Panamonte Inn & Spa
The Panamonte is less a hotel and more a country inn, with personalized service and a relaxed atmosphere, a home away from home.
The Panamonte Inn & Spa is located in the cool highlands of Boquete, just 45 minutes by transfer from David airport. At the foot of Baru Volcano, this is the perfect base for exploring the Chiriqui Highlands.
The guestrooms at the Panamonte Inn & Spa mix modern comforts with antiques, gorgeous paintings and teak furniture reminiscent of the days before the Panama Canal. All have terraces surrounded by the inn's beautiful gardens filled with birds and butterflies.
The inn has a small spa offering a range of treatments and massages and it's regionally renowned gourmet restaurant is considered by many to be one of the best in Central America. People travel from near and far to savour the award-winning chef's menu which sublimely combines international and indigenous flavours.
There are lots of activities on offer in the area including river rafting, trekking, canopy rides, birdwatching, private visits to coffee farms and sightseeing. The inn's co owner-chef has also recently opened a studio style kitchen where he teaches small classes focused on traditional dishes and ingredients such as empanadas and cassava.
Why We Love It
The inn is owned and run by a Scandinavian family who have blended their traditions with the warm welcome that Boquete is known for.
Riverside Inn
Set on the banks of the Palto Alto River, just minutes from the town of Boquete, Riverside Inn is a charming place to stay with views over the surrounding forested hills.
Just six spacious and attractively decorated suites make this place more of a home than a hotel. Large fireplaces and big comfortable sofas in the three communal areas give the inn a cosy alpine chalet atmosphere and Panamanian art adorns the walls. The Rock restaurant next door serves delicious meals (the fresh fish is particularly good) at lunch and dinner and there is also a well stocked self service bar. Activities in the region are plentiful and there is something to suit everyone. They include canopy tours, rafting and climbing as well as birdwatching and tours of the Kotowa Coffee Estate.
Why We Love It
The exceptionally welcoming manager, Robert, goes out of his way to ensure his guests are well catered for and knows all there is to know about the area.