If you're looking for a place to enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with rural life, there is nothing better than agrotourism in Tierras Altas, in the Province of Chiriqui. Visit the open-door haciendas to learn about country life, where and how the food that reaches our table is grown. Walk through fields, gardens, and stables. Spend time with farm animals and thoroughbred horses, harvest your own crops and taste the produce of our lands. Here are some of the places that can give you an insight into Panamanian country life.
1. Cerro Punta S.A.
- Location: Cerro Punta
- How to get there: 6 minutes from Plaza Volcan on calle 10a Este.
Head to Cerro Punta S. A. for an interesting tour of hydroponic seeds. Take a guided tour of the greenhouse of one of Panamá's great producers, among strawberries, tomatoes, seedless cucumbers, peppers and much more. In addition, on your tour you'll be able to take a walk through fields of domestic flowers–an experience full of color.
You can visit Cerro Punta at any time of the year, as they are in constant production. Just keep in mind that, depending on the month you go, you'll see the fruit growing or harvesting. Discover during your tour what the day-to-day life of a mass-production farm is like, participate in the harvest and take home a delicious souvenir.
The route is 45 minutes long and you can do it every day of the week, except holidays. The visit to Cerro Punta, including your harvest box, has an approximate cost of $10.
2. Casa Grande de Bambito
- Location: Bambito
- How to get there: 10 minutes from Plaza Volcan on Highway 418.
This farm, specialized in agrotourism, is located within the grounds of the Hotel Casa Grande Bambito. Don't worry if you're not staying at the hotel; by paying a special rate you can take part in all its activities.
The hotel has a farm where you can feed chickens, pigs and lambs in front of the best views of Volcan Baru. A super cool experience for the whole family. Enjoy the outdoors on horseback and rent a boat to enjoy the lake or feed the trout.
In addition, for the more adventurous, Casa Bambito has a 590-foot zipline you can slide down to see the forest from a unique angle. And to top off the evening, you can engage a dazzling bonfire under the moon.
Don't leave Bambito without stopping at Alina, a delicious artisan ice cream and candy store. After a day of adventure, treat yourself to their famous strawberries and cream and take home one of their gourmet jams as a souvenir.
These experiences cost approximately $5 to $40.
3. Finca Guardia
- Location: Cerro Macho, Volcan
- How to get there: 5 minutes from Plaza Volcan on route 13.
Although it is known as a coffee farm, Finca Guardia has been dedicated to the breeding of horses and fattening of cattle for more than 25 years. Tour its 617 acres (250 hectares) full of wonderful landscapes to stroll through. Hike 1 hour and a half on the trail to the mythical Salto del Tigre to be taken aback by the lush nature.
For a complete rural experience, add horseback riding, milking cows or feeding sheep and goats to your visit, where you can also meet a domesticated buffalo. Dare to get your hands dirty and have a one-on-one with these animals.
You can do all this while savoring an exquisite cup of coffee from their own coffee plantations. Amazing!
The farm has an entrance fee of approximately $4 per adult and $2 for children. Special activities have costs ranging from approximately $6 to $30.
4. Finca Dracula
- Location: Cerro Punta
- How to get there: 26 minutes from Plaza Volcan, on highway 418.
A flower paradise, Dracula Farm has over 2,000 species of orchids that the family has collected over the years from around the world. You can go at any time of the year. There are so many different species that you'll always see them in bloom.
Take a specialized audio-guided tour. Delight in each of its four gardens with unique decorations for as long as you want. You'll be able to connect with nature at your own pace. The Japanese Garden, the Buddha Garden, the Bromeliad Garden and the Succulent Garden will make you feel like you're in a fantasy world.
If you want to keep walking, walk the Vuelo del Quetzal trail and try your luck in search of this mythical bird. The trail ascends to a viewpoint of the Guadalupe village. A great place to take stunning photos. If you want a more in-depth experience, on weekends and holidays, there are special exhibits with specialized guides.
The approximate entrance fee to the farm is $15.
5. Haras Cerro Punta
- Location: Cerro Punta
- How to get there: 23 minutes from Plaza Volcan, on highway 418.
6. Coffee Experience
Of course, we can't talk about agrotourism in Tierras Altas if we don't include coffee farms. More than 10 varieties are grown in Tierras Altas, including the most exclusive in the world, Geisha coffee. This has put Panama on the lips of the most experienced tasters in the world, exalting the virtues of the country.
The coffee farms have been organized in the Coffee Circuit system and will offer you unforgettable tourist experiences. During the harvest season–from December to March–you can see the farms bustling with activity, while hundreds of workers–especially from the Ngäbe-Buglé ethnic group–collect the beans.
Some of the farms you can schedule a visit to are Ceriana Farm, Janson Farm, Maru Geisha, and Nueva Suiza Hermanos Lara. Each one has a different specialty and experience; you can purchase visits from approximately $5 to $75.
To make your experience the best it can be, always remember to stay on top of the weather to plan your perfect outfit for the occasion. Be ready to get dirty, commune with nature and reconnect with the land.
Where to Stay in
Tierras Altas
