Whenever I’ve got a craving for Panama, the first place that always pops into my mind is Boquete. As much as Panama is famous for its Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean beaches, the highland town of Boquete might well be the country’s best place to visit.
For adventurous travelers, there’s a whole metric ton of adrenaline-pumping things to do in Boquete, from zip-lining to white-water river rafting. For tamer travelers, there are plenty of opportunities, too, whether it’s sipping coffee at a plantation with cloud forest views or spotting birds on a leisurely hike.
Not sure how to get started planning your trip? Here’s a quick guide to some of my favorite things to do in Boquete…
What to see & do in Boquete
Visit a coffee plantation like Finca Milagrosa
One of the true pleasures of any Panama itinerary is to cuddle up with a cup of black gold. Although Panama is not as famous for its beans as its neighbors, Colombia or Costa Rica, Panamanian coffee is a worthwhile indulgence and an absolute must while traveling through the country.
As the most popular stop along Panama’s coffee-growing belt, Boquete is the perfect place to feed your coffee cravings. And there’s no better way to do it than to visit a local coffee plantation.
There are plenty of coffee tours to choose from around the Boquete region, but I’d highly recommend a visit to Finca La Milagrosa. What makes this plantation unique is its complete lack of modern equipment.
The plantation’s owner, Señor Tito, fashioned most of his equipment—from the sorters to the roasters—out of a variety of odds and ends, including old car parts. Getting to see his inventions in action is an eye-opener, to say the least.
At the end of the tour, you’ll have the chance to pick up a bag of Finca La Milagrosa’s special geisha coffee, consistently rated among the best in Panama.
Take them up on their offer to get some of the best whole-bean coffee you’ll ever taste at a fraction of the cost of importing it back home!
Zoom through the cloud forest at Boquete Tree Trek
Now, I’ll admit that I’m not normally one for extreme adventures. In general, I’m a grade-A chicken-shit with a debilitating fear of heights that keeps me off of ladders and anything higher than a couple of meters without a solid handrail to prop me up.
Even so, going on a zip-lining adventure through the Panamanian cloud forest is something I won’t soon forget and is absolutely one of the best things to do in Boquete. (And I didn’t even close my eyes for it).
Located a couple of kilometers above Boquete’s town center in the hilly district of Palo Alto, Boquete Tree Trek features 4.5 kilometers of zip-lines zooming between canopies high above the forest floor. Brave all of 12 runs to get to the motherlode, a final 500-meter-long zip-line hanging hundreds of meters above ground and delivering some of the most epic vistas you could ever imagine.
Zip-lining a little too crazy for you? Boquete Tree Trek also offers tamer (but still super entertaining!) activities like a Hanging Bridges Tour, Coffee Cupping Tour, and a Bird Watching Tour.
Tackle Boquete’s hiking trails
Among the best reasons to visit Boquete is a chance to plow down its hiking trails. There’s no shortage of great walks spread throughout the region. Stick around Boquete for more than a couple of days, and you’ll have a chance to check out a few.
Here are some of the top hiking trails around Boquete:
- White Rock Trail (Peña Blanca): Located in Bajo Mono, just a few kilometers north of town, this trail is among the easiest in Boquete. Be sure to bring along a pair of high-quality binoculars as the trail is the perfect option for less avid hikers to scope out some of the area’s most interesting birds and wildlife, including sloths and howler monkeys. The end of the trail will bring you to a small waterfall cascading over white rocks.
- La Artilleria (The Fortress Hike): A challenging hike in the Alto Jaramillo area that rockets through the cloud forest towards a distinctive volcanic rock formation. Hikers who tough it out to the end will be treated to splendid views of mighty Volcan Baru and the Pacific Ocean.
- Sendero El Pianista (The Piano Player): Although not one of the most well-known trails in the area, this hike is definitely worth the effort. The trailhead begins at the Il Pianista restaurant near Palo Alto, moving through about 45 minutes of easy-going walking before hitting more moderately challenging terrain. The last 30 minutes uphill are the hardest part of the trails. Hikers who stick it out will be rewarded with dramatic views from a summit buried deep in Boquete’s cloud forest.
- Sendero de los Quetzales: Often touted as one of the best hikes in Central America, this popular trail swings around the north side of Volcan Baru amidst the national park named after Panama’s famous stratovolcano. The trail is named after the Resplendent Quetzal, a spectacularly colored bird that’s native to the area. Complete the entire 9.6 kilometers between Boquete and Cerro Punta (about 4 to 7 hours depending on your level of fitness), and you might just catch one of these majestic birds in its element!
Power up Volcan Baru
If you’re searching for an epic outdoor challenge in Boquete, prepare yourself for Panama’s ultimate trek up Volcan Baru. This stratovolcano, soaring up over 3,475 meters, is the highest point in Panama.
Completing this hike is no laughing matter. It should only be considered by those who are fit, well-prepared, and accompanied by a guide.
From the ranger station, it’s a tough 13.5-kilometer uphill to the summit of Volcán Barú. Most Volcan Baru hiking tours complete the first 12 kilometers on day one, leaving the last 1.5 kilometers for the morning after a night of camping out under the stars.
Guides will time your final ascent of Volcán Barú to the morning sunrise. Once atop the summit, you’ll not only catch perhaps the most spectacular sunrises of your life but, on a clear day, also have a chance to spot both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from the same viewpoint.
This is the only spot in the entire world where this is possible!
Where to stay
Thanks to Boquete’s small size and excellent selection of accommodations, you’ll never have much trouble finding a great hotel here. Shunning my usual preferences of central location, I’d recommend searching outside the town center to find the best places to stay in Boquete. Those mountain views are just too amazing to pass up!
- The Inn at Palo Alto: An incredible hotel in the lofty Palo Alto area of Boquete offering spectacular mountain & river views. The service & guest experience here is off the charts.
- Boquete Garden Inn: Another lovely hotel in Palo Alto, situated within a blissful tropical garden among jaw-dropping mountain vistas.
- Casa de Montaña Bed & Breakfast: A 5-star bed & breakfast offering fully-equipped studios. Chill out on your patio or terrace to the tremendous views of the cloud forest and surrounding mountains.
Final recommendations
- Looking for the ultimate adventure? Don’t miss out on zip-lining at Boquete Tree Trek in the cloud forest above the Palo Alto area of Boquete.
- Searching for a challenging active holiday? Strap on your best hiking boots and undertake the difficult trek up Volcan Baru, Panama’s highest point, for some of the best views in Central America.
- Need a pick-me-up? Don’t leave Boquete without visiting one of the area’s famous coffee plantations. The unique Finca La Milagrosa is a great choice for a more traditional coffee experience and some of the best Geisha coffee in Panama.
