Chiriqui in a safe and ecologically sound manner.

Before the early 1990’s only the most intrepid could venture forth into the wild lands of Chiriqui because there were no improvements to trails or facilities for use by tourists. Nevertheless, beginning in the mid-1980’s early Boqueteño adventurers such as Enrique Boutet and Gonzalo Miranda pioneered many of the tours and trails that are commonly used today.

They also taught and trained a new generation of travel guides, teaching them not only the locales and trails but also a love, respect and understanding of the natural world through which they would travel with their guests.waterfall02

With the ouster of Manuel Noriega and the election of the Endara administration in 1990, many improvements were begun to allow increased access and enjoyment of Boquete’s natural beauty. Although Parque Nacional Volcán Barú had been established in 1976, many improvements were needed, and more improvements to the world-famous Quetzal trail were also initiated. Roads were built and paved to serve Bajo Mono, Alto Quiel and other outlying areas, making access to the park and mountain trails more enjoyable. By the late 1990’s the word had gotten out that Boquete was the new national treasure of Panama, thus setting the stage for the current influx of tourists and expatriates we are still seeing today.

Below are listed some of the many tourism companies and individuals who provide safe, enjoyable and educational services to those visitors who desire a more intimate acquaintance with the magnificent natural heritage and environment that Boquete has to offer.

Hiking, Bird-watching, Hot Springs and Petroglyphs
Feliciano González, “Felicano’s Tours”. Hiking and driving tours of Volcan Baru, the Quetzal Trail, the Pianista Trail, Caldera Hot Springs and petroglyphs, custom tours of Boquete and Chiriqui province. Phone 632-8645 or 624-9940, email felicianogonzales255@hotmail.com, website www.geocities.com/boquete_tours.

Coffee Adventures, Hans and Terry Van der Vooren Coffee tours, cloud forest hikes, bird watching, Caldera Hot Springs, and Boquete tours. 720-3852

Luis Jaramillo, “Aventuras y Mas”. Hiking, driving and camping tours of Volcan Baru, The Quetzal Trail, Caldera Hot Springs and Pacific Coast beaches. Custom bus tours for larger groups to Panama City and the Panama Canal with advance notice. Phone 592-0971.

Richard Livingston, “Ocean to Ocean Ecological Expeditions”. Local driving tours of Boquete, Bajo Mono, Alto Quiel. Round-trip transportation to Parque Volcan Baru, Caldera Hot Springs and petroglyphs, La Barqueta Beach. Phone 636-9887..

Patsy Underhill, “Boquete Mountain Cruisers”. Open-air or covered driving tours of Boquete town and area, Caldera Hot Springs and petroglyphs, river beach swimming. Custom real estate tours available with advance arrangement. Phone 720-4697, 627-8829.

White Water Rafting
Kevin Mellinger, “Panama Rafters”. Half day and full day tours of various sections of the Chiriqui Viejo river on the Costa Rica border. Class II to Class IV. Other Panama rivers are available on request. Phone 720-2712 or 633-4313 or Email.

Héctor Sánchez, “Chiriqui River Rafting”. Half and full day tours of various sections of the Chiriqui Viejo river, Class II to Class IV. Experienced on all of Panama’s navigable rivers, custom tours available. Phone 720-1505, 618-0846 or Email.

Canopy Tours
Jorge Tovar, “Boquete Tree Trek”. Three kilometers of suspended cable and a 350meter drop in the upper Palo Alto valley, a 45 minute drive. Phone 720-1635 or email.

Horse Back Riding
Eduardo Caño, “Alquiler de Caballos”. Guided horseback tours of 2 to 5 hours. Leaves from Boquete with tours of Volcancito and Jaramillo. Phone 720-1750, 629-0184.

Other guides are available who offer a variety of services in the Boquete area. They may be found by advertisements posted on hotel and restaurant billboards, or by word-of-mouth.

source: The Boquete times

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Chiriqui, the westernmost province of Panama’s Pacific coast, offers visitors some of the republic’s most varied fare, ranging from swimming beaches to mountain climbing. For those interested in any of the following, Chiriqui is the place to find them: flower growing, trout fishing, medicinal springs, alpine farms, coffee, beer tasting, orange growing, cattle ranches, thoroughbred farms, hunting, bird watching, and white water rafting.

Visitors coming down the Pan American Highway receive Chiriqui as their Welcome Cocktail as soon as they cross the border at Paso Canoa. Alternatively, for car-renters and bus riders, the western welcome mat is spread over six or seven hours’ drive up the Panama American Highway, with abundant restaurants and sightseeing along the way.

David, third city of the republic, is the provincial capital of Chiriqui. Most sightseeing spectacles are within easy range of here, but a number of alluring mountain hotels can be found in the cooler climate of Boquete and Volcan. Boquete is the nation’s flower garden, prime supplier, for the capital city’s florists. Chill streams bounding down from el Volcan de Baru (11,450 feet) through Boquete, Cerro Punta, or Volcan contain a caveat for those who believe sea bass reigns unchallenged as Panama’s tastiest fish. Hot springs can also be found in the area of Boquete.

The variety of Chiriqui is what makes it greatest’the high farms look Swiss in their greenness. Las Lajas, about an hour’s drive from David, is the best known of Chiriqui’s beaches. The most vales of Boquete cradle Panama’s coffee growing industry. Chiriqui is also cattle country and the nation’s prime thoroughbred-raising area. Finally, the Guaymi Indians call Chiriqui’s central cordillera their home. For all these reasons, the area of Chiriqui has become a popular retirement destination for foreigners and Panamanians alike.

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