Boquete is a small town located in the province of Chiriqui in western Panama. It is famous for its coffee plantations and is surrounded by mountains and forests. I was lucky enough to have visited Boquete when it celebrated the annual flower and coffee festival, which was an absolute highlight. I would definitely recommend staying in Boquete for 3–4 full days to really explore the area. It’s quite touristy and, therefore, pretty safe. The prices are moderate as well, although they might be a bit more expensive than in other areas of Panama. Also, the tap water in Boquete is potable and tastes really good since it’s fresh from the mountains.
1. Go on a Coffee tour
One of the things Boquete is famous for is its coffee. They have different plantations and farms that offer tours and insight into the whole coffee business. You’ll learn about how coffee is made, from planting the trees to harvesting the fruits, extracting the coffee beans, and roasting them. It usually includes a tasting as well, where you can try the freshly brewed coffees from different beans and roast levels.
I personally can recommend the Finca Dos Jefes, the tour was incredibly informative, and the guides were extremely passionate about what they’re doing. The tour costs $35 USD, takes 2.5 hours, and is 100% worth it.
2. Volcán Barú Hike:
Most of the people I met in the hostel did the sunrise hike to the Volcán Barú. I personally haven’t done it because I recently just went up the Volcán Acatenango in Guatemala, so I wasn’t feeling like I wanted to hike up another volcano any time soon. But everyone I talked to who had done the hike was amazed by it, so I am sure it’s an incredible experience. I saw that they even offer to take you to the peak by Jeep for those who don’t want to hike up.
3. Do a waterfall tour:
Boquete is also famous for its beautiful waterfalls. There are many hikes you can do in the beautiful forest to visit the many waterfalls hidden within the woods. One of them is the Lost Waterfall Trail, also known as Las Tres Cascadas. The hike takes about 3 hours, and you come across three stunning waterfalls in the middle of nowhere. You’ll have to pay $10 USD to enter and use the trails. To get there, you can easily catch a cab from the center of Boquete or take a colectivo or bus for around $2 USD.
4. Visit Hot Springs:
Around 30 minutes away from Boquete are the Caldera Hot Springs. They are definitely not luxury hot springs, as you may know them from other countries. You are in the forest in the middle of nowhere, with three hot spring pools and a fresh water river to cool down right next to them. It’s a very peaceful and relaxing experience, perfect for the end of your Boquete trip to recover from all the different activities.
A friend and I did this with an unofficial tour from a local lady living in Boquete. We paid her $25 USD, and she took us to a remote waterfall before heading to the hot springs. Unfortunately, I don’t have her number, nor do I know her name anymore, but I saw a bunch of agencies advertising the hot springs in the center of Boquete.
How to get to Boquete:
From wherever you are, you’ll have to get to David first. It’s easily accessible by public transport since it’s quite a big and well-known city. You can take a direct bus from Panama City to David for around $15 USD, which takes around 8 hours and leaves almost every hour. The departure is from the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte, and you can get the tickets from the counters B-29 and B-30. From David to Boquete, you’ll have to take another smaller bus for $1.75 USD. It leaves approximately every 30 minutes and lasts about 1.5 hours. Just ask anyone who works at the terminal to bring you to the bus to Boquete
Where to stay in Boquete:
When I was in Boquete, I stayed at this super cute and well-located hostel called La Casa de Doña Cata. A night in a dormitory was $15 USD and included breakfast. It has nice community areas such as a garden, balcony, and TV room to watch series and movies. You can easily prepare your own meals since you have access to the kitchen for free. They also have private rooms for about $40 USD a night.
Selina, a quite famous hotel/hostel chain, is also located in Boquete, which is also a good option to stay at. They offer dorms for $24 USD per night and private rooms for around $48 USD.
The Agaseke Lodge looks very promising as well and has some good reviews. It offers dorms starting at $13 USD per night and private rooms for $31 USD a night. It’s a bit further away from the main square but has a nice garden, a terrace, and a parking area.
Where to eat or drink in Boquete:
Everywhere in Boquete, you’ll find nice and good restaurants since it’s a well-visited town, but here are some of my favorites:
- Tacos Rudos Bqt (for all the taco lovers out there)
- Boquete Brewing Company (for the beer fans)
- El Sabrosón #1 (for those who want local and economical food)
- Retrogusto (great pizza and pasta)
- Buckle Tip Coffee Studio (amazing coffee, great breakfast)
