Boquete is a small mountain town that sits alongside the Caldera River at the base of Panama’s Volcan Barú. Located about an hour and half by bus from David, Boquete boasts a refreshingly cool climate and excellent views of the surrounding Chiriquí highlands. Due to the richness of the volcanic soil, it is also an excellent location for the cultivation of coffee — as evidenced by the multitude of coffee plantations in the surrounding mountains. If a first-rate cup of coffee isn’t enough to get you out of bed in the morning, you can check out one of Boquetes many natural wonders. From town you can climb Volcan Barú — Panama’s highest point — to try your luck at dawn; on clear days, you can see the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica from the summit. If a ten-hour midnight hike isn’t really your thing, you can try your luck at a number of other trails in the area including one of Panama’s most well-known treks: El Sendero de Los Quetzales. At the end of a long day of hiking/rafting/drinking, rest your tired muscles at the Caldera hot springs.
GETTING // GOING • SLEEPING • DOING • MAP