Boquete: How To Spend Your Time in Panama’s Lush Mountain Town

Boquete is a town that ends up on many travellers’ itineraries, so you could say it is the opposite of a hidden gem. That being said, my experience proves that the town is well worth a visit, despite my tendency to actively avoid “tourist-heavy” destinations when I am on a trip. 

What appealed to me most about Boquete was its thriving coffee-growing industry, since I am always on the lookout for delicious brews (both the craft beer and coffee kind) on my travels. As you can imagine, Central America is a coffee lover’s dream region to explore. 

With its lush surroundings in Panama’s highlands in the shadows of the country’s only volcano, and its crisp mountain climate, Boquete makes for a great stopover. Situated close to the Costa Rican Border, Boquete is often the first point of call for those heading south on a Central American adventure. In my case, I did it both ways, since I turned around in Panama City and rode my motorbike the entire way back north to Mexico  – but not everyone is that loco. 

While I wish I had more time than planned, I did my best to soak in as much of this pretty town as possible, and I am excited to share some of my personal tips, tricks and recommendations for those planning to visit this beautiful region. 

Where to stay in Boquete

At first, I assumed travelling with a dog through Central America (on a motorbike) would be tricky. Borders were often a logistical nightmare, and some activities were not as dog-friendly as I would like, but I have to say that accommodation was never really an issue. 

One fine example was Boquete. 

I found a cute private bungalow on Boquete’s outskirts for just $25 a night (Feb 2024): While “The Yellow House”, located just 3kms from town, had little to no reviews online, I had come to learn that often it is worth giving properties the benefit of the doubt. I had experienced this before and been pleasantly surprised, so I booked The Yellow House for a few nights.

With a great pet-friendly policy, all the usual modern amenities and a home-from-home feel, this was a great place to base ourselves while visiting town. 

book the yellow house on agoda

Although this is a great option for those seeking privacy, affordability and a quiet location, Boquete does have a wide range of options to suit all budgets, from hostels to hotels. But if you are like me, you may find yourself torn between saving money and wanting to stay in every charming lodge in the region. 

Whatever your preferences, here are a few great options to consider:

Tip: If you are a coffee lover and your budget allows it, it is well worth staying at one of the coffee plantation accommodations that are common around Boquete, which often offer coffee tours and onsite cafes. I suggest:

• Coffee Estate Inn — Boutique hotel set on a mountainside surrounded coffee plantations (€150/night on average)
• Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation & Boutique Hotel — A full-service boutique hotel set on the Finca Lérida coffee estate in the highlands just outside central Boquete (€220/night on average)

This provides a valuable insight into local coffee production, and as someone who stayed in a stunning cabin on a coffee plantation upon entering Panama, I can certainly say this is an amazing experience. In saying that, it is also possible to do coffee tours separately, and I will give you tips on how to do this further on. 

Things to do in Boquete 

Boquete’s stunning location along the Caldera River provides a beautiful and tranquil backdrop for a stroll through town, and you will quickly notice how jaw-droppingly attractive the town is. 

I couldn’t help but think, if Boquete were a place in my country of Ireland, it would probably always beat out competitors for the annual “tidy towns award”. Before embarking on any activities, I always love to wander around and get a feel for a destination, almost like a way of grounding myself. 

Boquete, with its striking flower arrangements and well-maintained green areas, is a place that catches your eye, and this is perhaps why there are so many benches to relax and take a load off. The main bridge is probably where I took the most photos as I gazed down towards the rushing river. I remember thinking in this moment just how visually stunning Boquete was, something I was not expecting. Here are some of the best things to do in town:

Browse the Centro artesanal de Boquete

If you are like me, and you love checking out local crafts, mingling with vendors and picking up a souvenir or two, then a stop off at the local artisan market is well worth it.

Located in the heart of town, it is easy to find, and although it is small, you could spend longer than planned browsing the local goods. 

Visit the Boquete Flower & Coffee Fair

Although this area did not permit dogs, we enjoyed the beauty of the landscaped gardens and flowers from afar. However, if you appreciate beautiful things, this is a great place to take a stroll with your loved ones, where you can enjoy some coffee and riverside relaxation. This is also a fairground with food vendors, and it costs a couple of dollars to enter, but it is well worth it. 

Take a walk to the Mirador (viewpoint)

From the town, there is a covered walkway that leads to a viewpoint over Boquete. This is a great way to enjoy some afternoon activity, without embarking on a challenging hike, and the surrounding views of the iconic green Panamanian landscapes are rewarding. 

Best activities around Boquete

Boquete is Panama’s hiking, eco, and outdoor adventure travel capital. It’s a favorite among travellers for hiking, coffee plantation tours, and many other outdoor activities like horseback riding, ATV, ziplining, or river rafting. These activities are worth doing yourself or with an organized tour.

Do a coffee or chocolate tour

Although I have embarked on my fair share of coffee and chocolate tours in Costa Rica and Colombia, I have to say that Boquete is a great place to do this, especially if this is your first experience. 

As a thriving coffee region with plenty of coffee farms around, Boquete has plenty of tours to choose from, and you will get a chance to learn about and taste their award-winning (and world’s most expensive) Geisha coffee. 

Places like Finca Dos Jefes offer tours, but take time to compare and find one that interests you. The town has many chocolate cafes (like The Perfect Pair) too, so this can be a fantastic way to taste the local brews and perhaps embark on a chocolate-making workshop. 

Tip: Most coffee farms like Finca Dos Jefes don’t allow walk-in visits, so it’s essential to book a tour with a reserved timeslot.

Parque Nacional Volcán Barú

It’s hard to ignore, but Boquete sits right below a dormant volcano and the country’s highest peak (11,401 feet (3,475 meters) called Volcán Barú.

This national park is one of the best spots to visit in Boquete, if you love wildlife spotting, cloud forests and hiking. The diverse ecosystems and breathtaking views are what make it a top priority for visitors to Boquete. 

In terms of getting to the summit of Volcán Barú, it is possible, albeit via a long, gruelling midnight hike or a costly 4WD adventure, so it is worth doing some deep research before committing to the journey and the potential rest days needed afterwards. 

Caldera hot springs

Because of the volcanic landscapes, you can also find a few hot springs around the area, known as Caldera Hot Springs. You can opt to take a tour, a local collectivo or drive 45 minutes from town to the springs, and trust me, it makes a great activity after a long day (or a few days) of hiking. 

White water rafting

The Chiriquí (Viejo) River has the best white-water kayaking and rafting in Panama, and if you are keen to seek out an adrenaline-filled experience, you will find it here.

If you are a novice, don’t fret because you can also enjoy some paddling fun on the Majagua River, which is much more beginner-friendly. There are several rafting companies in town, where you can book a full or half-day excursion, so if time allows, then this is a fun group experience. 

Go rafting on the Chiriqui river

The best hikes in Boquete

Sitting on the southern edge of Barú Volcano National Park, Boquete is a prime location for hiking enthusiasts. You could say that this feels like the exact spot where settled Panama dissolves into untouched wilderness and where trails can quickly transition from coffee farms into cloud forest. Scientists consider this to be one of Central America’s biodiversity hotspots, home to thriving flora and diverse fauna. 

If you value surroundings where ancient trees drip with moss and staggering biodiversity, then Boquete will prove to be an excellent place to undertake some great hikes. You will most certainly want to leave your headphones back at your hotel and instead listen to the soundtrack of falling leaves and hidden streams that can be heard throughout these remote regions. 

But hiking in Boquete does not need to be hard. From the easily accessible viewpoint in town to hikes in the volcanic national park and beyond, Boquete has plenty of trail adventures for all levels. Some hikes require a fee, but there are free hikes around the area, too. Always carry some local cash (dollars or Panamanian balboas) just in case.  

Here are some of the most popular hikes:

Hike	Distance	Level	Highlight
The Lost Waterfalls  ($10 entrance fee)	3.2 km (2-3 hours)	Moderate	A series of distinctly charming and atmospheric waterfalls
El Pianista (Free)	7.9 km (3.5 -4 hours)	Hard	A deep cloud forest adventure with a variety of landscapes
The Pipeline ($5)	5.5km (2-3 hours)	Easy	A gentle jungle adventure with plenty of wildlife spotting and a waterfall

Where to eat

Even though I would not describe myself as a “picky eater”, I do tend to be picky about where I decide to eat when I am on the road. Truthfully, at this point, I was a little over the usual rice, meat and patacones combination, which was the local go-to, so Boquete was a fantastic place to try something different. When travelling, I try to avoid tourist spots and most certainly fast food chains, however popular they may be with locals. 

In my case, I stumbled upon a Brazilian restaurant called Pizzaria e Restaurante Brasilerissimo whose attractive “menú de ejecutivo” (the local menu of the day) offer drew me in. I noticed many locals eating there, which was a sure-fire sign that this would be a good place to chow down. Spoiler alert: It was! 

I was served a generous portion of Brazilian churrasco (barbequed meats) with a variety of delicious sides, which was a welcome change and entirely satisfying. It’s also dog-friendly, so your pup can come along.

Here are some great eateries for all budgets in Boquete:

$

$$

• Big Daddy’s Grill
• Mike’s Global Grill

$$$

• The Rock 
• Butcher Chophouse

If you love sweets as I do, don’t skip the local bakeries. I’d start with Sugar and Spice, which has all kinds of grab-and-go delights as well as sit-down meals. 

Given that The Yellow House Hostal, where I was staying, was equipped with a kitchen, I opted to cook on the second day. I shopped at Super Barú, which I found to be an affordable supermarket, and that evening, steak was on the menu. 

I must admit that opting for an apartment or hostel with a shared kitchen can be a great idea for those travelling on a budget like myself, since you can easily cut down costs by cooking some of your own meals. It is worth noting that the average price of a meal in Boquete varies, but you can expect to pay between $10 – $20. 

Fancy a beer?

I almost always seek out craft breweries when travelling, and Boquete did not let me down. If you fancy trying some local brews or just want to sit back and listen to some live music or people watch, I recommend Boquete Brewing Company along Main Street. 

Here, you can get your hands on beer flights (tasters), guest beers and local beers, which I often find is another great way to get to know the creative culture of a country. One thing I always do is chat with the bartender and ask for their recommendations or personal favourites. 

Getting in and around Boquete

Given that I travelled this region by motorbike, I recommend your own set of wheels when exploring Panama. This allows you the freedom and flexibility to venture to places you may not have considered, and can open up opportunities for more amazing local encounters. That said, Boquete is also reachable by public transport.

• From David: Boquete is located one hour inland from David, a city that is home to an international airport, so it is worth checking if you can fly directly here from your location. Here, you can easily rent a car and drive to Boquete, but you can also opt to take a local bus from the main bus station in David.
• From Panama City: Boquete is located almost 7 hours away from Panama City, the likely entry point for many visiting Panama. If you don’t plan to rent a car, you can take a long-distance bus from Panama City, which will go via David. From there, you can change to another bus, which will take you the rest of the way to Boquete. 

Getting Around: Although getting around the town centre is easily doable on foot, many of the highlights lie outside town. If you don’t have access to your own vehicle, you can make use of the many collectivos (local mini buses). All you have to do is look for the name on the front of the bus, and if you are not sure, just ask the driver if they are going in the direction you need. `

If you would prefer not to rely on tours or bus schedules, a car rental is by far the best way to get around, and this is what many visitors opt to do for easy access to local activities. Alternatively, you can even hire an e-bike to get to and from trailheads or just to have some fun exploring the local area. 

The best time to visit Boquete

Boquete is blessed with an ideal mountain climate, which makes it an appealing destination for many keen to escape the Panamanian heat. This is perhaps one of the first things you will notice about the cool mountain town upon arrival, and it makes getting out and about much more comfortable than the country’s lowlands. 

The dry season (between December – April) is the most popular time to visit, when there is noticeably less rain, and outdoor activities are easily accessible. I visited during February, which proved to be a perfect time, when the skies were blue, the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze to keep you cool. During this time, trails are dry, mornings are crisp, and you can enjoy cosy evenings in local cafes or restaurants. But, Boquete can experience downpours anytime, so be prepared.

The rainy season (May – November), also known as the “green season”, might not be the most popular time to visit, but it can suit those who prefer fewer crowds and more affordability. You will see a quieter side to Boquete, but you will also get to enjoy the lush landscapes thriving, thanks to the afternoon downpours. While this is a great time to visit waterfalls, hiking trails can be trickier and less safe than in the dry season. The low season is when you can find some great deals on accommodation, but you have to be prepared for adverse weather.

The Feria de las Flores y el Café (Boquete flower and coffee festival) takes place over ten days in January and is a great time to visit if you want to experience the town’s culture and heritage. If the festival coincides with your travel plans, ensure that you book accommodation and tours as early as possible, as this is when the town gets very busy. 

Top tips for your visit

• Boquete has a year-round temperature in the low seventies Fahrenheit / mid twenties in Celsius.
• Boquete is said to experience rain 10/12 months per year, so do not forget to pack a raincoat, even if you are visiting in the dry season. 
• English is widely spoken here, and there is a big expat community, which gives you a familiar vibe and makes it a stress-free place for first-time travellers.
• If you love to splurge once in a while, when on an adventure, Boquete is the place to do it. Here you will find some sensational resorts, coffee plantation hotels and charming homestays, so it is worth treating yourself for a night or two. 
• The town is located beside the Caldara River, and the bridge leading to town is where you will get some of the most iconic photos of Boquete and its vibrant flowers. 
• Because of its attractive climate, Boquete is known as “the land of eternal springtime” (or even the garden of Panama); however, this is also a phrase tied to places like Guatemala as well as the city of Medellin in Colombia. (You may hear this quite a lot while travelling in Latin America).
• Boquete may be a small town, but given the endless activities and experiences, you may want to expand your itinerary by a few days. 3-5 days is an ideal time for a first-time visit. 

Final thoughts

Boquete was one of the highlights for me, and despite trying to avoid tourist spots, I loved this place and would return in a heartbeat. The mix of lush scenery, vibrant culture and variety of activities made it a place I wish I had stayed longer, and the delicious coffee was an added bonus. 

Without a doubt, Boquete is worth a stopover, whether you have a day or a week to spare; at least stop by for a cup of the world-famous coffee and a stroll through town. If you have longer, you will be rewarded with a long list of exciting ways to spend your time.