If you want to relax and chill out, on the path to Boquete lies a place famous for its natural hot springs renown for their healing properties. The hot springs are located within a private farm and four undeveloped pools of mineral water with different temperatures are easily accessible. With so many adventurous and physically demanding tours in Boquete, the Caldera Hot springs is certainly a place to come if you feel like soothing your aches.

Caldera, which means boiling pot, is a small town near the Caldera River and is halfway between Dolega and Boquete. The river itself serves as a refreshing cool off after bathing in the hot springs. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the Río Caldera and marvel at the smooth and warm boulders and hot pockets of water within the river itself which can be located with the help of your guide.

Two of the four thermal pools are surrounded by man placed stones which give them a touch of intimacy and privacy. The temperatures in each hot water hole range from 38°C - 46°C. What travelers most like about this hot water site is that it is totally uncrowded. Most of the times, you'll have all four pools for yourself or at least one for your entire group.

What do you need to take?

• Towel
• Bathing Suit (do not bring soap or any other cleaner, PLEASE!)
• 2 liters of drinking water (you'll not exercise but the heat can make you thirsty!)
• Some beers to cool off or wine to relax (snacks are included)
• Digital Camera or Video Recorder
• A complete change of clothes
• A backpack to put everything in

Caldera Hotsprings Tour Itinerary

• Meet up
• 30 minutes by 4x4 to petroglyphs location (if you choose to go here)
• 5 minutes for walk to petroglyphs (if you choose to go here)
• 10 minutes to observe petroglyphs and listen to speech (if you choose to go here)
• 5 minutes to walk back to the 4 x 4
• 10 minutes by 4 x 4 to the Hot Springs Farm
• 5 minutes walking to the Hot Springs area
• 2 - 3 hours at Hot Springs
• 10 minutes to walk back to the 4 x 4
• 45 minutes by 4 x 4 back to downtown Boquete

Note: morning and afternoon tours can be scheduled to start at 8 a.m. or 2 p.m. Times are approximate and depend on weather, group size and other factors.

* Prices are in US Dollars. The above prices are per person and do not include Panama's 7% ITBMS Sales.

On the road from Boquete to David, look for the sign that leads to Caldera on the left side of the road. It is approximately 11 km from Boquete. Drive on that road for another 6 - 8 kms until you reach the town of Caldera and start looking for a small sign that indicates the road to the hot springs. This will be a rather brutal dirt road where you'll have to leave your car unless you got a 4 x 4. Expect to walk for at least 1 hour until you get to a bridge that crosses the Caldera river. Walk for another 5-10 minutes uphill to your left until you reach a small gate on your left to enter the private farm. If you walk for more than 15 minutes, you have already missed it, go back!

If you do not have your own transportation, you'll have to take a taxi to the town of Caldera from Boquete and arrange a pick up at a predefined time. He should charge you around $40 in total ($20 each trip). You'll then have to walk around 1 hour to get to the hot springs because taxis will not be willing to get on the brutal dirt road because it could damage their car. The entrance fee to the private farm is $1.