Chiriqui Province Travel Guides for the Mountains & Beaches

Western Panama offers some of Panama's most spectacular, and diverse, attractions. On the one hand, there are the verdant highlands, home to the country's tallest mountain and the picturesque town of Boquete, which now rivals Bocas del Toro as Panama's hottest destination. On the other, there are the remote Pacific islands and beaches of the Golfo de Chiriqui, which is so large and species-rich some consider it a small sea. Those who visit the western highlands after a trip to the beaches and islands feel they have entered a different world, a world filled with powerful rivers, gigantic waterfalls, imposing mountains, secluded hot springs, and green forests bursting with life. The highlands are also home to Volcan Baru, Panama's biggest and most dramatic mountain.

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Chiricanos claim to have it all and there's an element of truth to what they claim: Panama's tallest mountains, longest rivers and most fertile valleys are in Chiriqui. The province is also home to spectacular highland rainforests and the country's most productive agricultural and cattle-ranching regions. Bordering Costa Rica to the west, Chiriqui is often the first province encountered by travelers and serves as a subtle introduction to the not-so-subtle beauty Panama has to offer. Coverage includes: the Lowlands, David, Boquete, Playa Barqueta, Golfo de Chiriqui, Punta Burica, Playa Las Lajas, the road to Veraguas Province, the Highlands, Parque Nacional Volcan Baru, Santa Clara, Paso Ancho, Bambito, Cerro Punta, Guadalupe, Parque Internacional La Amistad (Las Nubes), Finca La Suiza.

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Western Panama is home to the cool highlands of the Chiriqui Province, a tropical mountain paradise brimming with lush rainforest and trout-filled streams, and dotted with storybook villages nestled on the verdant slopes of the region's dominant peak, the 3,478m (11,410-ft.) Baru Volcano. The Chiriqui Highlands region is a mecca for adventure, and travelers can participate in activities such as white-water rafting and kayaking Class II to Class V rivers, canopy rides, or hiking through primeval forest dripping with vines and bromeliads and interlaced with creeks. Laid-back activities include scenic drives and tours of coffee plantations or orchid farms. The Chiriqui region is well-known as a hot spot for bird-watching, including showcase birds such as the resplendent quetzal, blue cotinga, trogons, and toucans.

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