Hotel Ladera is located in Boquete, a small town in the North of the Province of Chiriqui. Located in the slopes of the Baru Volcano and close to La Amistad International Park, Boquete is the ideal place for those who seek a great vacation with minimal impact on the environment. Activities like hiking, coffee tours, river-rafting, horse-back riding, bird-watching and many others give our guests the opportunity to experience first hand the diversity of flora and fauna of the area as well as enjoying our coffee production, one of the finest in the world.
Birdwatching
Boquete, Panama is a paradise for birder, offering great birdwatching opportunities within relatively short distances, involving very diverse habitats. The mountains surrounding the valley of Boquete, the Baru Volcano and La Amistad International Park are the most popular places to spot literally hundreds of species of birds. Exciting guided tours and itineraries take you to spectacular locations -some of them really close to town- where you will enjoy the best of birding and nature.
Baru Volcano
The Volcán Barú is the highest point in Panama at 11,398 ft high. It is one of the most interesting attractions in Boquete both for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike.
The Barú is a dormant volcano. The last major eruption of the mountain was about 500 AD (although there are reports and some evidence of a minor eruption around 1550 AD). The mountain is located just south of the Continental Divide in the western Chiriquí Province, it is surrounded by a fertile area of cool highlands drained by the Chiriquí and Caldera rivers. The towns of Volcan and Cerro Punta can be found on its western side, while Boquete is on the eastern flank.
Due to its height and Panama’s relatively short width, it is possible to see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from Volcán Barú’s peak on a clear day. The occasional fall of snow has been reported on the summit, where the minimal temperature can be below 0°C (32°F) and the formation of frost is frequent during the dry season.
The mountain is the center of the Volcan Baru National Park, a 14,325 hectares (35,000 acres) protected area that has a highly valuable geological and ecological scenic landscape that protects a biological diversity with some unique species of this area. In this park you will find tropical rainforest landscaped with highlands species and the remains of the last blast of the Baru Volcano that happened millions of years ago.
Guided tours from Boquete can be arranged at the front desk.
Eco-tourism & Hiking
There’s great hiking all around Boquete and the mountains surrounding the town.
Hiking in Boquete offers many opportunities to enjoy not only close contact with nature and a variety of ecosystems, but also with the local coffee culture, flower production and farming, staple economical activities of the area.
Boquete is nestled in the slopes of a dormant volcano, the Baru Volcano, located some 14,00 feet above sea level. The mountain forms part of La Amistad International park jointly administered by Panama and Costa Rica. Hiking to the volcano is a wonderful experience, a little challenging, but greatly rewarding. If you prefer an equally pleasant but not overly challenging day hike, consider a walk among the hundreds of distinct species of flora in the mountains and roads closer to the town.
Some essential objects to take on any hiking or camping trip, in Boquete are: canteens, good hiking boots, a hat, insect repellent and sunscreen. Due to the weather conditions here, specially during the green season, a hiker must consider the rain factor and take plenty of socks, raingear and a jacket.
Coffee Tours
Located in the fertile highlands of Panama, Boquete is famous throughout the world for its coffee. The history and development of this part of Panama has been tied to coffee production, and no trip to the area would be complete without the cultural experience of a coffee tour. Here, coffee plantations sit in the picturesque rolling mountains that surround the valley of Boquete, a place with the ideal micro climates for the production of high quality coffees.
Plantation tours are packed with culture and history, and almost always include visits to both the coffee plantation and roastery, where you”ll watch workers and learn the art of professional coffee tasting.
Caldera Hot Springs
One attraction you can’t miss on your visit to Boquete is the Caldera hot springs. Caldera is a small quaint town about 30 minutes from Boquete. The place is also famous for its petroglyphs and its wide golden meadows are suitable for horseback riding.
The 5 natural pools that compose the hot springs -which are rumored to have healing properties- are well kept by the owners of the property where they are located (There is a symbolic charge of $2 dollars that is used to keep the area in pristine condition). The temperature of the springs is variable, the hottest pool reaches about 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you decide to visit the Caldera hot springs, it is advisable to take some bug spray for the walk back. Contact us for more information. We will happily inform you on available tours and ways to get there!
River Rafting & Kayaking
Boquete is the perfect starting point for a number of activities that take place in nearby areas in Chiriqui. One of the most popular is river rafting and kayaking. With over 150 inches of annual rainfall, the Chiriqui province offers dozens of world-class river rafting and kayaking places. The combination of the region’s topography, abundant watersheds and incredible biological diversity make Panama, and specially Chiriqui, an extraordinary whitewater rafting destination. From Class II for an easy, relaxed trip to a demanding Class V, Chiriqui is an exciting destination among whitewater enthusiasts worldwide.
Ziplining
Glide through the treetops of century-old forests, high above the pristine rivers and waterfalls that make up the incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Baru volcano.
A technology utilized hundreds of years ago by our indigenous people and later perfected by botanists and naturalists to observe and study the behaviors of wild creatures in their natural habitat, would be transformed into one of the most revered extreme sports.
Drop us a line to get your adventure started!