Boquete Town
A view from the CEFATI, toursit building of Bajo Boquete.
I describe Boquete as a no frills quaint little town located in a valley, surrounded by emerald green hills, mountains, and with the river, Rio Caldera flowing alongside the town. Boquete is known as the Valley of the Eternal Rainbow, and often one can view several rainbows at the same time, over the valley.
While visiting Boquete if you are around on a Friday night beginning at six o' clock there is a Newcomer & Visitor Social Dinner at a different restaurant in Bajo Boquete. Cocktails begin at six p.m. to meet, greet, and mingle. At seven, we sit down to enjoy a great dinner. RSVP is requested to secure a seat, walk-ins will be turned away. This group has become such a popular event during the dry season sometimes up to almost 40 attend. Email me for the location each Wednesday.
Brief History of Boquete
In Spanish, the word Boquete means 'gap or opening'. It was through this gap that curious gold seekers trekked, looking for a cheaper and quicker way to the Pacific. Farmers began settling the region near the end of the 19th Century. By the early 20th century, several villages had been populated: Lino, Quiel, Bajo Mono, Los Naranjos, and Bajo Boquete, which now is the districts' town center. Boquete was created on April 11, 1911. The head of the district was initially Lino, but it was moved soon after to Bajo Boquete. For many years, the district had three "corregimientos" (townships): Bajo Boquete, Caldera and Palmira. Just recently in 1998, the "corregimientos" of Alto Boquete, Jaramillo, and Los Naranjos were created.
In addition to tourism, its main industry remains agriculture, especially the growing of coffee beans.
Other points of interest
Boquete is the end of the road, so to speak as one cannot drive through it to get to Bocas Del Toro. Although you can trek to Bocas, walking through eight or more rivers and up down many mountains as the indigenous Gnobe people do.
If you enjoy hiking, nature, birding, you WILL enjoy your stay in Boquete. The elevation of Boquete is 3,200 feet. You can explore the surrounding mountains around the town that are up to nearly 11,000 feet. This is highest point in Panama and the rim of the extinct Volcano Baru, one of the only places in the world that both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can be seen. This landmark the nearby Volcán Barú, is a dormant volcano and, at 3,475 meters, the tallest point of land in Panama. Visitors and residents as well enjoy the challenge of hiking up and over the volcano, and along the Sendero de Los Quetzales, which runs from Boquete up to Cerro Punta and Volcan, they are towns located on the other side of the volcano.
Boquete is well known for its coffee, judged to be among the finest in the world. Boquete’s unique micro-climate provides ideal conditions for growing coffee and is host to a number of coffee estates growing some of the world’s finest gourmet coffee beans. A unique web of cold air currents through the mountains cause a flourishing of microclimates – subtly varied blends of temperature, moisture and sunlight – that suit the finicky coffee plants.The area’s oldest coffee mill dates to 1917.
Boquete is one of Panama's hidden gems. Even during the rainy season it is beautiful, though many expats living here choose to hightail it out and stay away until January. However, people like myself included stay, taking short trips to other countries or visiting places in Panama. It is the perfect time to explore many of Panama's other treasures.
While visiting Boquete if you are around on a Friday night beginning at six o' clock there is a Newcomer & Visitor Social Dinner at a different restaurant in Bajo Boquete. Cocktails begin at six p.m. to meet, greet, and mingle. At seven, we sit down to enjoy a great dinner. RSVP is requested to secure a seat, walk-ins will be turned away. This group has become such a popular event during the dry season sometimes up to almost 40 attend. Email me for the location each Wednesday.
Brief History of Boquete
In Spanish, the word Boquete means 'gap or opening'. It was through this gap that curious gold seekers trekked, looking for a cheaper and quicker way to the Pacific. Farmers began settling the region near the end of the 19th Century. By the early 20th century, several villages had been populated: Lino, Quiel, Bajo Mono, Los Naranjos, and Bajo Boquete, which now is the districts' town center. Boquete was created on April 11, 1911. The head of the district was initially Lino, but it was moved soon after to Bajo Boquete. For many years, the district had three "corregimientos" (townships): Bajo Boquete, Caldera and Palmira. Just recently in 1998, the "corregimientos" of Alto Boquete, Jaramillo, and Los Naranjos were created.
In addition to tourism, its main industry remains agriculture, especially the growing of coffee beans.
Other points of interest
Boquete is the end of the road, so to speak as one cannot drive through it to get to Bocas Del Toro. Although you can trek to Bocas, walking through eight or more rivers and up down many mountains as the indigenous Gnobe people do.
If you enjoy hiking, nature, birding, you WILL enjoy your stay in Boquete. The elevation of Boquete is 3,200 feet. You can explore the surrounding mountains around the town that are up to nearly 11,000 feet. This is highest point in Panama and the rim of the extinct Volcano Baru, one of the only places in the world that both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can be seen. This landmark the nearby Volcán Barú, is a dormant volcano and, at 3,475 meters, the tallest point of land in Panama. Visitors and residents as well enjoy the challenge of hiking up and over the volcano, and along the Sendero de Los Quetzales, which runs from Boquete up to Cerro Punta and Volcan, they are towns located on the other side of the volcano.
Boquete is well known for its coffee, judged to be among the finest in the world. Boquete’s unique micro-climate provides ideal conditions for growing coffee and is host to a number of coffee estates growing some of the world’s finest gourmet coffee beans. A unique web of cold air currents through the mountains cause a flourishing of microclimates – subtly varied blends of temperature, moisture and sunlight – that suit the finicky coffee plants.The area’s oldest coffee mill dates to 1917.
Boquete is one of Panama's hidden gems. Even during the rainy season it is beautiful, though many expats living here choose to hightail it out and stay away until January. However, people like myself included stay, taking short trips to other countries or visiting places in Panama. It is the perfect time to explore many of Panama's other treasures.