Chiriqui Province-Highland Perfection and More in West Panama

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The extraordinary Chiriqui Province in West Panama on the border of Costa Rica, offers a wide variety of attractions including highland and beach destinations, Indian cultures, idyllic retirement communities, world class rafting, kayaking, birding and hiking.

HOW TO GET THERE: By air, car or bus. You can fly Air Panama and Aeroperlas from Albrook Airport to the nearby city of David. Airfares are around $100 round trip. David is also an easy 7 hour car trip from Panama City or you can take a bus ($15 one way) from the Albrook Bus Terminal.

David- The Capital City of Chiriqui Province

David is the perfect place to overnight on your way to Panama City or other Chiriqui destinations. Conveniently located on the Panamerican Highway, it is 45 minutes from the border with Costa Rica and 6.5 hours from Panama City.

David Attractions: A great place to shop, David has an American Price Costco, American style supermarkets that stock with just about everything you would find in a supermarket stateside and a brand new shopping mall. It also hosts an international flower fair every March. The David Airport serves Panama City and the surrounding areas.

Where to Stay in David

Gran Hotel National- David’s most popular hotel, the Gran Nacional has everything the tourist and business traveler could want- excellent accommodations, excellent food in its three Restaurants, 6 on-premise movie theaters, a 24 hour casino and attention from a well-trained staff. Located a few minutes from the airport and the Panamerican Highway.

Car Rental
You can rent a car in David from National Car rental and turn it in in Panama City and vice versa.
National Car Rental

Highlands and Mountains
West Panama’s most famous attractions are its highlands and mountains including two highland national parks- La Amistad International Park a 407,000 hectare cloud forest park which is half in Panama and half in Costa Rica and the 14,000 hectare Volcan Baru National Park. The Chiriqui highlands are famous for their near perfect climate, quaint villages, friendly folk, flower fairs, orchid farms, extraordinary birding, hiking and the panoramic mountain views.


Mountain and Highlands Highlights

Boquete
Boquete, a flower-filled mountain valley at the foot of the 10,500 ft. extinct volcano Volcan Baru, boosts a near perfect climate, panoramic mountain views ,coffee farms, waterfalls, great hiking and a picturesque small town ambience. It is also one of the few places on the planet where you can view the Resplendent Quetzal- the rare and considered most beautiful bird in the Americas, with regularity. Boquete was selected by Modern Maturity of the American Association of Retired Persons as the top place in the Western Hemisphere for retirement or a second home and one of the top four places in the world. Just 40 minutes by car from the provincial capital city of David and 7 hours by car from Panama City.

Attractions: A lovely valley with beautiful surrounding mountains, panoramic views, mountain retreats, great hiking trails in a varied terrain,world-class birding, a picturesque, friendly village, gourmet coffee farms, retirement home opportunities and a flower and orchid fairs.

Where to Stay in Boquete:

In the Village:  You have two fine choices o venues- a hotel in or near the village or on the mountainside overlooking Boquete. Valle Escondido Resort, the Panamonte Inn and Spa, Boquete Garden Inn, Rio Alto Suites and Isla Verde are in or near the village. The Finca Lerida Eco-lodge, Coffee Estate Inn, Villa Marita are on the mountain side. See our Panamainfo listing for complete info.

Other Highland Destinations: Bambito,Nueva Suiza,Guadalupe, Volcan and Cerro Punta-Villages in the Cloud Forests of Amistad International Park

Nestled up in a cloud forest of La Amistad National Park are a series of pretty mountain villages- Bambito, Nueva Suiza,Guadalupe, Volcan and Cerro Punta. Attractions include cloud forest hiking, birding (the Resplendent Quetzal is seen regularly), horseback riding, strawberry farms, canoeing & birdwatching on the Lagunas de Volcan, Panama's highest marsh ecosystem, a visit to Finca Dracula orchid botanical garden- a must with over 1200 species of orchids, pure-breed horse ranches, rainbow trout fishing, export quality commercial flower farms and Pre-Columbian petroglyphs at Sitio Barriles.

Where to Stay:
Los Quetzales in Guadalupe - Los Quetzales has two attractive lodging choices- a pretty European-style lodge including a comfy lobby with a center fireplace and full length mountain view windows and an on-premise restaurant or individual cabins within the cloud forest-all in Amistad National Park.

Bambito Hotel Bambito Hotel- Panama's only mountain resort- a four star hotel nestled at the foot of Volcan Baru featuring a swimming pool, scenic lounge, sauna, hot tub,conference facilities, tennis courts, mountain bike rentals and horseback riding and other tours.

Chiriqui is for Rafting and Kayaking
Chiriqui Province is famous as a prime location for both rafting and river kayaking. You can choose an easy family rafting day trip or a variety of more advanced river runs. Even experienced rafters rave about Class 5 Chiriqui rafting opportunties. Chiriqui River Rafting is the rafting outfit to go with, Panama’s original with a more than 20 year perfect safety record.
Chiriqui River Rafting

Chiriqui Province Retirement/ Vacation Communities
Valle Escondido-In a picturesque valley adjacent to the highland village of Boquete- a premiere residential and resort community on a former coffee farm offering a challenging golf course, villas for sale and rent overlookng the course and river, horseback riding trails, amphitheater etc. A must-see if you are interested in retirement living or real estate investment in Panama.

Cielo Paraiso Golf and Resort Community: On a plateau with spectacular 360 degree views of mountains and ocean, an exclusive resort community of estate residences with a golf course designed by Michael Poellot opening in 2007.
Las Olas- Reasonably priced beach front lots on twenty miles of privately owned beach on the Pacific Coast, 20 minutes from David and adjacent to Las Olas Resort.

Beach Resorts

Gone Fishing Panama Resort: Located in Boca Chica, in the province of Chiriqui on the Pacific Ocean, just 1 ¼ hours from David. A small, secluded upscale beach resort with beautiful ocean views, gourmet meals and plenty of activities-sportfishing, diving, snorkeling etc.
Las Olas Resort An elegant all-inclusive beach resort located on a pristine stretch of privately owned beach just 20 minutes from David. The resort offers world-class sports fishing trips and local tours to a sea turtle sanctuary, rum factory, mangrove forests and the Chiriqui Highlands.
Seagullcove Lodge A personable, elegant, European style resort with beautifully appointed ocean-front bungalos and full amenities. Resort includes on-premise first-class gourmet Italian restaurant, and is located in Boca Chica, surrounded by lush jungle and the waters of the Chiriqui Gulf.
Boutique Hotel Cala Mia This gorgeous, brand new ecolodge is located in Boca Chica on the Chiriqui gulf. Stylish bungalos offer stunning views of nature all-around. Includes infinity pool, spa, and an excellent on-premise restaurant.