Coolest Town in Panama

I'm a hairy Canadian, a combination which means i don't do well with heat. Travelling around Central America in the July and August with all it's heat and humidity tends to be... well... hot and humid. Both horrible words in my lexis. But every once and a while there are places that offer a reprieve from the tropical purgatory.

In the hills of Panama there is such a getaway. The hilltop town of Boquete. Tucked away in the lush highlands, Boquete was always known
by Panamanians as a place of cooler temperatures (it's 1,200 m above sea level). The air seems cleaner, the trees appear greener and the coffee tastes crisper. Surrounded by hills, rivers, volcanoes and hot springs though. This place wasn't gong to remain undiscovered for long. An initial trickle of building turned into an all out flood of foreign retirees snatching up plots of land and developing micro-communities through the hills. Differing from most traveller destinations in Central America, Boquete has replaced tour agencies with real estate agencies. Yet some how the village hasn't lost it's charm.

For me, one of the best parts of the town were the local Guaymi people.

The central part of Central America lacks a connection with the pre-columbian days. Boquete was the first place in ages where traditional dress of an indigenous population mixed with the blue jeans and t-shirts of the "invaders". Although not the most overtly hospitable nor congenial, it was just a refreshing change from the last few countries. There are tours to join, run out of town, to head up to nearby villages for a better look into the local life. On top of village tours, there are an increasing number of activities to take part in to pass the time in Boquete. Coffee tours are a big one. White water rafting, canopy tours, bird watching, boat and jeep tours are all up for offer to amusing the ever increasing number of tourists and expats. Alas, during the evening Boquete grinds to a halt with most of the town closing down before the sun even has a chance to set.

Buses run about every half hour from the regional capital of David. The trip takes about an hour and cost $1.40. There are a plethora of hostels and simple hotels to choose from, some privates for as little as $5 (and there're clean). Plus a few restaurants to fill the belly.

Boquete will never be known as a party place. And the variety of activities is still in it's infancy. But the climate alone is reason for a visit. I would never spend more than a couple nights there, but it is one of the better places in Panama.