The beautiful town of Boquete is surrounded by steep, lush mountains to the north, east and west, where lies Baru Volcano, Panama's highest peak at 3,475 meters (11,400 feet). From the rim of the extinct Volcano Baru, one can see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Rio Caldera winds through the center of town. So far north in the Chiriqui Province, Boquete lies only 7 km (3.3 miles) from the Bocas del Toro Province to the north. While small compared to David, Boquete is the most populated and developed highlands community, with a very stable population; an ever increasing percentage of those are now foreigners, many of whom operate businesses geared for the tourism sector. Complete with a wide variety of hotels and restaurants, Boquete can satisfy both backpackers and more demanding travelers alike. For a view of Bajo Boquete as you enter town from the South click here.
Boquete is famous for several reasons: it's beauty is breathtaking; the coffee grown here is considered as fine as any in the world; and its proximity to sightseeing and recreational activities is second to none. From here you can find bird watching, hiking, fishing, golf, river rafting, horseback riding, snorkeling, diving and much more. You have to come to Boquete to really appreciate how special this place is.
Boquete is quickly becoming a world famous retirement destination for all of the reasons listed above and more. As an example, the May/June 2004 issue of Modern Maturity magazine (the AARP magazine with the largest circulation of any consumer magazine in the world, upwards of 20 million subscribers) rated Boquete, Panama the fourth best retirement destination in the world. International Living rated Panama even higher on their list as No.1. Additionally, the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and MSN Money are talking about Boquete.