Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Il Pianista
Palo Alto road 720 2728.
Intimate split-level stone restaurant a $3 taxi ride
northeast of town next to a bubbling stream, illuminated at night. The Italian chef produces
Boquete's best pizzas, various
bruschetti
and
antipasti
and excellent home-made pasta
($10-16).
Tues-Sun noon-10pm.
Restaurante Las Orquídeas
Av Belisario Porras, at C 5 Sur.
Small, friendly family-run
restaurant in a quiet location with a few outside patio tables Good-sized portions of nicely
presented and tasty home cooking. Fresh juices and
batidos
too.
Mon-Sat 7.30am-6.30pm,
Sun 7am-4pm.
El Sabrosón
Av Central, between C 1 Sur and C Central 720 2147.
Probably the most reli-
able of the local cafeteria restaurants - hence the long but swift-moving queues at lunchtime
- hot and freshly made rice, plantain, beans, salads and a range of meat dishes plus usually
some fish, all for under $4.
Daily 7am-3.30pm.
NIGHTLIFE
La Cabaña
Left after the bridge up past the fairground.
For a loud blast of a variety of sounds
and blinking plasma screens, try dancing or drinking in this joint's dark recesses.
Fri & Sat
8pm-late.
Zanzibar
Av Central at C 2 Norte.
Bars come and go, but this unlikely African-themed wa-
tering hole has established itself, attracting trendy young locals and travellers. Dim lighting,
comfy zebra-striped cushions and mellow music provide the backdrop for sampling a vast
array of excellent cocktails ($5). The place occasionally gets going on weekends when there
is sometimes live jazz music.
Tues-Sun 6pm-late.
Parque Nacional Volcán Barú
The two main entrances to the national park are at either end of the Sendero de los Quetzales, about 8km apart:
the Alto Chiquero ANAM ranger station and refuge is at the Boquete side of the trek, whereas the El Respingo
ranger station is at the Cerro Punta end of the trail. Two other small offices (no name) are at the start of the trail
for climbing Volcán Barú • $5
The jade-coloured cloud forests sitting in the mist high above Boquete, many of which lie
within the boundaries of the
Parque Nacional Volcán Barú
, which stretches west towards
the town of Volcán, are prime birdwatching territory - and the favoured habitat of the metal-
lic green resplendent quetzal, the Holy Grail of Boquete birding. The male in particular, with
its ruby breastplate and lengthy trailing iridescent tail, which it only dons for the breeding
season, is a dazzling sight. These otherwise elusive birds are at their most visible from the
end of December to April, just after first light, when breeding pairs can sometimes be seen
on the path.
Hiking in and around the park
Hiking trails in and around the national park range from a gentle undulating stroll round
Finca Lérida
to a four-hour-plus slog up Volcán Barú. You can undertake the shorter trails
