Boquete, the Magic of a Good Coffee

Dare to know the origin of one of the most exclusive coffees in the world! If you’re visiting the province of Chiriqui, in the west extreme of the country, go up to Boquete Valley and don’t miss the coffee farms that have made Panamá famous.

Specialty Coffee

Boquete has the perfect conditions for coffee sowing of high quality: altitudes between 1,000 and 2,100 meters above the sea level (3,280 to 6,900 feet), fertile soils of volcanic origins enriched by nutrients from tropical rainforest, and a special microclimate with stable temperature.

Although there are different types of coffee, the most famous variety in this region is the Geisha. This type of coffee requires special characteristics of the soil, but also very specific care, since its leaves and roots are thinner than the average, and that makes it extremely hard to cultivate in great volumes.

Discover the Coffee Circuit

In the coffee region of the country a network of organized companies has been created to provide tourist services focused on the coffee experience. The “Coffee Circuit” will help you to plan your trip so you don’t miss anything.

Boquete has the largest offers in the coffee farms and coffee tours. Here you can visit the oldest farm of the region, find out how important birds are to protect coffee, visit other farms with interesting projects regarding sustainability, and enhance your experience with adventure activities.

Los Narajos, Boquete, Elida Coffee, cafe

When to Go

The great advantage of visiting Boquete is that you can do it at any time of the year. If you travel from December to March, you’ll arrive in the middle of the harvest season.

You’ll see the red beans shining in the plant and hundreds of workers collecting the fruit. You’ll also learn how coffee is planted, cultivated, collected, peeled, washed and dried. Then, you’ll see at the mills how it’s left to age for peeling and classifying.

If you arrive after the harvest, you can visit the plantations and learn the processes of roasting, grinding, and packing. In addition, you’ll have an excellent explanation about the different ways of preparing a good coffee and exquisite tastings.

You’ll see the red beans shining in the plant and hundreds of workers collecting the fruit. You’ll also learn how coffee is planted, cultivated, collected, peeled, washed and dried. Then, you’ll see at the mills how it’s left to age for peeling and classifying.

If you arrive after the harvest, you can visit the plantations and learn the processes of roasting, grinding, and packing. In addition, you’ll have an excellent explanation about the different ways of preparing a good coffee and exquisite tastings.

Couple selecting coffee beans, Boquete, Chiriquí Province, Panamá

Tips

If you reserve a tour that doesn’t offer transportation services, it’s advisable to rent a car, since the farms might be far from each other.

Keep in mind that, except in harvest season, it often rains in the area; in fact, thanks to the rain, Panamá's green is so green. If one day it’s raining, just wait a moment while you savor a delightful cup of coffee. The weather will soon improve. It always does it.

Boquete’s coffee farms that are part of the Coffee Tour have their doors open so that you can walk around the coffee plantations, learn the production process– from sowing, harvest, and selection of beans until the preparation–and, of course, taste the most exclusive varieties...