Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fore threading its way through a steep-sided valley to
Cerro Punta
, the highest village in
Panama and the best base for visiting the cloud forests and Amistad.
Boquete
Set in a scenic valley on the banks of the Río Caldera, 37km north of David and 1000m above
sea level,
BOQUETE
is the largest town in the Chiriquí Highlands, with a population of over
22,000. It is to gourmet coffee what Bordeaux is to fine wine, with an array of informative
tours
to choose from. It's also a popular weekend resort, offering some of the country's best
hiking, birdwatching and adventure sports in a delightfully refreshing climate.
Technically, the town is separated into Alto Boquete, on the lip of the escarpment leading in-
to the valley, and Bajo Boquete, considered by most to be Boquete proper. Dubbed the
Valle
de las Flores y la Primavera Eterna
(Valley of Flowers and Eternal Spring), the slopes sur-
rounding the town are dotted with shady coffee plantations, lush flower gardens and orange
groves, and rise to rugged peaks. The thick cloud that envelops them frequently descends on
the town as a veil-like fine mist known as
bajareque
, producing spectacular rainbows when
the sun emerges. Only when the sky clears, most often in the early morning, can you see the
imperious peak of Volcán Barú, which dominates the town to the northwest.
Whether it's swinging across a valley in a harness, sampling gourmet coffee or chilling with
a beer by the river, there's plenty to occupy visitors to Boquete for several days. But while
many head straight for the outdoor
activities and tours
described, the town itself, spread out
along the west bank of the Río Caldera and set against an impressive mountainous back-
drop, has a couple of low-key attractions on its fringes. Life revolves around the small central
square and the main street, dotted with several souvenir shops, of which Tucan Tile stands
out, selling innovative, locally inspired hand-painted tiles.
