Boquete

Billed as an idyllic Shangri-La, Boquete is blessed with a spectacular mountain setting in a broad vale at the base of Volcán Barú — a quiescent volcano cloaked in dense forest. The area was settled a century ago by European immigrants, who erected homes and inns in their national architectural styles. In later years, many Europeans and North Americans have settled. Hence, the area has an unusually international flavor, with no shortage of globe-spanning restaurants and intimate historic inns and bed-and-breakfast hotels, such as the world-famous Panamonte Inn & Spa. At an elevation of about 4,000 feet, the lovely village enjoys a ...

Billed as an idyllic Shangri-La, Boquete is blessed with a spectacular mountain setting in a broad vale at the base of Volcán Barú — a quiescent volcano cloaked in dense forest. The area was settled a century ago by European immigrants, who erected homes and inns in their national architectural styles. In later years, many Europeans and North Americans have settled. Hence, the area has an unusually international flavor, with no shortage of globe-spanning restaurants and intimate historic inns and bed-and-breakfast hotels, such as the world-famous Panamonte Inn & Spa. At an elevation of about 4,000 feet, the lovely village enjoys a temperate, springlike climate year-round. The area is Panama's main coffee growing region; several estates offer tours. And the town, which has some lovely gardens, is renowned for its International Coffee & Flower Festival, each January. Boquete is also the main gateway to La Amistad International Peace Park, a pristine and sodden montane rainforest world where quetzals are easily viewed along the well-named Sendero Los Quetzales — a must. Birding and hiking are major draws, but the panoply of other activities includes whitewater rafting, horseback riding and rock-climbing.

About the Expert

Christopher P. Baker has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, California, and various Caribbean islands for Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic, among others.