After our time in Bocas (see that blog post), we traveled by chartered van to the hillside community of Boquete, at 3800 ft. elevation in the northern mountains of Panama. Just outside the town is Panama's highest point, the volcano Baro. More importantly, though, the City lies in a valley noted for its rich coffee plantations, its tropical cloud forest with their abundance of birds and animals, gorgeous scenery, plentiful waterfalls and hikes, and a hot springs. Not surprisingly, a tourist culture has grown around the town, and now there are also whitewater rafting, horse-back riding and zip-line excursions, as well. Furthermore, many Americans have discovered its idyllic setting and climate and decided to make it a retirement area. So the real estate market is booming, and the town has become a real mixture of Latinos
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