Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands holidays
Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands holidays at a glance
The Chiriquí Highlands offer a different side of Panama from the country’s beaches and tropical lowlands.
Inland from the sultry coastal city of David, these highlands sit at around 1,200m above sea level – tierras templadas, or “temperate lands” – where cool mountain air, mist-shrouded hills, Alpine-feeling forests and boulder-strewn rivers combine to create scenery that feels almost like a different country entirely.
Fertile volcanic soils produce an abundance of coffee and citrus fruit, and it’s this coffee culture, alongside the scenery, that draws most visitors here.
At the heart of the region lies Boquete Panama’s best-known highland town, a welcoming base for outdoor adventures with Volcán Barú looming above it and the Río Caldera running through a steep gorge below.
Nearby, La Amistad National Park straddles the border with Costa Rica, offering hiking trails, bathing pools and waterfalls for anyone keen to extend beyond Boquete’s immediate surroundings.
This combination of natural beauty and rural culture creates an atmosphere that feels worlds away from both Panama City and the country’s coastal regions.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The Chiriquí Highlands, where mountain scenery, coffee plantations and warm hospitality create a relaxing experience.
When to visit Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
The Chiriquí Highlands are known for their comfortable climate and are a popular destination throughout much of the year, with temperatures staying high but the altitude keeping the air noticeably fresher than on the coast.
January to March is the driest stretch, and also when Boquete hosts its Feria de las Flores y del Café – a two-week flower and coffee festival held during the harvest that draws visitors well beyond the region.
April to November brings the rainy season, though the highlands’ cooler mountain climate still makes them appealing throughout the year and offers a genuine contrast to the hotter coastal regions.
To experience refreshingly cool climes, head to the highland hills. Average temperatures hover around 21°C and rainfall is at its lowest. Nighttime temperatures can dip dramatically so be sure to bring some warmer clothes. The Feria de las Flores y Café begins in the second week of January in Boquete, with a fortnight of colourful festivities celebrating the harvest of local coffee and flowers.
Temperatures rise slightly during these months (nights are warmer) and rainfall increases significantly. This is a great time to visit on a journey between the capital and beaches of the Caribbean.
Top Things to do in Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands combine beautiful scenery, agricultural traditions and a relaxed atmosphere. From coffee farms to scenic countryside, the region offers a rewarding contrast to Panama’s cities and coastlines.
Get a bird’s eye view of the cloud forest and canyons of Panama’s volcanic interior from the vantage point of a canopy zipline or series of spectacular.hanging bridges.
Discover the secrets that go into producing some of Panama’s finest coffee on a jeep safari around a rural coffee plantation.
Accommodation in Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
Accommodation in the region focuses on comfortable properties that take full advantage of the area’s scenery and pleasant climate, from mountain resorts and riverside inns right through to working coffee farms with rooms attached, where you can walk straight from your bed into the plantation. Many visitors choose the Chiriquí Highlands as a place to unwind while enjoying easy access to nature and local culture.
A rustic mountain lodge offering a good range of outdoor activities.
Stylish Boquete country hotel with luxurious rooms and contemporary décor, including huge windows to emphasise the glorious views.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
Group Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Alción: Central America Discovery
Places visited: Panama City · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Caribbean coast · Monteverde and the cloud forest · Ometepe Island · Granada · Leon · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Suchitoto · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
22 days from £4,174
Tailor-Made Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Costa Rica and Panama Coast: Pacific route
Places visited: San Jose, central highlands and central valleys · Osa Peninsula · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Pacific Coast of Panama · Panama City
14 days from £3,800
Signature Panama: Canal, wildlife and beach
Places visited: Panama City · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Bocas del Toro Islands
12 days from £3,200
FAQs about visiting Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When To Go
Temperatures in the highlands (1,000m) are uniformly high at 25°C all year round but at altitude the air is much fresher than on the coast. The rainy season is Apr-Nov while Jan-Mar is fairly dry. The region lies outside the main hurricane belt.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- Language
Spanish.
- Getting Local Currency
Balboa. The national currency is at parity with the US dollar, and only US banknotes are used. (There are some local coins equivalent to US cents). There are ATMs in main towns and cities (including one in Boquete) where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK and amounts may be limited. You are best advised to acquire dollar bills before travelling to the province. Panamanians are sometimes reluctant to accept US dollar notes of higher denominations.
- Time Difference
GMT -5 hrs.
- Combines With
A beach wind-down on the Caribbean Bocas del Toro archipelago, with 6 large tropical forested islands and scores of smaller ones. The islands have pristine beaches, coral reefs, and excellent snorkelling and diving.
- Getting There
It’s a 1 hour flight from Panama City to David, from where it is a 1 hour drive up to Boquete (38 km) on a paved road.
- Key Events
Feria de las Flores y del Café: Boquete, Jan. A festival to celebrate flowers and coffee takes place over a two week period starting the second week of the month, during the coffee harvest. It attracts vendors and visitors from well beyond the region.
Independence from Spain Day, Boquete, 28 Nov. A day-long parade of marching bands from all over the country.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.