Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Beautiful Boquete

Boquete, Panama, might be the most beautiful place ever. We endured several hours of construction and marginal roads en route. But the drive was worth it. Even though we only saw one rainbow on the drive up the mountain to an elevation of around 4,000 feet, locals enjoy them by the pot of gold full. They also enjoy spring-like temperatures year-round. Boquete sits alongside the Caldera River and I was comforted that Costa Rica is only 40 miles away. You know, just in case I got antsy! But I didn't.





Boquete is nestled between lush mountains and Volcan Baru. We drove by these gardens every day on our way into town. Beautiful!




I love this photo.




So cute.


We took four scenic drives during our stay. Each one funneled us through the mountains on a different breathtaking route. And each one seemed to surpass the previous. What I wouldn't give to be starting them all over again.


Boquete has a growing expat community. But someone's dreams dried up.


This sign always made me nervous. Is it warning us of a steep descent? Or, is it insinuating that if we keep driving, we'll be falling off the mountain, like this car appears to be. Uff da.


The view into the valley, from the foothills of Volcan Baru. The top of Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama, at around 11,000 feet, give or take.


There are 900 species of birds in Boquete, like this resting hummingbird.


We didn't see any quetzals, but I enjoyed seeing this mural almost everyday as we walked around town. 

My husband said that if he was going to retire anywhere in Central America, Boquete would be at the top of his list. Here are five random reasons to retire in Boquete...

1) Mike's Global Grill. It has live music, lots of liquor, odd people and amazing food. Nuff said.

2) There's great pizza, and that's a must. Eating at Il Pianista nestled by a delightful waterfall, was like falling through a wormhole to the Italian countryside. But Boquete is really the Switzerland of Central America.

3) It's damn beautiful.

4) The farmer's market sells locally made goodies and bling.

5) You'll never run out of locally grown coffee and honey from Meil Boquetena. And there's great bread from Sugar and Spice to lather said honey on. The honey was so good in fact, that I'll be ordering all my honey from there now. It's that good!

38 comments:

DJan said...

What fabulous pictures! It looks like a fairyland. I love that huge butterfly garden especially, and that hummingbird. As usual, I am enchanted by your pictures. :-)

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

That looks like a paradise! The word "lush" is not adequate to describe all that green and blue and so many other colors.

eileeninmd said...

What a beautiful place. Gorgeous flowers and I love the hummer! Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

You photgraphs are wonderful.. Retiring soon?

Neil said...

What a beautiful area.

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Beautiful pics. Especially love the hummingbird.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Wow!! How can you see so many beautful places!
love
tweedles

betty-NZ said...

What an amazing place that is tucked away from the world! These are some awesome photos of the lovely find.

Athena said...

Hi Sharon. Looks like you had another awesome trip!

likeschocolate said...

Gorgeous!
http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2016/04/growing-up.html

Ida said...

Wow there was a lot of wonderful stuff here. Those flowers were just stunning. I enjoyed this post very much.

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! What a place ~ all very beautiful photos ~ Love the marvelous colors there!

Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

All that color! It's phenomenal.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

Absolutely gorgeous and I fell in love with the bird! To me there is nothing better than quirky people at a pizza place! Seriously!! Love artsy, "different" people. Thank you for sharing! catchatwithcarenandcody

CountryMouse said...

What a beautiful spot. I can see why people want to move there. Those gardens are amazing! I'd be worried about that sign too although it looks like maybe someone is having fun with it. That humming bird is so pretty.

EricaSta said...

Great Shots for WednesdayAroundTheWorld... I love the hummingbird!

Rohrerbot said...

One million years ago, I stayed in Boquete. It was a wonderful relief from the intense humidity of the lower tropics. Amazing birds there and we even tried that expensive Geisha coffee. Thanks for the trek back. Lots of great memories here.

Budget Travel Talk said...

That hummingbird is gorgeous. We don't have them where we live in tropical North Queensland. The flower displays are beautiful too and I would love to visit the market next door. I've got a thing for markets!

Ruth said...

Ahh! So much color in this town. Even the hummingbird is colorful. I bet the surroundings were very peacefil

Ida said...

Revisiting and still enjoying these photos. Especially the flowers in the butterfly shape.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, just stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post. I love the hummer! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It really does sound...and look amazing! What gorgeous flowers and that little hummer is the cutest! What a fabulous place to visit! WOW!

Christina Morley said...

Stunning and beautiful! I'm visiting today from Photo Friday. I hope you get the most clicks, because it would be nice to see this post featured next week. Have a lovely weekend! Tina from Amanda's Books and More and 1camera1mom.

Unknown said...

That photo of the hummingbird is drop dead gorgeous! And those gardens are stunning. Any place with oddball people is ok by me!

GreenComotion said...

I am fascinated by the Hummingbird and the mural.
Your photographs are lovely.
Have a Happy Day!
Peace :)

Anni said...

Stopping by I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend to add your link to the tool there gave us a thrill; thank you!! Such lovely landscape here today. [the sculpture among the flowers is truly eye candy]

AND!!!!!!!!!!!---900 bird species?!!! I would never be able to sleep there hunting down that many to photograph. Loved the hummingbird.

Linda Hensley said...

Pretty! You're lucky to have the chance to have such explorations.

Swapna said...

it IS really beautiful! What a treat for the eyes:)
Thanks for sharing at practical mondays

Breathtaking said...

Hello!:)Lovely scenery, and the flowers were a delightful surprise,.. beauty everywhere in your shots, and the image of the hummingbird is
stunning.:)

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a beautiful place. Well worth the drive, I'd say.

Lisa @ Life Thru the Lens (www.lisakerner-slp.com)

NCSue said...

Wow - amazing. What a breathtaking place!
Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/05/snorkeling-on-saint-thomas.html

woolypear said...

The hummingbird shot is my favorite!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful -- like a wonderful dream.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous photos! I love the hummingbird and all the flowers.

Polly and Pip said...

Gorgeous photos, Boquete sounds fantastic. I like your list. Music, food, coffee, beautiful surroundings, what more could you ask for? :-) Thanks for joining in with #MyFavouriteTrip Polly

Kristiina said...

Fantastic flower colors, but the little bird was cutest.

Pat Tillett said...

Wow! I could easily live in a place like that. So beautiful, and so much to see and do. Beautiful photos Sharon.

Marcelle said...

It's some time ago that I visited Boquete in Panama but you awakened some lovely memories in me. We didn't have much time and the weather wasn't too good either. The surroundings are spectacular, though. #TPThursday www.greyworldnomads.com