Beautiful Boquete

What an interesting place this is - so completely different from the beach side experience of Bocas del Toro. With an elevation of 1200 m above sea level, it is noticeably cooler than the coast but still T-shirt comfortable. The town lies between volcanic mountain ridges that ascend quickly to heights above 2000 meters. Volcano Baru is the highest point at 3500 meters and you can hike to the summit and back from here in a very long day. Maybe next time😜.
These heights to the north of Boquete have been covered in cloud since I arrived here 4 days ago. Winds, clouds and a very fine rain frequently (especially in the afternoon) descend to the town but not for long. The evenings are borderline jacket temperatures .
The cultural mix here is fascinating. The indigenous locals compose the majority on the streets but many travelers from around the world are obvious too, based on the plethora of hostels and Bed and Breakfasts on the side streets. In the last couple of decades a largely American expat community has grown up in the region too, totalling about 20,000.
Many or the indigenous women wear brightly coloured full length dresses with elaborate embroidery .
There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants here catering primarily to all those foreigners.
I spent the last two days hiking two of the numerous mountain trails within easy access of central Boquete. On the first day I was lucky enough to see a male quetzal. It’s an endangered bird known for its brilliant colouring and long blue tail feathers.
Coffee plantations dot the mountainsides, bamboo and eucalyptus trees are common and flowering trees are plentiful in and around the town.Read more