Page 189 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

The Chiriquí highlands Chiriquí and Veraguas 187
geTTing arOund 5
On foot or by taxi Getting around the centre of Boquete surrounding hillside hamlets such as Volcancito and Alto
is easy on foot, while a $2–3 taxi ride will get you to most Quiel. Most drive a loop; no journey will cost more than
places on the fringes of town. $2.50 (Mon–Sat 6.30/7am–5/6pm; every 15–40min,
By minibus Local minibuses from outside Supercentro depending on demand; less frequent on Sun).
Bruña, close to the Parque Central, head up to the
aCTiViTies and TOurs
You will need a guide for some of the hikes; inevitably, however, in a tourist-boom area everyone wants a piece of the
cake, and some “guides” and operators lack the skills and equipment (first-aid kits for mountain guides, for example) for
the job. If in doubt, seek advice from your accommodation.
GENERAL TOUR OPERATORS where coffee is cultivated in accordance with the lunar
Oasis Adventures C 1 Sur, between Av “A” Oeste and Av calendar. The US owners practise Direct Trade. Hotel
Central T720 3361, T6920 6554, Wfacebook.com transfer included.
/OasisAdventuresBoquete. For a less touristy, more local Finca Lérida Alto Quiel T720 2285, Wfincalerida
experience (in Spanish) visit this family-run farm in the .com. Spectacular setting for a comprehensive estate tour
folds of Volcán Barú. Experience a 2–3hr farm tour and a (most days 9.30am & 1.30pm; 2hr; $45), which includes
guided walk in the surrounding hills for $35 or camp watching the action in the original 1922 processing plant.
overnight – in your own tent ($20/person) or in one of Take the Alto Quiel bus from Boquete or a taxi ($7–8) –
theirs (mattress but no bedding; $50/person, including the transfers are not included.
tour). Transfer from Boquete included in all rates.
Panama Pathfinders Av Central at C 5 “A” Sur T6442 HIKING, RIDING AND BIRDWATCHING
6321, Wpanamapathfinders.com. Owned and operated Feliciano González T6624 9940, Efeliciano
by Chiricano Patricio Ortíz, who combines environmental gonzalez255@hotmail.com. Feliciano has taken people
training with local knowledge and social commentary to up and down Volcán Barú so often over the last twenty
enhance the usual tours: Caldera hot springs ($35); Volcán years he almost lives up there. Enthusiastic, popular and
Barú or quetzal trail hikes; day-trips to the Golfo de Chiriquí with constantly improving English and a little French, he
islands ($75). charges modest rates ($25–60 for two). He also offers a
four-day trip over the cordillera and down to the coast in
COFFEE TOURS Bocas, camping and staying in indigenous villages.
Coffee tours, offered in English or Spanish, range from Jason Lara T6718 6279, Wjasonlaratours.com.
45min introductions to 3hr interactive marathons, Trained English teacher turned renowned birding guide,
involving a lesson on how to hone your cupping (tasting) Jason Lara is the person to take you birdwatching (with his
skills and a tour of the estate and roasting facilities. telescope) for a morning ($60/person for two to four
Remember not to wear scent, repellent or any strong- people).
smelling lotion. Apart from the short tour in Café Ruiz, for Franklin Rovetto T6588 5054. Two-hour horseback
which you can simply roll up, tours need to be prebooked. excursions across the open countryside in the foothills of
Café Ruiz Av Central, 500m north of town T730 9575 the cordillera round Caldera ($35, including Boquete
or T6672 3786, Wcaferuiz–boquete.com. Panama’s transfer; English spoken). It’s cheaper to deal directly with
largest producer of gourmet coffee offers a nuts-and-bolts Franklin than through the tour operators.
tour of its roasting facility (Mon–Fri 7.15am; 45min; $9)
led by multilingual Ngäbe or Buglé cuppers. You’ll learn CANOPY TOURS
about the production process from plucking to packaging, Boquete Tree Trek Office in Plaza Los Establos, zip line
how to distinguish the different varieties and how to judge in Palo Alto T720 1635, Wboquetetreetrek.com. Soar
quality. All tours end at their coffee shop (Mon–Sat across the valleys along an impressive 3km zip-line tour
7am–6pm, Sun 10am–6pm). Longer outings focus on the high above Boquete (1600m) in a series of adrenaline
tasting process (Mon–Fri 7.15am; 90min; $15–20, surges that scarcely give you time to admire the
depending on numbers), while the full works (Mon–Sat breathtaking scenery ($65). Alternatively, take a guided
9am & 1.30pm; 3hr; $30) includes a visit to the plantation. walk through the canopy along eight swing bridges ($30),
The two longer tours include hotel transfer from Boquete. or combine both activities for $80. After a 90min thrill you
Finca Dos Jefes El Salto T6677 7748, Wfincadosjefes can chill at their pleasant terrace café-cum-bar-restaurant
.com. Enjoyable hands-on tour (9am & 2pm; 3hr; $30) – – you can even stay overnight in spacious cabins. Transport
including a roasting session – of a small organic farm included (departures daily 8am, 10.30am & 1pm).

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