Boquete's coffee farms range from 1,000 to 2,100 meters above sea level (3,280 to 6,900 feet) and, thanks to the region's rich soil, produce more than 10 varieties of coffee, including Caturra Rojo and Amarillo, Catuaí, Java, Mundo Novo, Pache, and, most notably, the award-winning Geisha. Here's our list of open-door coffee farms for you to visit in Boquete.
1. Café Altieri Specialty Coffee
Location: Los Naranjos
How to get there: 10 minutes from downtown Boquete, on Buenos Aires Avenue.
At this exclusive farm, located within the Barú Volcano National Park, you can delight in the incredible green landscape of the cloud forest while sipping a delicious coffee. Here you can take guided walks through the plantations, which are surrounded by mountain bamboo and blackberry bushes, learn about the benefits, and enjoy tastings guided by professional baristas in the farm's laboratories. You can also sample six varieties, where you'll learn about aromas, fragrances, and post-harvest processes, and close with a delicious toast.
Altieri has a community development program that provides housing for its employees, educational support, job opportunities for mothers, health services, education, and comprehensive support.
The experiences you can do within the farm are:
El Paseíto Experience: 1.5 hours.
Geney Boy Tasting Experience: 1 hour.
Geney Boy Deluxe Experience: 2 to 2.5 hours.
Mima's Tale Experience: 1 hour.
2. Finca Elida
Location: Los Naranjos
How to get there: 16 minutes from Bajo Boquete, via Highway 41.
Elida is a family-run, organic farm where expert guides will share the secrets of planting and harvesting the finest coffee beans. Visiting Elida Estate is like visiting the top of the top. In 2019, the farm broke world records for quality, when it was named the most exclusive coffee in the world!
On the various tours offered, you'll learn about their history and history. You'll visit the plantations and production plant, where they explain the coffee processes and types, and then finish with a tasting and coffee husk tea tasting. You'll also be able to visit very special places on the farm with other types of crops and see incredible landscapes. The various tours offered are:
El Plano Tour: 2 hours.
La Torre Tour: 3 hours.
Meet the Producer: 3 hours.
Coffee Tasting: 1 hour.
3. Finca Lérida
Location: Los Naranjos
How to get there: 18 minutes from downtown, via Highway 41.
What makes Finca Lérida a special place is its connection to the construction of the Panama Canal. Its founder was the engineer who designed the Canal's security gates. At Finca Lérida, in addition to taking the coffee tour, you can stay in a boutique hotel overlooking the spectacular landscapes of Boquete.
The tour begins in the fields of Boquete. There, you'll learn about the importance of the district's soil, altitude, and microclimate in producing a good coffee. You'll then take a walk while learning about the history, origins, and secrets of the farm. You'll continue the tour through the industrial production area and, finally, you'll take a guided tasting of different varieties, where you'll learn how to prepare and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
This experience costs approximately US$35.
4. Finca Don Pachi Estate
Location: Los Naranjos
How to get there: 14 minutes from downtown, via Highway 41.
Founded in 1873, Don Pachi is the oldest coffee farm in the country and has been a pioneer in growing Panama's most exclusive varieties for over 150 years. They have over 10 coffee varieties, including Geisha.
Take advantage of the caffeine boost and sign up for a 4-hour hike with expert guides to see every stage of coffee planting, harvesting, and production. At the end, you'll enjoy a coffee and Geisha liqueur tasting right on the farm. You can also choose a shorter tour or just a coffee tasting.
Don Pachi Estate also offers specialized workshops on various aspects of the production process, so you can take your experience to the next level by roasting and packaging your own coffee.
The experiences cost approximately US$15 to US$45.
5. Cafeto Arábica Farm
Location: Palmira
How to get there: 28 minutes from Bajo Boquete, via Highway 41.
The Cafeto Arábica farm has 12 hectares (29 acres) completely dedicated to growing, as its name suggests, the Arabica coffee species.
Visit this farm to see firsthand how they've managed to produce such high-quality coffee. You'll be able to walk through the coffee plantations, learn about the wet mill, the special drying system, and the roasting plant.
In Cafeto Arábica, coffee plantations are planted under the shade of fruit trees such as orange, lemon, banana, and others, which give the bean a special flavor. These trees provide shelter for birds, helping to maintain the balance necessary for planting and harvesting excellent coffee.
Tour the entire estate and end your visit with a tasting of two varieties, seasonal fruits, and complimentary coffee.
The experience costs approximately US$45.
6. Mamecillo Farm
Location: Jaramillo
How to get there: 18 minutes by car, via Jaramillo Arriba.
This farm is named after the abundance of mamecillo fruit grown on its land, which is also a haven of diversity. The 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) dedicated to coffee on this farm are surrounded by the same amount of native and virgin cloud forest. In addition to providing the necessary shade for the coffee plantations, this combination creates a safe microenvironment for wildlife.
In Mamecillo, you can take coffee tours and combine them with adventure activities. In its forests, you can try mountain biking, rappelling, hiking in search of waterfalls, and much more.
The farm has an eco-friendly farm where pigs, chickens, and goats live in open spaces and are raised responsibly. They also have completely organic vegetable gardens and reforestation and food waste transformation programs, where they create compost and fertilizer for the sustainable care of the farm.
At the Mamecillo farm, you can take an interactive and educational tour of the entire property. This 6-hour experience is divided into four parts: in the morning, a hike through the cloud forest and an organic farm, where you'll learn how it works. At noon, an exquisite farm-to-table culinary experience with delicious organic dishes using seasonal produce. Finally, a visit to the organic coffee plantations, with an explanation of the processes and a delicious coffee tasting.
The approximate price of this experience is US$120. Reservations are required for a minimum of two people.
7. Cafelandia Farm
Location: Bajo Boquete
How to get there: 15 minutes from downtown Bajo Boquete, on Calle 4 Sur.
Visit this coffee paradise founded in 1932. Its 28 hectares (70 acres) are perfect for producing high-quality coffee. Visit Cafelandia to learn about a farm committed to creating decent and responsible work opportunities and promoting a better quality of life for its employees. In fact, the farm's owners opened the doors to their farm to show the public the importance of workers in each of the coffee-making processes, from planting to cupping.
Cafelandia offers a two-hour experience where you can tour the plantations and see the varieties of beans from the plants to the drying process. At the end, you'll be able to taste two types of coffee and select your favorite!
This experience is by appointment only and costs approximately US$30.
8. Finca la Milagrosa Cafetales Don Alfredo
Location: Jaramillo
How to get there: 14 minutes from Bajo Boquete, via Jaramillo Road.
La Milagrosa transformed from a cattle farm into a coffee farm. But it's not just any farm. La Milagrosa has ample recreational spaces, picnic areas, hiking trails, and, of course, a great coffee tour.
In this 3-hour experience, you'll learn about farming techniques as you tour the plantation. Then, in the drying areas, you'll learn about the artisanal process required to achieve the best coffee in the world. In the roasting area, you'll see the process firsthand and discover how they used recycled car and computer parts to create their own roasting machine. Finally, don't miss a cup of freshly processed coffee.
This experience costs approximately US$45.
9. Finca Arcoíris
Location: Los Naranjos
How to get there: less than 20 minutes by car from the center of Boquete, via Boquete.
Arcoíris, home of Princesa Janca coffee, is owned by two former presidents of Panama. Coffee is grown here using healthy and environmentally sustainable processes. The tour begins at the offices, where you'll visit a small museum that tells the story of its founders. Then you'll head to the coffee plantations, where you'll be amazed by the views of the Barú Volcano. The coffee mill and roasting plant then follow. The visit also includes a walk through a eucalyptus forest, the dam, and the hydroelectric plant. At the end, of course, you'll enjoy a coffee tasting, with a choice of hot chocolate or tea. You have three options, each lasting two hours, to choose which part of the coffee you'll visit and how you'll interact with the workers.
The experiences cost approximately US$30 to US$60.
10. Finca Río Cristal
Location: Boquete Tree Trek Adventure Park, Los Naranjos.
How to get there: 13 minutes from downtown Boquete. Transportation from downtown Boquete is included in the tour.
This is a unique experience that includes recreation, adventure, nature, rum, tea, and coffee. At Boquete Tree Trek, you'll find activities for all family members. You can also enjoy a tea tasting at the only tea plantation in Panama, dare to fly through the trees on its 12 ziplines, and walk across hanging bridges amidst incredible scenery. The coffee is produced in the area known as Kotowa Río Cristal. There, you can walk through the coffee plantations, learn about the history of coffee, and finish with a tasting of premium coffees that have won national and international competitions.
This experience lasts 2 hours and costs approximately US$30.
The experiences cost between approximately US$25 and US$130.
Boquete offers unparalleled landscapes amidst the unmistakable aroma of coffee. There, meet the families and workers who have made Panama the undisputed leader in this industry. What are you waiting for to discover the true value of coffee?
Source: Visit Panama.
