Nestled in a coffee growing region of Northern Panama, the mountain town of Boquete was a cool relief from the heat and humidity of the coastal areas. Upon arrival, we just enjoyed going out for a walk in a climate that didn’t leave us soaked in sweat in five minutes. Boquette has really capitalized on their central location and weather by creating many eco-adventures and accommodations for tourists. The town has also become a favorite for Americans looking to relocate to Panama. We heard many English-speaking voices while there.

The climate of Boquete makes it ideal for coffee growing. We took a very interesting coffee plantation tour that informed us about the whole process of growing, harvesting and selling coffee. The plantation is owned by a Scottish couple but the work is all done by the indigenous tribal people of the area.

Blanca, the plantation mascot followed us around like a dog begging to be petted and nibbling on our shorts.

To get our adrenaline pumping, we took a river rafting tour. We were a group of ten with three guides in two rafts braving the Class 3 rapids. At first I was too scared to even have fun but as we successfully navigated the first sets of rapids, I began to relax. Michael, as usual, was gung-ho and the best part about it was when he fell out of the raft. His life passed briefly before his eyes but the guides quickly yanked him back in.

North central Panama is primarily lush, thick, green (many shades of green laid over each other) jungle. We got caught in deluges of rain but it was a great place to spend several days.