Stoney Family Panama Adventure: WHY BOQUETE?

So many people have asked us, "Why Boquete, Panama"? It's an interesting question, considering that prior to choosing this location neither Greg nor I (Christina) had ever been to Boquete, nor did we know anyone who had spent more than a couple of days here. Well, we knew that we wanted to live in a country where Spanish was the primary language. In addition, we wanted to be in an area that is relatively safe. We wanted to be able to walk around, hike, and explore without having to have a guide for safety precautions. In addition, we wanted a school for Monica and Matt where they could learn Spanish, be exposed to the local culture, and enjoy a positive educational experience as well. Climate also played a significant part in our decision, as we preferred to live in an area that was not hot, humid, and "buggy". Our hope was to do some traveling within Central and South America while we are here, and Panama happens to be smack dab in the middle - so easy access to a variety of other countries. Well, after weeding out several other Central American (and some South American) countries and deciding that we wanted to live in a smaller town as opposed to a city, Boquete seemed to fit the bill.

Boquete is a small mountain town with a population of less than 10,000 in the Chiriqui province of Panama. It lies within a beautiful green valley and sits adjacent to Volcan Barú, the highest point in Panama (11,400 feet). It is a 6 1/2 hour drive from Panama City and a 3 1/2 hour drive to the Costa Rican Border. It is known throughout Panama for is cool climate, natural beauty, as well as it's coffee production and beautiful flowers. Since Boquete sits at an elevation of 3,200 feet, it has a year round spring-like climate. While most other areas of Panama tend to be hot and humid, Boquete's temperatures vary between low 70's and low 80's, even during the evenings. For this reason, it has been referred to as the "land of eternal spring".

Boquete definitely has a "small town" feel to it, with only 2 main streets and the Caldera River running through it. A small town plaza called Parque de las Madres or Parque Central lies in the center of town, and one can probably cover the entire downtown area on foot in a matter of minutes. Several years ago, AARP named Boquete as one of the top places in the world to retire, so there is a community of expats who have settled in to this beautiful area. In addition, many Ngöbe Buglé, Panama's largest indigenous ethnic group, live in the surrounding valley. The Ngöbe Buglé women can be easily spotted in town wearing their brightly colored long dresses, and the men often wear colorful weaved bags or purses across their shoulders. We are looking forward to learning more about the Ngöbe Buglé, their culture, and customs while we are here!