Boquete - Tours, Activities, Dining

Boquete which was founded in 1911 is surrounded by steep, lush mountains to the north, east and west, where lies Baru Volcano, Panama¨s highest peak at 3,475 meters. So far north in the Chiriqui Province, Boquete lies only 7 km (3.3 miles) from Bocas del Toro Province to the north. While small compared to David, Boquete is the most populated and developed highlands community, with a very stable businesses geared for the tourism sector. Complete with a wide variety of hotels and restaurants, Boquete can satisfy both backpackers and more demanding travellers alike. Hotels range from $10.00-$100.00, and restaurants include Mexican, Italian, in addition to numerous local establishments.

Other websites containing more information about the Chiriqui Province and Boquete:

• BoquetePanama.Com
• Panama Tourism Office
• Focus on Panama - Chiriqui / Boquete
• EnjoyPanama.Com - Boquete
• Ecotourism Blossoming In Panama

Things to See & Do in Boquete

The Kotowa coffee tour is the best coffee-estate tour in the area. The 3 hours long tour features a description of the estate's history, emphasis on the estate's environmentally friendly methods of coffee production, a full tour of the production facilities, a fascinating tour of the estate's original processing mill with all the original machinery, and a cupping session, during which guests learn what to look for in high quality coffee. Try to make reservations 24 hour before desired tour.Tel. 720-3852.

There are also other Coffee Tours offered by the Cafe Ruiz Coffee Shop. Tel. 720-1000, and the Finca Lerida - Tel. 720-2285.

Cafes De La Luna produces organic coffee based on moon phases. Two types of tours are available. A standard 1 1/2 hour tour of the entire plantation is $15 per person. For a more hands-on approach, try the roasting tour. This is an extended tour of the plantation where you assist in the roasting of the coffee beans and get a pound of what you roasted to take home! This is a 2 1/2 hour tour and cost $30 per person. Call Richard at 6677-7748 for more information.

Bird watching

For bird watching we recommend Coffee Adventures, Hans & Terry offer a wide range of birding tours in and around Boquete including the Boquete cloud forest bird watching tour:

Boquete cloud forest bird watching is a half a day tour.
Pick up will be at your hotel at 7.30 AM (earlier if you wish). Terry, your guide, will pick a location tailored to your wishes and the time of the year. After a wonderful morning of bird watching, we will bring you back to your hotel (+/-11.30 AM). This is always a private tour, (only your group and the guide). Tel.720-3852

Gardens

Mi Jardin es Su Jardin, just uphill from Café Ruiz, is a magnificent garden surrounding a luxurious private estate. There is no entrance fee, and the garden is open every day of the year.

PARADISE GARDEN in Volcancito is 5 minutes from Boquete. In addition to the wonderful gardens, they have a Wildlife Rescue Centre with rescued monkeys, various birds and a butterfly-house. Come for a personal guided tour and some "monkey petting." Only $5 per person.  6465-1418 or 6615-6618 or email junglefotos@yahoo.com. Sundays is closed.

Only a 45-minutes walk from the center of Boquete is El Explorador. There is a cafeteria which serves breads, hot chocolate and many more of food and beverages and behind the cafeteria there is a garden like a page ripped from Alice in Wonderland. El Explorador is open only on weekends and holidays. Therefore you have to pay a little fee of about $1.00

Horseback Riding Tours

We know a friendly guide called Franklin who speaks Spanish and English who offers Horseback Riding in the beautiful area of Caldera. Tel. 6588-5054

The Caldera Hot Springs. These natural hot springs are famous for their health-giving properties. Located just 25 minutes from Boquete. A little difficult to find, so ask for directions.

Hiking Tours

The mountainous area surrounding Boquete town is ideal for walking and exploring. There is a difficult hiking tour called Sendero Los Quetzales which lasts seven to eight hours. You can hike the trail either from Boquete/Bajo Mono to Cerro Punta or the other way. For this tour we can arrange a guide but the trail is also easy to find. Just ask us at the front desk for details or to arrange a special hike.

Water Rafting

The Chiriqui Viejo is a World Class River that has all. Located near the Panama-Costa Rican border. It has virgin forest, water falls, and wild life that is not surpassed anywhere in Central America. Best of all, it has some of the best rapids anywhere in the world. This river can be run on day trips or two night camping trips are available from Panama Rafters - Tel. 720-2712. E-Mail rafting@panamarafters.com.

Also recommended is Chiriqui River Rafting here in Boquete. They offer different river rafting tours with professional guides in the Chiriqui River. It is promised unforgettable memories and the tours are very safe. Tel. 720-1505. Cell 6618-0846

Adventures

Boquete Mountain Safari. Offers a half day tour to the hotsprings in Caldera which includes horseback riding. There is also a half day tour in the mountains of Boquete, where you will visit an old coffee farm and a little animal park. Half day or a full day trips to the cloudforest are offered for exploring the local plant and animal life, Cell: 6627-8829 or www.BoqueteMountainSafariTours.com

Boquete Outdoor Adventures. Specializes in affordable multi-day whitewater kayaking trips, wilderness experiences, multi-sport adventures in the throbbing jungles, uninhabited islands and untamed rivers of Panama. www.boqueteoutdooradventures.com ,Tel. 720-2284 or call Cell: 6630-1453

All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's). Downtown Boquete, ATV Adventures is offering tours with all terrain vehicles for 1 to 5 hours. Contact person is Marco, Cell: 6678-5666, more information is available on www.boqueteatvtours.com

Expeditions in Panama. Offers tours ranging from Boquete to the interior of Panama. You can explore the cloudforest of the National Park Volcan Baru, the hotsprings in Caldera, Cerro Punta, the beach or the province Veraguas. Contact: Juan or Gisela Cell: 6462-9584 or 6746-4598

Boquete Tree Trek / Rock Climbing and Rappeling

Boquete Tree Trek serves a safely expercience thrill of a zip-line canopy tour that can be compared to the most famous in the world. You will glide through the trees and encounter a world unknown. The tour is divided into 11 different zip-line cables over 3 kilometers in total length. Tel. 720-1635

Boquete Climb Adventure is the first company to offer Rock Climbing and Rappeling Tours. Everyone can participate (Adult and Children) and full safety measures are taken at all times. Recommended attire is t-shirts, long or short pants, closed toe shoes and a sense of adventure! Complete tour takes about 2 hours and the cost is $40.00 per person. Phone is 6698-1999 or 6764-7918.

Get a Professional Massage or Facial!

Isla Verde is very pleased to be the host for Spa Boquete, our on-site massage therapy, body-work and Facial services. Please visit the Spa Boquete website for availability schedule and complete details. You don't even have to be a guest here to take advantage of this wonderful experience!

And much more!!!

If desired, we can arrange tours and activities for you!

The distance to the Pacific is only 1 hour and to the Atlantic 3 hours by car.

Dining/Coffee Shops

• COFFEE, PASTRIES, BREAKFAST, SNACKS
• Cafe Ruiz Coffee Shop. Tel. 720-1000. Coffee and pastries
• Kotowa Coffee Shop. Tel. 720-2147. Coffee and pastries
• Pasteleria RENATA. Aleman Cafe Casita. Tel. 720-4129. German Pastries!
  
• Punto de Encuentro: Olga's. Full Breakfast and Lunch Menu
• Sugar & Spice. Sweets and Bread.
• La Boulangerie. Famous baguettes, breads, sweets, cakes
• PIZZA, ITALIAN, BURGERS, LUNCH
• Pizzeria IL Pianista. Tel. 720-2728. Pizza / Italian food.
• Pizzeria A Mi Modo. Tel. 720-1063. Pizza, Hamburgers and Shakes.
• Pizzería La Volcánica. Tel. 720-1063. Pizza. / Local.
• SEAFOOD
• Delicias de Peru. Tel. 720-1966 - Seafood
• Machu Picchu. Tel. 720-1502 - Seafood
• INTERNATIONAL / EUROPEAN
• Hotel Panamonte. Tel.720-1327. International cuisine.
• Bistro Boquete. Tel. 720-1017. International cuisine.
• Art Cafe La Crepe. Tel. 6769-6090 or 6789-9430. French Food specializing in Crepes.
• Tammy's Pollo a La Leña. Great Falafels and Humus. Chicken, burgers, french fries, salads and more.
• STEAK, MEAT
• Roxane's, The Grill House. Tel. 675-7508. Meat and More.
• LOCAL / PANAMANIAN
• Lourdes. Tel. 720-1031. Local Panamanian Food.
• El Sabroson. Tel. 720-2147. Typical Panamanian Food.
• Nelvi's Coffee Shop - Local Panamanian Food
• MEXICAN
• La Casona Mexicana. Tel. 720-1274. Mexican Food.
• Antojitos Mejicanos. Tel. 6593-1063. Mexican Food.

Handmade Gifts

Tucan Tyle Company - Handmade and hand-painted tiles.

Car Rentals

Banking

Bank Name	Telephone
Caja de Ahorros	720-1021
Banco Nacional de Panamá	720-2776
Banistmo	720-1790
Global Bank	720-2329
HSBC	206-8449

Medical Services

Clinica Especializada Boquete, Tel. 720-2080, in front of MELO

Clinica Valle de Boquete, in front of the fire department

Clinica Alfa Omega, next to MANDARIN

Emergency Services

Travel

Real Estate

Classified Listing Sites, Forums, and Information Sites

The Boquete Community Forums - a very large and well-rounded forum on dozens of subjects relating to living in Boquete

Links to Our Friends

Life Prints Video. Putting your story in focus. Personal video stories for individuals and families or videos for non-profit organizations.

SoftwareSolutions.Net - Offers custom programming and consultation for Internet related businesses.

M & M Administrative Services. A young, entergetic, multilingual team of mobile professionals from diverse backgrounds with 15 years of experience in business and office administration, account management and more. Let us handle employment matters, contracts, accounting, bill payments and more!