Activities in Chiriquí Province
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Habla Ya Language Center
The reader-recommended Habla Ya Language Center offers both group and private lessons. Five hours of group/private lessons starts at around US$50/around US$75, though significant discounts are given for lengthier programs - 25 hours of group/private lessons is only around US$200/around US$300. The language school is also well-connected to local businesses, so students can take advantage of discounts on everything from accommodations to tours.
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Boquete Mountain Cruisers
This expat-owned outfit offers two daily tours through some scenic back-country roads in its open-air trucks. The first leaves at 08:30 and makes a number of stops in and around Boquete - highlights include coffee, basalt formations and waterfalls. The second tour departs at 14:00 and heads straight for the Caldera hot springs. Both tours last four hours. There is no booking office, so call for reservations; trips include pickup at your hotel.
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A
Boquete Tree Trek
Although canopy tours are about as prevalent as rice and beans in Costa Rica, they're still quite new to the Panama tourist scene. For the uninitiated, a canopy tour consists of a series of platforms anchored into the forest canopy that are connected by zip lines. Although they were originally used by biologists to study the rainforest canopy, today they function primarily as a way for gringos to get their eco-kicks.
If you're game to strap yourself into a harness and zip along the tree line, the Boquete Tree Trek is located in secondary forest, and consists of 14 platforms, 13 zip lines, a rappel and a Tarzan-swing. Although the company stresses fun instead of ecology,…
reviewed
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B
Exploration Panama
This outfit offers a wide variety of excursions in and around the Golfo de Chiriquí. Aboard a 50ft vessel, which is a former US Coast Guard Search & Rescue ship, you can take a 'jungle cruise', exploring the mangroves, small rivers and coastal forests south of David.
Ron Mager, the owner-captain of Exploration Panama, also offers sea-kayaking trips (led by personnel from Chiriquí River Rafting), fishing trips, and scuba-diving trips. He's a very safe and reliable captain - he has his US Coast Guard license and is a former Green Beret. His ship can accommodate up to six passengers on overnight trips, which allow for excursions into some gorgeous unexplored waters.
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Río Chiriquí
Those who seek a bit of adventure shouldn't miss the excellent white-water rafting within a two-hour drive of Boquete. The Río Chiriquí flows from the fertile hills of Volcán Barú, and is flanked by forest for much of its lengths. At some places, waterfalls can be seen at the edges of the river, and the river passes through narrow canyons with awesome, sheer rock walls.
The Río Chiriquí Viejo is most often run from May to December, the Río Chiriquí the rest of the year; the rides tend to last four and five hours, respectively. Depending on the skill level of your party, you can tackle thrilling class 3 and class 4 rapids or some seriously scary class 5 rapids.
reviewed
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Spanish by the River
Spanish by the River is the sister school to the popular Spanish school in Bocas del Toro. Rates for group/private lessons are around US$70/around US$130 for two hours a day five days a week, though cheaper rates are available for more comprehensive packages and longer stays. The school also offers a popular traveler's survival Spanish course (around US$40) that includes six hours of instruction.
Homestays can be arranged (around US$12 per night with breakfast) or you can rent one of their simple dorms (around US$8 per night) or private rooms (US$12 per night). The school is located 5km south of town near the turnoff to Palmira.
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Sendero El Pianista
A pleasant day hike is along the Sendero El Pianista, which winds through dairy land and into humid cloud forest. To access the trail head, take the first right fork out of Boquete (heading north) and cross over two bridges. Immediately before the 3rd bridge, about 4km out of town, a track leads off to the left between a couple of buildings. You need to wade across a small river after 200m, but then it's a steady, leisurely incline for 2km before you start to climb a steeper, narrow path.
The path winds deep into the forest, though you can turn back at any time.
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C
Café Ruíz Coffee Plantation
Located on the main road about 600m north of the town center, Panama's most famous coffee-grower offers a tour that includes transportation to a nearby coffee plantation, a presentation on the history of coffee in Boquete, a tour of a roasting facility and the obligatory tasting session. Tours depart at 09:00 daily except Sundays and holidays, but you have to make advance reservations.
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Kotowa Coffee Estate
This gourmet grower offers the most comprehensive coffee-estate tour in the area. It features a description of the estate's history (beginning with a Canadian's arrival in 1918), a full tour of the production facilities and processing mill, and again, the obligatory tasting session. The estate requests 24 hours' notice prior to your visit.
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D
Panama Rafters
Panama Rafters is one of the country's two best white-water rafting outfits. The other is Chiriquí River Rafting. Both companies staff bilingual employees, so can get all the information you need in either English or Spanish. All-day trips are offered for around US$75 to around US$100, depending on the run and the size of the party.
reviewed
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E
Chiriquí River Rafting
Chiriquí River Rafting is one of the country's two best white-water rafting outfits. It staffs bilingual employees, so can get all the information you need in either English or Spanish. All-day trips are offered for around US$75 to around US$100, depending on the run and the size of the party.
reviewed
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Sendero Los Quetzales
You can access the Sendero Los Quetzales from Boquete, though the trail is uphill from here - you'll have an easier time if you start hiking from Cerro Punta.
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F
Café Ruíz Coffee Plantation
Located on the main road about 600m north of the town center, Panama's most famous coffee-grower offers a tour that includes transportation to a nearby coffee plantation, a presentation on the history of coffee in Boquete, a tour of a roasting facility and the obligatory tasting session. Tours depart at 09:00 daily except Sundays and holidays, but you have to make advance reservations.
reviewed
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G
Volcán Barú
Although saunterers will be content with picturesque strolls along the river, the more ambitious can climb Volcán Barú, Panama's highest point (3478m) and only volcano. There are several entrances to the park, but the trail with easiest access to the summit starts near Boquete.
reviewed