WHY BOQUETE PANAMA

Although just 8.9 degrees above the equator, at 1,085 meters (3,560 ft.), the town of Bajo Boquete is cool, when compared to the nearby city of David. A 37 km. four-lane highway connects David and Boquete. Boquete River Inn is to the left of km marker # 29.

Boquete is spectacularly set in the lush, always green hills bordering both sides of the valley of the Rio Caldera. Panama’s Central Cordillera (mountain range) is renowned for its’ fresh air, clean drinkable water, cooler temperatures, humidity-free climate, prolific flowers and verdant vegetation.

These conditions together combine to make Boquete’s coffee, grown in our rich volcanic soil, rated among the best in the world. Oranges and other tasty local fruits grow in abundance, and there are plenty of fresh, locally-grown, quality vegetables too.

HOLIDAYS – LIVING IN BOQUETE PANAMA

The rush of ‘dias feriadas’ or holidays, starts off with a bang. There are 3 in November alone… November 3, the celebration of Panama´s Separation from Colombia; November 10th, called the Primero Grio de Independencia (mainly celebrated on the Azuero Peninsula) and November 28th, when Panama celebrates its’ Independence from Spain. Big parades, many bands in Boquete.

December sees the 8th as Mother’s Day, the 25th as Christmas; the 31st New Years´Eve. Don’t look for anyone in the bars until after midnight, as most Panamanians stay at home with the family, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year; then go out after midnight till way past dawn.

January 9th is Martyr’s Day, mid-January 11th-22nd, 2019 sees the Annual Coffee and Flower Fair in Boquete.

February, March and April see revolving dates centered around the Lenten season. Carnival (Carnavales) March 2nd till March 4th, 2019 and Easter (Semana Santa) April 19th till April 21th, 2019. In mid-March the Feria International San Jose-David runs in near by David.

THINGS TO SEE/DO IN BOQUETE PANAMA

BEACHES/DAY-TRIPS

* Soothe your soul in the warm Pacific waters at Las Lajas (1 hr. 50 minutes from Boquete… and/or Playa La Barqueta, 1 hr. away. These beaches are sandy, but lack the shelter of palm trees. Las Lajas offers a few ‘primitive’ places to eat and stay. La Barqueta, although closer to Boquete, is a bit sterile, with few facilities.

* Travel to Volcan and further up the ‘other’ side of Volcan Baru. Enjoy a meal at Los Quetzales resort. See Panama’s breadbasket, and take in spectacular views of crops grown straight up a mountain-side.

* For a view at how chaotic a border can be, travel to Paso Canoas, the principle entry point for goods (and tourists) arriving from next door Costa Rica. Lots of ‘duty-free’ shops who deal in either dollars or colones.

* Visit Los Cangilones in Gualaca. Unique rock formations provide a great opportunity for kids and adults to jump into the warm water pools below.

BIODIVERSITY

65% of Panama remains forested. That wasn’t always the case, but now, reforestation is taken seriously. The area around Boquete features a multitude of birds and butterflies. Often sighted are toucans, quetzals, the harpy eagle (our national bird), the king vulture, and hummingbirds. Birds are most frequent around dawn. Butterfly sightings begin right outside your cabin; others around our pool.
This country is an entomologist’s delight. Because of its location between the America’s, Panama presents more varieties of insects and birds than any other place in the western hemisphere.

BIRDS SEEN ON/FROM OUR PROPERTY