Boquete, situated 25 miles east of David, is Panama’s small & cozy mountain town. Travelers often stay in Boquete to experience many of Panama’s lush green beauty including hidden waterfalls, Volcan Baru, and the surrounding Chiriquí Highlands!
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If you have more than a week in the country and you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Panama City, Boquete is the perfect addition to any Panama itinerary. It’s especially perfect for nature lovers and people who want a few laid-back days to hike waterfall trails and enjoy the fresh air.
Things to do in Boquete
1) The Lost Waterfalls Trail
The Lost Waterfalls trail is arguably one of the best things to do in Boquete! This 2.1-mile hike is on privately owned property just north of Boquete in Los Narnajos. Follow the path to find 3 “lost” waterfalls deep in the Panamanian jungle. On a sunny day, this trail makes for such a pleasant experience. The surrounding mountains and greenery are truly incredible, and seeing three different waterfalls on a two-mile hike is the cherry on top.
You will want to bring lots of water and some snacks if you plan to hang out at the waterfalls for a while, as it’s a 2 or 3-hour experience and about a 30-minute drive outside of Boquete.
To get there:
You can take a cab straight to the trail entrance (just tell the driver to take you to the lost waterfalls). This will cost $10-$12 one way.
You can also take a collectivo (minivan) from the town center. Hop in one that is going towards Los Narnajos and let the driver know where you plan on going. They are all super friendly towards tourists and will help you find your way. This should cost $2.50 per person one way.
Alternatively, if you rent a car, simply drive to the trail entrance. We saw cars parked alongside the road so we assume this is where tourists can leave their vehicles.
Our detailed guide to this location is coming soon!
Hours & Entry Fees
The ticket office opens at 9 am and closes at 3 pm. Be there by 2:30 to ensure your entry!
2) Boquete Mirador/Lookout Point
The Boquete Mirador is a scenic mountainside spot overlooking the main town. If you have some free time, enjoy the mild 30-minute long hike up to the Mirador. There are also some coffee shops and restaurants nearby where you can enjoy the view while sipping some famous Panamanian coffee.
Check out our guide to Panama City!
3) Hike the Hanging Bridges
If you can’t tell already, Boquete is full of some pretty awesome hiking trails. Some are known for waterfalls or certain wildlife spottings, but this one is all about crossing hanging bridges over the jungle.
The only way to see the hanging bridges is by signing up for a guided tour with Boquete Tree Trek, a stunning property high in the mountains. A mildly challenging 4.5km guided hike will lead you through the dense rainforest and across 6 bridges.
We had a great time with our guide who was able to point out quite a bit of plants and animals along the trail. A must-do in Boquete!
4) Volcan Baru
For the more adventurous traveler, hiking the Baru Volcano is a thrilling experience. This volcano is the highest peak in Panama at 11,398 ft tall, and Boquete is the perfect base for exploring it.
Most travelers sign up for a guided sunrise tour like this one where you ride the entire way up in a 4×4 and enjoy a breakfast picnic on top of the volcano after watching an exquisite sunrise.
If you prefer to take the challenge and hike up the volcano, consider hiring a guide for the journey as it is not for the faint of heart.
5) Walk the town
The town itself is a small & cozy place that is quite a bit more touristy than other places in Panama. There are a ton of ex-pats from the U.S. and other countries which makes Boquete feel Westernized and very friendly towards travelers.
You could easily explore Boquete on foot within an hour. We really enjoyed walking everywhere in town and stopping in the shops. You will find everything from cafes to boutiques to ice cream shops while strolling through.
On our first day, we took a cab to Boquete Bees and Butterflies and decided to walk the 30 minutes back. It’s a really pleasant walk that starts outside of the main town- the green scenery is stunning!
6) Coffee & Chocolate Tasting
Central & South America is known for amazing coffee and chocolate due to the perfect growing conditions found in the region. Panama is surely no exception and tasting some of their local coffee and chocolate is a must while visiting.
We stopped by The Perfect Pair while in town- a great place for both chocolate and coffee. Besides being a coffee and sweets shop, they also have tours and observation classes where you can watch and learn how their products are made.
7) Pipeline Trail
The Pipeline Trail is another stunning hike near the Lost Waterfalls Trail just outside of Boquete. It’s a well-marked 3.8-mile out-and-back trail that leads you through the incredibly dense jungle, dead-ending at a small but very tall waterfall.
There are so many opportunities to see wildlife as you cross some unsure bridges, creeks, and fallen trees. There is even a huge 1000-year-old tree along the way.
The trail is super beginner-friendly with mostly flat terrain and some mild slopes/climbing. It takes the average person 2 hours, but if you are stopping a lot of photos it will take longer.
To get here, simply take a cab to Pipeline Trail- most drivers know the exact location. We saved money and took the collectivo bus ($2.50 per person). Hop on one going towards Los Narnajos and tell the driver you plan to get off at the Pipeline trail. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Boquete.
Our full detailed guide on this location is coming soon!
Hours & Entry Fees
This trail is on private property and is open from 8 am – 3 pm. There is a small structure near the entry gate where someone will be waiting to welcome you.
When is the best time to visit Boquete?
Panama has 9 months of rainy season where you can expect some rain almost every day during the months of April to December. It usually will not rain very hard or for extended periods of time and sunshine is very present even during the rainy season. With that being said, the weather is always more unpredictable than not so keep this in mind. We visited for 2 weeks in July and saw about 10 completely sunny days with no rain.
Visiting in the dry season (January to April) may be a better choice for more predictable weather, however, you will definitely see more crowds and higher prices for flights and accommodation.
Boquete is located at a higher elevation than other destinations in Panama, making the weather a bit more mild. While the sun was still very strong mid-day (12pm – 3pm), Boqute does cool off rather quickly in the early evening. You can expect daily temperatures between 60 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to get to Boquete & how to get around
The easiest way to get to Boquete is to fly into David, Panama. Boquete is only a 45-minute drive from David and travelers can either 1) Rent a car and drive themselves, 2) Take a taxi from the airport, or 3) take the bus. We took the bus and it was super easy and affordable ($2 per person)!
Our full guide on traveling to Boquete from Panama City or Bocas Town is coming soon!
Getting around in Boquete is quite simple. A car rental is really not necessary and we saved big time by deciding not to rent a car for our entire 2 weeks in Panama. Uber is not available in Boquete, but there are tons of Taxis everywhere. A ride should only cost $2 or $3 in town. Most accommodations are conveniently located within walking distance of all the restaurants and shops. We walked a lot here and we loved it.
If you need to go further outside of town, taking a taxi or the public transportation “collectivos” or mini vans is super easy. The collectivos are located near the central park and they will say which direction they are heading to on the front.
Check out our guide to Panama City!
How expensive is Boquete?
Panama in general is considerably more expensive than other destinations in Central America. However, it is still more affordable than most places in the United States and many places in Europe. I did find Boquete to be slightly more affordable than Panama City.
Where to stay in Boquete
Boquete has a few boutique hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs. You will not find any big-name hotels in Boquete as the town is too small. We chose to stay in an Airbnb which was pretty affordable ($65/night)!
Budget: Selina Hostel, Agartha Hostel
Mid: Bambuda Castle, Airbnb River Front Home
Luxury: Finca Panda Airbnb,
Places to eat in Boquete
Boquete had some really great restaurants with all different types of cuisine. Some of our favorites were:
– Olga’s 5/5 Delicious breakfast with the sweetest owner
– Big Daddy’s Grill 4/5 Tons of options for food, cool atmosphere (lots of cats)
– RetroGusto Italian 4/5 Cozy Italian restaurant. Great food! Higher end.
– Boquete Sandwich shop 4/5 Big portions for breakfast and lunch
– Butcher Chophouse 5/5 Amazing steakhouse, super affordable for steaks
Comment your Boquete tips and experiences below! 🙂
Thank you for the info.