Boquete is a charming mountain town with a wonderful sense of community. Known as Panama's Eco-Adventure Capital, Boquete is famous for its coffee and fresh mountain climate with pleasant year round temperatures. Its immense variety of outdoor adventures make Boquete a superb place to study Spanish surrounded by nature.

The valley of Boquete is located in the western highlands of Panama at 1,200 meters above the sea level in the lush province of Chiriqui near the Costa Rican border. Boquete is easily accessed from David (DAV), Panama's second largest city (only 38 km away from Boquete), which can be reached by 35 minute flights from Panama City, 1 hour flights from San José, Costa Rica or a 3 hour drive plus a 30 minute boat ride from Bocas del Toro.

Learn the Spanish language and challenge yourself with Boquete's rock climbing routes.

Spanish lessons at Habla Ya Boquete take place either in the mornings or in the afternoon, leaving you free the other half of the day to rock climb. Group lessons for Spanish in Boquete are usually scheduled in the afternoons starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. so you can rock climb all morning long. Private lessons normally take place in the mornings starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 12:00 p.m., leaving you the afternoons for rock climbing. During the dry season you'll be able to rock climb at any time during the day. During the rainy season, it's better to rock climb in the mornings (click here for more info about Boquete's weather). There aren't any Spanish classes during the weekend, so you can knock yourself out and rock climb all weekend long.

Not everyone wants the same type of Spanish class in their language learning holiday... choose a Spanish course that best meets your needs!

• Group 4: our most popular course is comprised of 20 hours of lessons per week in a small group of no more than 6 students (average is 3 - 4). Groups are arranged according to students' Spanish levels ensuring that classmates will have a very similar degree of communicative proficiency.
• One to One Spanish Classes: we offer students the option to have 4 - 6 hours of private Spanish lessons per day. The contents and schedule of these private Spanish lessons are arranged to suit the student's individual needs.
• Group 4 PLUS: for those seeking a more intensive or an even a more personalized course, Group 4 PLUS adds 1 or 2 extra hours of private lessons on top of the standard 4 hours of group classes that students would normally have each day.
• DELE Test Preparation Course: DELE is the Official Test of Spanish as a foreign language. At our schools, candidates are prepared by having 20 - 30 hours of private classes per week.
• Junior Spanish: Spanish for Kids or Spanish for Teenagers
• Specialized Spanish Courses: sometimes a student may require something particularly specific and needs to focus on a topic of a very specialized nature. It could be Medical Spanish, Legal Spanish, Business Spanish, Spanish for Teachers, or simply vocabulary or a Spanish language skill related to a specific field.
• Other Personalized Spanish Solutions: Intensive Spanish Course, Spanish for couples or friends traveling together, Spanish at your Home, etc.

The cost for Spanish lessons goes from $175 - $575 USD per week. It all depends on the type of Spanish classes you decide to have (group lessons or private lessons) and on the amount of hours of classes you have each week (10 to 30 hours). The total cost of your Spanish Language Holiday also depends on which type of accommodation you decide to have.

If you would like to learn more about each type of the Spanish classes offered at our Spanish Language Schools you can visit our Spanish courses section. And to easily find out and compare the cost for Spanish classes on their own you can do so by visiting our Courses' Rates section.

• Daily Rock Climbing Tours
• Hiking + Rappelling Circuit
• Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing Tour
• Water Solo Bouldering

Today more than 35 different routes have been set up for bouldering and rock climbing at "El Gunko", "Maná", "Paradiso" and "Legacy" in Boquete. Under the motto of "redefining what's impossible", Rock Climbing started out in the district of Boquete, Panama with 5.3. and 5.5 routes that could easily be climbed by amateurs. After building up their skills and gaining more experience they've continued to push the level and now routes from 5.9 all the way up to 5.13a have been established (difficulty measured according to the Yosemite Decimal System). The highest wall is 30 meters tall and there is a very challenging route with a 4 meter roof.

El Gunko is for basic to intermediate climbers and has a total of 15 routes (5.6 - 5.11a). Mana is for advanced climbers and has 7 routes (5.11a - 5.12d). And Legacy with 6 routes is for elite climbers (5.10a - 5.13a). Paradiso only has 1 route (5.13a). The following photos illustrate these sectors and the rock climbing routes currently available in Boquete, Panama.

Each rock climbing tour includes a short warm-up and detailed safety briefing. Rock climbers with previous experience will be given 3 hours to climb any amount of routes of their own choice. Those new to rock climbing will be suggested different routes taking into account physical characteristics and age.

First timers will be explained everything they need to know, but if you're looking for a more extensive knowledge of this extreme sport, rock climbing courses are offered and you'll be shown rock climbing techniques and rappelling in rock and in bridges, and you'll receive a complete explanation of the equipment and gear used in rock climbing and rappelling.

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

Boquete is famous for its hiking trails and in this tour you'll get the opportunity to hike for about 2.5 - 3 hours through Boquete's cloud forest, pass by several coffee, agricultural and cattle farms, and finally reach the Piedra de Lino Rock, from where you'll enjoy a majestic view of the valley of Boquete and descend by rappel about 60 meters of volcanic rock. This excursion ends with a short hike, again through Boquete's cloud forest.

This tour takes about 4 hours in total, and includes everything you need: climbing harness, slings, ropes, helmet, rappelling devices, professional guide and roundtrip transportation to site.

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

Experience the ultimate sense of freedom by hiking, rappelling and climbing at 1690 meters above sea level. You'll start with a 30 - 45 minute hike (level 3) through a coffee farm until you reach the top of a beautiful natural rock formation known as Piedra de Lino from where you'll admire incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Then you'll rappel down the cliff and climb any of our beautiful multi-pitch routes. This tour has intermediate (5.11a) and advanced climbing routes (5.12a) only. The 2 routes' heights vary between 30m and 50m, and each route has 2 pitches, which can be climbed by lead or top rope.

This tour lasts about 4 hours in total and includes roundtrip transportation to site, professional guide, climbing harness, climbing shoes, quickdraws, rappelling devices, ropes, belay devices and chalk.

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

Los Cangilones de Gualaca is a stunning natural rock formation carved by the currents of the Estí River. Centuries and centuries of flowing water have created the most incredible playground for bouldering and water solo enthusiasts.

In this tour you'll be climbing rocky formations 4 - 5 meters high over deep water protection. The Cangilones are located about a 45 minute drive from Boquete. This tour includes transportation to the site, your professional rock climbing guide, climbing shoes and chalk.

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

3 day course (3 hours per day), or 1 full day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 1

• Theory: Introduction to Rock Climbing. Disciplines of rock climbing. Philosophy. Basic climbing gear. International commands. Important knots. Safety practices. Different grades in climbing. Basic techniques, body positioning and movements in climbing. Different types of rocks. Ropes and their uses. Assisted rappelling techniques.
• Practice: "La Frontera", a 5.6 route (10 meters). "End of Rainbow", a 5.7 route (15 meters). "King's Throne", a 5.8 route (15 meters). "La Mermelada", a 5.9 route (18 meters). All routes will be climbed by top rope and assisted rappelling.

Day 2

• Theory: safe belay lessons with different devices (Petzl GRIGRI and ATC)
• Practice: climb and belay of the route "La Frontera", 5.6, in top rope with GRIGRI (10 meters). climb and belay of the route "La Frontera", 5.6, in top rope with ATC (10 meters). Climb and belay of the route "El Camino negro", 5.9, with instructor on lead with GRIGRI (20 meters). Climb and belay of the route "El Camino negro", 5.9, with instructor on lead with ATC (20 meters).

Day 3

• Theory: use of bolted anchors.
• Practice: climb and belay of the route "King's Throne", 5.8 - 15 meters, and basic operation with anchors (assisted). Climb of route "La Mermelada", 5.9 - 18 meters, and basic operation with anchors (assisted). Special knots in climbing and mountaineering. How to do a Butterfly coiling and how to use a rope as a backpack. Climb of "The Matrix", 5.10a - 20 meters, in top rope, operation with anchors, clean the route and assisted rappelling.

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

3 day course (3 hours per day), or 1 full day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 1

• Theory: Introduction to "Lead Climbing" - Ascending to the top of a route placing security. Preparation of gear for lead climbing, commands, safety practices, how to belay with ATC and Grigri when a climber leads a route. How to use draws in sport climbing. Techniques to place security in Trad climbing with anchor systems like Cams, Stoppers, etc.
• Practice: Belay of the route "La frontera", 5.6 (12 meters), on lead and how to rappel down a climber.  Climb the route "La frontera", 5.6 (12 meters), on lead, operation with anchors and assisted rappelling.

Day 2

• Theory: non-assisted rappelling techniques with "figure eight" device and ATC.
• Practice: Climb and belay of the route "King's throne", 5.8 (15 meters) on lead, operation with anchors and perform a non-assisted rappelling with figure eight device. Climb and belay of the route  "Evolution", 5.10 (20 meters), on "lead", operation with anchors and perform a non-assisted rappelling with ATC device.

Day 3

• Practice: Climb and belay of route "El Camino Negro", 5.9 (20 meters), on lead, operation with anchors and non-assisted rappelling with preferred device. Climb and belay of route "Majestic in Mana Sector", 5.10 (25 meters), on lead, operation with anchors and non-assisted rappelling with preferred device. Climb and belay of the classic route  "El Camino de los locos", 5.10b/c (15 meters), on lead, operation with anchors and non-assisted rappelling with preferred device.

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

2 day course (4 hours per day), or 1 full day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 1

• Theory: introduction to "Multiple Pitch Climbing" - preparation of gear, safety practices, how to belay (ATC & Grigri) when doing multiple pitch climbing routes, use of slings.
• Practice: 30 - 45 minute hike (level 3) to the top of the Lino cliff located at 1690 meters above sea level. Rappelling down the cliff to the base and explanation about how to belay on multiple pitch. Climb of the route "Cosmic Love", 5.11a, first pitch (30 meters), operation with anchors and belay of second climber. Climb of the route "Cosmic Love", 5.11a, second pitch (30 meters), operation with anchors and belay of second climber. Rappelling down to the base of the route and hiking out of the mountain.

Day 2

• Practice: 30 - 45 minute hike (level 3) to the top of the Lino cliff located at 1690 meters above sea level and rappel down the cliff. Climb the route "Lady Galaxy", 5.12a, first pitch (30 meters), operation with anchors and belay of second climber. Climb the route "Lady Galaxy", 5.12a, second pitch (30 meters), operation with anchors and belay of second climber. Climb the entire 60 meter route "Cosmic Love" 5.11a or "Lady Galaxy" 5.12a (on lead or following).

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

If you would like to get fully immersed in the Spanish language, experience our culture, and get as much exposure as possible to the Latin American way of life, then a home stay with a local host family is the way to go. Living with a native Spanish speaking family and having daily intensive Spanish lessons makes the most effective Spanish immersion.

You'll get a unique perspective about how we live our lives in Latin America, what really matters to us and more importantly you'll be forced to practice your Spanish 24 x 7, which will dramatically increase how fast you learn to speak Spanish.

We currently collaborate with more than 70 host families in Boquete, Panama that make our Spanish Immersion Program a reality. In order to ensure that we select the most appropriate host family for you, please submit your Home Stay Interview with as much as anticipation as possible. In this way we will know your specific needs and choose a host family according to your personality. As host families are assigned on a first come first serve basis, the sooner you fill out the interview, the more host families we will have to choose from for you.

If you're on a budget and would like to easily be able to socialize with fellow travelers after having Spanish lessons and rock climbing, then a budget hostel is for you.

At Habla Ya Spanish Schools we work with several top value budget hostels that offer you either private rooms or a bed in a dorm, where you'll certainly enjoy your stay.

In Boquete, Panama we recommend:

• Hostal Garden
• Gaia Hostel

The three of them are located in town really close to our Spanish Schools, within a 10 minute walk. If you're looking for peace and quiet, then you can't go wrong with Hostal Garden or Hostal Gaia.

There are several places that we recommend for our Spanish students who are looking for a bit more privacy and independence during their Spanish and Rock Climbing program:

• In Boquete, Panama
  • Roundhouse at Isla Verde
  • Suite at Boquete Garden Inn

The above are tremendously convenient, fully furnished, very reasonably priced for short to mid term stays (4 - 12 weeks) and the students at our Spanish schools simply love them. Each of the above have their own unique features that make them suitable for guests with different needs and desires. Click on the above links for more details about each option.

There are also other types of properties available for rent in Boquete. If you're considering studying Spanish for four weeks or more, you might benefit from having your own vacation rental. Within our website we provide links to several sites that list vacation rentals in Panama, and we also provide links to different real estate agents in Boquete (as we are not real estate agents ourselves). For more information about vacation rentals please click here...

In Boquete, the Valle Escondido Resort, Golf & Spa is the perfect place if you would like to have access to certain amenities during your medical Spanish program. With a full service spa, a 9 hole executive golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and racquetball courts, and first class restaurants, Valle Escondido will certainly keep you entertained after your daily Spanish classes, eco-adventure tours and/or volunteer projects. Valle Escondido is situated at the edge of town, about a 15 minute walk from our Spanish School, in a hidden valley, on the banks of a rushing river, with enough natural beauty and peace to make you not want to leave.

For Spanish students staying in Boquete for up to 3 weeks of Spanish and Rock Climbing, we recommend staying at a suite or bungalow at the Valle Escondido Resort.

For longer stays or even more independence, a rental of Valle Escondido's vacation villas or condos can also be arranged.

Whether you're staying at the Valle Escondido Resort or at one of vacation villas or condos, you'll be able to enjoy:

• 9 Hole Golf Course
• Outdoor Tennis Court and Indoor Racquetball Court
• Country Club, complete with
  • Spa and Age Management Program
  • State-of-the-art Life Fitness Equipped Gym
  • Indoor Swimming Pool
  • Sauna, Steam Baths and Jacuzzis

• 1 Outdoor Pools
• A Spanish Colonial Village with
  • 1 Fantastic Restaurants
  • Bar
  • Chapel
  • 500 seat amphitheater
• Meeting Space for Groups of 75 - 400 people

Besides staying at Valle Escondido you can also consider The Haven Spa & Hotel.