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How to Tour a Coffee Plantation in Panama

I have a confession: I’m not a coffee drinker. I think the last time I had coffee was about five years ago. The only way I like coffee is when you add in all those other flavors, milk, and whipped cream because it masks the coffee taste and makes it drinkable to me.

I simply hate the bitterness of coffee.

There’s only been one time I enjoyed a cup of java. It was back in 2003 when I was in Costa Rica , exploring the cloud forest in Monteverde . The organic, shade-grown coffee I had there was like drinking chocolate, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I bought a bag to take home and drank it every day.

So when my friends wanted to tour a coffee plantation in Boquete, Panama , I was less than enthused. “Can’t we go hiking instead?” I asked.

“No, we’re doing the coffee tour,” they replied.

We had hiked the previous day and they wanted to do something different. I grumbled, but reluctantly I agreed. Maybe learning about coffee might be better than actually drinking it. Maybe the coffee would be just as good as I had in Costa Rica.

About Panamanian Coffee

Panama is up with Colombia , Peru , and Costa Rica when it comes to quality coffee. The best coffee can be found in the Chiriquí highlands, where the volcanic soil, climate, and elevation are perfect for growing coffee.

Boquete, Cerro Punta, and Volcan produce the highly sought-after Geisha bean, one of the most expensive beans in the world, which regularly sell for over hundreds of dollars per pound. Prices can skyrocket as high as $2,700 USD per pound at auction for the best, most sought-after beans (from the award-winning family plantation, Hacienda La Esmeralda).

While today Panama produces some of the highest-quality, most expensive beans in the world, it wasn’t always like that. Coffee wasn’t brought to Panama until the early 19th century when European settlers started colonizing the region. But it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Panamanian coffee started to get recognized on the international coffee scene.

Today, many growers offer tours around their plantations, where you can see all the process from picking the berries, roasting and grinding, and have a tasting.

My Experience on a Coffee Tour in Panama

So how was it?

I loved it!

Usually, all coffee tastes the same to me, but the Geisha beans really did have a much more palatable taste. They’re less acidic than other kinds of coffee beans, with a smooth, floral, and aromatic flavor. I can see why they’re so popular.

Not only did I enjoy the coffee (which was surprising, I confess) but I learned about how Panamanians grow coffee and what makes their coffee and style unique. Panama aims for quality over quantity — which is something I can definitely vouch for after tasting their aromatic brew.

Here’s a video from my coffee tour in Boquete:

Visiting a Coffee Plantation in Panama: The Logistics

Coffee production in Panama is centered in the highlands of the Chiriquí Province, about 480 kilometers (300 miles) from Panama City. There are three main highland regions: Tierras Altas (includes Volcan, Bambito and Cerro Punta), Renacimiento, and Boquete (the most built up and well-known internationally). To get here, you can either drive (7 hours), take a bus (7-8 hours), or fly to David (less than one hour), the region’s main city, and take a bus from there to the highlands.

To help visitors plan their trip, the Panama Tourism Board has created a Coffee Circuit highlighting 15 of the best farms in the region that offer tours.

Most coffee plantation tours are half-day tours that last 3-5 hours. Expect to pay between $20-35 USD per person for a tour, depending on the tour and plantation you’re visiting. Tours usually include a coffee tasting, a tour of the plantation, as well as transportation to and from the plantation from your accommodation. Many plantations also have guesthouses where you can stay overnight if you want an extended visit.

Boquete is the best place to start as it’s the most built-up town, with the most plantations offering tours. You can usually book them through any hostel or from the tour shops in the center of town. There are so many available that you can often leave the same day if you want!

Here are some of the best coffee plantations to visit in Boquete:

• Finca Lerida – $35 USD per person. +507-720-1111,  fincalerida.com
• Cafe Ruiz – $20 USD per person. +507-730-9575, caferuiz-boquete.com
• Finca Dos Jefes – $30 USD per person. +507 6591 3522, boquetecoffeetour.com/coffee-tours
• Finca Casanga – $35 USD per person. +507-6990-0651, buypanamacoffee.com/tours

Here are some of the best coffee plantations to visit in Tierras Altas:

• Janson Coffee farm – $15 USD for just a tasting and $35 USD for the complete coffee tour. +507-6867-3884, jansoncoffee.com
• Finca Nueva Suiza Hermanos Lara – $35 USD per person. +507-6587-4349, circuitodelcafe.com

In Renacimiento, there’s just one farm currently offering tours:

• Finca Café de Eleta – $25 USD per person (also offers just a tasting session for $10 USD). cafeeleta.com

There are a lot of coffee plantation tours throughout this area of Panama . In fact, you couldn’t walk a block in Boquete without finding a coffee shop!

Even if you’re not a huge fan of drinking coffee, I would still encourage you to take a plantation tour when visiting Panama. Not only will you learn a lot about the process but you’ll learn about how coffee is grown and how it has impacted the development of this tiny Central American nation.

Book Your Trip to Panama: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Looking for more information on visiting Panama? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Panama for more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Panama , See · August 19, 2023

How To Take a Coffee Tour in Boquete, Panama (Complete Guide)

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our Disclosure Policy for details.

One of the biggest reasons we took a family vacation to Panama in 2023 was to take a coffee tour in Boquete.

That may seem like a crazy reason to visit a country, but my brother-in-law and sister invested in a coffee company in Boquete. Understandably, they wanted to see their investment in the field.

You certainly don’t have to invest in a coffee farm, to be interested in taking a coffee tour in Boquete, though. As it is one of the top activities to do in the region.

As coffee enthusiasts, we loved getting to learn the history and process of growing coffee something we had very little idea about before this experience. And I certainly gained a new appreciation for all that goes into a delicious cup of coffee each morning after taking a tour.

If you’re interested in taking a coffee tour in Boquete, Panama here’s everything you need to know about the experience. From where to book a tour, what to bring, and what to expect.

The best place for a coffee tour in Panama

Latin America has long been revered for its coffee-growing abilities. As of 2023, Latin America grows around 50% of all coffee globally each year.

It’s not a huge surprise considering coffee grows in almost any area that has a warm tropical climate. But quality coffee needs elevation and nutrient-rich soil to really thrive. Two things the mountains of Chiriqui have in large quantities.

Most people are familiar with Costa Rican coffee (which makes up around 1% of globally produced coffee). But few people realize Chiriqui, where the majority of Panamanian coffee hails from, is just an hour and a half from the Costa Rican border.

The similar growing climate makes it a perfect place to grow coffee. This is due to the rich volcanic soil in this region and Chiriqui’s position between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The areas surrounding Boquete and Volcan (about a 2 hours drive from Boquete) have the largest concentration of coffee fincas in the country. The abundance of coffee plantations makes it a clear winner for taking to take a coffee tour in Panama.

The history of coffee in Panama

Up until recently, Panama was often outshined by its neighbors Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru who produce the bulk of Latin American coffee. But today, Panama is world-renowned for growing far superior, tastier coffee than most of its Latin American counterparts. ☕️

To understand how Panama became a world-famous coffee-growing region, we have to look at its history.

Coffee was first introduced to this region in the 19th century by European immigrants. The beans are mostly Arabica beans and have done incredibly well since their first introduction to Chiriqui.

Arabica coffee is known for being dark, bold roasts (my favorite), with diverse tasting notes depending on the varietal. Since Boquete has a unique microclimate that includes lots of rain, high elevation, and cooler temperatures, it’s perfect for growing specialty varietals including like:

While all of these varietals are amazing (and worth trying on a trip to Boquete), the Geisha bean is what made Panama world-famous. This varietal hails from Gesha, Ethiopia, and was introduced to Panama in the 1960s.

The Geisha bean tastes a lot more like tea than an Arabica coffee. It’s subtle in color, soft on the palate, and has floral notes with hints of citrus fruit. It’s absolutely delicious and something you have to try when visiting here.

Panama created the Speciality Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) in the 1990s, entering its Geisha varietal into competitions. After winning several awards for the Geisha beans’ uniqueness and quality, Panamanian Geisha is now one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

For reference, a bag of Gesha coffee grown in Panama can cost a consumer around $30 to $40 or more for an 11-ounce bag. Expect a single glass of Geisha coffee to cost around $10 to $12 USD. When it comes to green unroasted beans, some coffee buyers have paid upwards of $4,000 for a single pound of beans. 😳

While Gesha helped Panama get on the map as a world-class coffee producer it’s not the only reason it stayed there. Year after year, Panama continues to win awards for its different varietals.

The best coffee tour in Boquete

There really isn’t a single best coffee tour in Boquete. There are many different fincas, or plantations, you can visit within a 10 to 20-minute drive of Boquete town center that will give you a great understanding of the coffee growing process.

However, some of the more popular coffee tours in Boquete are below:

• Finca Lerida  – $35 USD per person (as of 2023). This is also a gorgeous hotel.
• Cafes de La Luna ( Finca Dos Jefes ) – $30 – $35 USD per person depending on the tour selected.
• Finca Casanga  – $35 USD per person (as of 2023).
• Finca Dos Pepes – $30 USD per person (as of 2023).
• Damarli Estate – Price not listed. Contact them on their site to learn more.

Looking for more fun tours in Panama? Check out some of the most popular tours here.

When is the best time to go on a coffee tour in Boquete

It’s always a good time to go on a coffee tour in Boquete. But if you’re looking for lush green trees filled with red ripe berries it’s best to go between late November to February (Panama’s dry season).

If you’re coming to Boquete in October or early November be ready for the most glorious smell lofting across the region thanks to the coffee blooms. These flowers are reminiscent of jasmine and have the most incredible scent.

We went during the rainy season (April – October) and still really enjoyed the experience. Although should definitely pack a rain jacket and wear mud-safe shoes. There’s a good chance if you visit in the rainy season you’ll get rained on during the tour!

What to expect on a coffee plantation tour in Panama

We took our coffee tour with AgroNosotros , a private coffee and chocolate company that has ownership of over 800 acres of coffee and chocolate plantations across Panama and parts of Belize. Since my sister and brother-in-law are invested in the company, we were able to take a private tour at one of their sixteen fincas.

The farm we visited was about a 15-minute drive from Boquete downtown. We had to take a series of windy roads to a remote farm high up in the mountains of Chiriqui.

We were shocked that it took only took about 5 minutes outside of town before we started to see coffee trees in every direction. And we’re even more shocked to see how quickly this area gains elevation.

The tour began by walking the coffee farm.

Our guide, Andres, offered us a walking stick to traverse the very steep terrain here. I wasn’t sure if I would need it since I’m a very experienced and able hiker. But I was certainly glad I had it as we got into muddy and steep sections of the trail.

Andres explained the coffee growing process from sapling to production. We saw some of the workers, who reside on the farm in company-provided housing, preparing the soil for planting new saplings. We couldn’t believe how rich and dark the soil looked.

He continued to explain that this was from the volcanic activity in the area. This mineral-rich soil often needs little to no amendments and is abundant in nutrients vital to growing food and other crops, like coffee.

The saplings are planted in succession which allows them to harvest plants consistently over longer periods of time. Then they are monitored for pests and sometimes trimmed or treated with supplemental nutrients or pest control to ensure they reach maturity.

It can take anywhere from a year to five years for a plant to start producing coffee.

Andres shared how quickly a plant produces depends on the amount of rainfall, the average temperature, sun exposure, and other microclimate impacts in the years after the saplings are planted.

For example, when we visited in 2023 Panama was experiencing a Super El Niño . A year marked by an extremely dry climate and cooler weather. So, Andres adjusted his planting schedule to factor in this dryer season on the farm.

Every plant looks a bit different. Certain varietals will have larger leaves with different shapes to them than others. While other varietals will produce larger beans compared to smaller ones on other plants. Our guide continued to point them out to us and we were surprised by how quickly we were able to identify each plant as we were walking.

The red coffee fruits are harvested from mature trees between December and March. The fruits are picked daily based on ripeness and are then sent to be processed at an offsite facility.

AgroNosotros has in-house machines to help sort the beans by size, and washing the beans (removing the husks) can be done mechanically or naturally. Once washed, the beans are dried and then re-tested for consistent quality.

That’s when the beans are bagged and set to age anywhere from several weeks to several months depending on the varietal in a humidity and temperature-controlled area. Some coffee farms will roast the beans in-house selling it directly to consumers. But most sell green beans (unroasted) to global buyers.

Selling green unroasted beans was the primary goal of AgroNosotros, but it now has its own coffee shop, The Perfect Pair in Boquete. Which roasts select varietals making them available for purchase under its coffee brand, Cuatro Caminos.

Is Panamanian coffee good?

After we toured the farm we went back to The Perfect Pair for a coffee tasting. Unsurprisingly, this was our favorite part! We loved getting to taste different varietals from our skilled Barista, Ruben. We were blown away by the flavor of Panamian coffee and can in fact vogue that Panamian coffee is not just good, but incredible!

With specialty coffees, how the coffee is brewed, is equally as important as how the bean was grown and roasted.

A skilled barista like Ruben can extract flavors in the cup by using tools like the coarseness and consistency of the grind, the temperature and ratio of water to the ground beans, how the water is poured on the grounds, and the amount of time applied for the brewing process.

Through the varying skills and techniques used by the barista, a whole spectrum of flavors can appear. From floral to chemical and anywhere between.

Ruben made us several different coffees to try using a copper pour-over and ceramic V60 with three different beans. We couldn’t believe the different flavor profiles between each. You definitely need to do a side-by-side comparison between the beans and the brewing process to really appreciate this.

We had an absolute blast on our coffee tour in Boquete, Panama, and highly encourage anyone who is visiting this area to experience it themselves.

Hopefully, this guide helped you have a better idea of what to expect on a coffee tour, learn who and where to book a tour, and more about Panama’s unique coffee history.

CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOQUETE PANAMA GUIDES

• Caldera Hot Springs: A Must-Do Activity Near Boquete Panama – One of our favorite activities from our entire trip.
• Your Guide to Hiking El Pianista Trail in Boquete, Panama  – A great hiking guide if you want to venture into a cloud forest.
• A Complete Guide to Hiking The Lost Waterfalls Trail – A great hiking guide for one of the top hikes in Boquete.
• 10 Must-Do Activities in Boquete, Panama – The perfect travel bucket list to help you plan your vacation in Boquete.

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About Liz Brumer-Smith

One-half of the Eat See RV team. I'm the face you'll find in most videos and the main author of our blog. If I'm not vlogging or writing you can probably find me reading a good book, hanging with friends and family, relaxing near water, eating something tasty, or savoring kitty cuddles.

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Exploring history, culture and natural wonders

Experience Panama’s Coffee Farming Tradition in the Chiriquí Highlands

A coffee circuit connects 15 farms that offer tours and tastings in what’s been called the “Napa Valley of coffee”

Jennifer Billock

Travel Correspondent

The top of Volcán Barú in western Panama is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to see both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans at the same time. But the spot, with regular rainfall and cloud cover, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil that is naturally good for drainage, is prized for another reason: coffee production. The area’s geisha variety , maintained and handpicked by the Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé communities, is one of the priciest coffees in the world at more than $1,000 per pound unroasted.

“They [the Ngäbe and Buglé] are the ones most in contact with coffee over the last hundred years,” Diwigdi Valiente, a climate and Indigenous activist, told Travel + Leisure in 2021. “The reason the coffee is so expensive is because these farmers are doing all these things right. They’re listening to nature, they are listening to science, and they are also listening to people.”

Coffee first came to Panama in the early 1800s thanks to an English sea captain who brought plants with him when he married a Panamanian woman. At first, the coffee was planted along the coast, but locals soon learned that the microclimate of the Chiriquí Highlands at the base of Volcán Barú was perfect for the coffee to thrive. Coffee farms flourished from that point.

Though the country grows a comparatively small amount— 13 million pounds annually compared to Brazil’s five billion pounds—Panamanian coffee lovers consume more coffee per capita today than most coffee-producing countries. Still, much of the coffee is exported, and the farming of it has spawned a tourist activity. Established by t he Tourism Authority of Panama and the Center for Competitiveness of the Western Region in 2019, the ever-expanding Coffee Circuit connects 15 farms that offer tastings and tours of their fields and production facilities.

“All types of travelers, from families to nature lovers and adventurers, are welcomed to explore the coffee farms that are located in three main regions of the Chiriquí Highlands: Tierras Altas, which includes Volcan, Bambito and Cerro Punta; as well as Renacimiento and Boquete,” Promtur Panama, the official destination marketing organization for Panama, explained in a 2021 statement . The Chiriquí Highlands, after all, have been called the “Napa Valley of coffee.”

Here are five must-see farms:

Finca Lerida, Boquete

The world might not know about coffee from Panama if it weren’t for Finca Lerida . Norwegian engineer Toleff Bache Mönniche moved to the spot (about six miles uphill from Boquete, a small mountain town near the Costa Rica border) in 1924 with his wife, Julia, after he retired from years working on the Panama Canal. The couple built their home by hand and, that same year, started the coffee plantation. In 1929, Mönniche exported to Germany the very first shipment of Panamanian coffee to leave the country.

Today, the 900-acre Finca Lerida has a restaurant, a coffee shop and rooms to rent for overnight stays. The tour of the property starts in the coffee fields, to discuss the local terroir, and ends with a tasting of pacamara, catuai, caturra, typica and geisha varieties and a lesson on best practices for brewing a cup. Visitors follow trails ideal for birdwatching, with the local quetzal bird and more than 500 other bird species in the surrounding landscape.

Finca Café de Eleta, Renacimiento

Neighboring La Amistad International Park , a biodiverse Unesco World Heritage Site at the northwestern edge of Panama, Finca Café de Eleta has a responsibility to keep its coffee production environmentally safe. In 2003, the farm became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact , a volunteer-based initiative that focuses on sustainability, committing them to implementing and measuring sustainability initiatives. All of Finca Café de Eleta’s wastewater is treated organically and returned to the surrounding area, and solid waste gets composted and turned into fertilizer.

Finca Café de Eleta was first established in 1978 as a vegetable and sheep farm. The first coffee plants, of the catuaí variety, were planted in 1995. Now, the farm has more than 457 acres ranging in elevation from 3,937 to 4,921 feet, growing bourbon, catuaí, caturra, geisha, maragogype, pacamara and typica varieties of coffee. Tours through coffee plant nurseries and packaging processes last two hours. Visitors can add an hour-long tasting for an extra fee, or stay the night at the farm.

Lamastus Family Estates, Boquete

The three farms that make up the Lamastus Family Estates —Elida, El Burro and Luito Geisha—produce what’s considered some of the highest quality coffee in the world. Elida Estate is not only the highest in elevation of the three, but also the highest coffee farm in all of Panama, ranging from 5,200 to 8,500 feet above sea level. Coffee planting stops at 6,000 feet, though, due to Panamanian law; the remainder of Elida Estate is an ecological park within Volcán Barú National Park .

Elida started producing coffee in 1918. Due to the high altitude and cloudy rainforest environment, the beans are denser with a higher acidity than most coffees. Every coffee cherry (the coffee bean is the cherry’s seed) is handpicked by Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé, which helps account for its higher-than-average price, up to $1,000 per pound green. During tours at Elida Estate , participants can pick coffee cherries, watch the coffee manufacturing process, taste tree tomatoes (a roma-tomato-sized fruit that grows on trees and tastes like under-ripe tomatoes), and do a coffee tasting with the farm’s owner, Wilford Lamastus, or his son, Wilford Lamastus Jr.

Janson Coffee Farm, Tierras Altas

At Janson Coffee Farm , which lines the slopes of the Tisingal and Barú volcanoes at about 5,000 feet elevation, producing coffee in harmony with the surrounding environment is the main goal. The team grows green tip geisha, catuaí, caturra and pacamara varieties in soil they manage with enzyme microorganisms to maintain the ideal nutrient level. None of the coffee at Janson is grown using pesticides or herbicides; the different plots are separated by steps of forest that both control pests and allow natural flora and fauna to flourish. The farm is powered by 400 solar panels, and all waste is processed to use as either fuel or fertilizer. The farm’s owners are also dedicated to reforestation, growing native seedlings in the nursery to replant outside the coffee fields.

Swedish farmer Carl Axel Janson first started the farm in 1941, raising cattle. When the second generation took over, they opened Janson Coffee Farm. Today, the coffee, now produced by the fourth Janson generation, regularly wins top marks in the Best of Panama and World Brewers Cup competitions. Tours of the farm provide an overview of the different varieties of coffee plants grown there as well as the coffee production process from start to finish, and include a visit to the estate and the nursery. A coffee tasting is an add-on.

Don Pepe Estate Coffee, Boquete

Don Pepe Estate Coffee in the Volcán Barú foothills opened in 1898, making it the oldest coffee farm in the region and the first farm in Panama to specialize in coffee. The Vasquez family, now on the fifth generation of ownership, specializes in geisha coffee, but also in three different processing styles: natural, honey and washed. With the natural process, the coffee fruit dries whole, making the coffee full-bodied with low acidity. The honey process extracts the pulp layer before the coffee is dried, leaving a sweet acidity in the finished brew, and a washed process removes everything, leaving just the bean for a light body and fruit-focused flavor.

Tours at Don Pepe run twice a day and cover the growing and manufacturing of their eight varieties: geisha, java, pacamara, bourbon, typica, catuaí, caturra and a blend. The tour ends with a tasting. Don Pepe Estate also provides transportation—they’ll pick you up and drop you off from nearby accommodations.

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Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com .

Matador Original Series

How to Take the Ultimate Coffee Trip Through Panama

Coffee is something most of us take for granted. It shows up in our cups every morning, whether we take the time to grind our own beans or simply order the usual from a local cafe. But when you see the effort and care that goes into growing, harvesting, drying, and roasting coffee, it opens your eyes to how precious a simple cup actually is. Making a pilgrimage to the source during harvest will deepen your respect for the drink that gets you up every morning, and there’s no better place to see the process first hand than Panama .

Compared to other countries, Panama’s coffee production is small but mighty. The country’s output is billions of pounds less than places like Brazil and Colombia , yet many of the estates are still owned by families who do things the right way. They hand-pick the coffee cherries and care about the ecosystem, making strides to protect the environment around them. Panama is also home to the Geisha bean, which is one of the best and most expensive in the world. The combination of family farms and world-class coffee beans is more than enough to earn a spot on any coffee lover’s travel wish list. Here’s every place you need to visit to get your caffeine fix, along with the best places to stay and eat along the way.

Start your journey in Panama City.

Photo: Gualberto Becerra /Shutterstock

Although the best coffee farms to visit are in the Chiriquí Province, your trip will likely start in Panama City when you fly into the country. Take an extra day or so to enjoy this vibrant metropolis, which has a number of excellent restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels to enjoy.

Where to stay: You’ll find chic and comfortable accommodations at an affordable price at The Bristol . If you have the budget, spring for a tower executive room, which comes complete with a big shower and grand soaking tub. An outdoor pool and spa are there for when you need to relax before or after your adventures, and there’s a quick on-site restaurant, Salsipuedes, for breakfast before heading out.

Photo: Leto, Coffee Brew Bar /Facebook

Where to get a cup of coffee: There are, naturally, excellent coffee shops in Panama City where you can get your first taste of Panamanian beans. Mentiritas Blancas serves expertly made Geisha coffee pour-overs and some of the best baked goods in the city. Leto , situated in Panama City’s bustling San Francisco neighborhood, is the place to go for pour-overs and coffees made with an Aeropress, Chemex, and siphon, as well as for drinks like cappuccinos and matcha lattes.

Where to eat: There’s no shortage of excellent restaurants in Panama City, so come with a hearty appetite. Maito is a must-visit and was recognized as one of Latin America’s best restaurants by World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Here, chef Mario Castrellón experiments with classic Panamanian flavors and local ingredients to create a diverse menu of modern plates — think coconut octopus wontons and black rice with chorizo and conch.

Getting to the coffee farms in Chiriquí Province

The drive from Panama City to Chiriquí is about eight hours. A much easier way to get there is to take a 40-minute flight from Albrook Airport in Panama City, which is a hub for regional travel, and land in Enrique Malek International Airport in the city of David, the capital of Chiriquí. From there, you’ll need to rent a car to drive to Boquete and Volcán to visit the coffee estates.

Your coffee experience in Boquete

Start your journey in Boquete, which is a little more built up than Volcán, to get acquainted with the region. There are a few wonderful coffee farms to visit, but make appointments because most of them don’t take walk-ins.

Photo: Amanda Gabriele

Coffee estates to visit: First, stop at Elida Estate , which has been owned by the Lamastus family since 1918. The 65-hectare farm grows Geisha, Arabica, and Catuai coffee varieties and is located in the Volcan Baru National Park, a protected ecological reserve. Booking the Tour “La Torre” to explore the high elevations of Elida Estate by car and take in sweeping views of the plantation. On the way back to the mill, you’ll get a cup of Geisha coffee in the beautiful, modern shop. Next, pay a visit to Finca Dos Jefes , a seven-acre farm that produces Cafés de la Luna coffee. Here, beans are organically grown in conjunction with the moon phases before being naturally processed and roasted on site. Finca Dos Jefes’ immersive tour starts with a walking tour of the farm, moves to coffee tasting, and concludes with a hands-on roasting experience.

Where to eat: Boquete has a sizable expat community, and the food is just as diverse as the people. One great example of this is Colibrí , a restaurant serving globally inspired cuisine from a Colombian and Italian who fell in love with Panama during their travels. The menu has everything from shrimp ceviche marinated in passionfruit to a lamb burger with local goat cheese. Don’t miss the Geisha coffee tiramisu for dessert. Seafood lovers should pay a visit to Boquete Fish House Restaurant , which is situated on a little river. The sea bass, fish and chips, and prawns are all winners here, but your best bet is to order off the board of daily specials.

Photo: Coffee Estate Inn /Facebook

Where to stay: When it comes time to rest your head, there are an ample amount of comfortable options in Boquete. At La Montaña y El Valle Coffee Estate Inn , not only will you experience spacious rooms with heated floors and expansive decks with views of the Baru Volcano, but you can also participate in the roasting process of the hotel’s own estate-grown coffee. Finca Lerida is another gorgeous Boquete hotel with rooms that have luxurious bathrooms, in-room espresso machines, fireplaces, and terraces complete with hammocks. Guests can enjoy coffee tours of the hotel’s plantation, bird watching, and hiking through the expansive grounds. Don’t miss a meal at hotel restaurant La Brulerie, which makes homemade bread, pasta, soups, and jams from fruit grown on site.

Your coffee experience in Volcán

The town of Volcán, which is located in Chiriquí’s Tierras Altas district, is about a two-hour drive from Boquete. Volcán is across the Baru Volcano from Boquete, and you have to drive around it to get there. Just like in Boquete, it’s best to make advance appointments for any coffee estates you want to visit.

Photo: La Cosecha

Coffee estates to visit: First, stop at the sprawling Ninety Plus Coffee Farm , a 450-acre estate run by founder Joseph Brodsky. His whole philosophy stems around “leaving coffee better than he found it” by committing to canopy and restoration ecology. The bumpy ride through the farm’s mountainous terrain is worth it for the relaxed coffee tasting on a patio overlooking Ninety Plus’s grounds.

Carmen Estate Coffee is also a must-visit when in Volcán. The brand has been producing high-quality Arabica coffee for more than 50 years, and visitors can see how the coffee cherries are harvested, watch a roasting demo, and see how the beans are packed for shipping. Janson Coffee Farm is an especially fun place to visit in Volcán. Not only can you tour the coffee estate, but Lagunas Adventures has also partnered with Janson to offer activities like horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and birding. If you’d like to continue on your nature journey, pay a visit to Haras Cerro Punta . This gorgeous estate has been breeding thoroughbred racehorses for generations, and it’s worth it to take a tour for the scenery alone. There, you can also sample a cup of Eleta Coffee , which is grown by the same family on their farm near the border of Costa Rica.

Where to eat: Cerro Brujo Gourmet is one of the best places to dine in Panama. Chef Patricia Miranda infuses Panamanian cuisine with worldly flavors and uses herbs and vegetables grown in her own garden. For lunch, we feasted on eggplant filled with boda (a palm flower that is similar in look and taste to baby corn), a fresh green salad with daikon and strawberries, mashed malanga (a root vegetable similar to taro), and seven-hour roasted pork. Call ahead because Cerro Brujo doesn’t always keep normal hours. If you’re looking for a quick, casual meal, visit Aqui Va La Niña . This covered outdoor restaurant is basically a food truck that serves mouthwatering burgers, wings, ceviche, and tamal de olla , a Panamanian-style tamale. If you’re lucky, a local band will be playing some live music while you dine.

Photo: Casa Grande Bambito /Facebook

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Welcome to Finca Casanga

Experience the exquisite taste of our specialty coffee at Finca Casanga, a small, family-owned coffee farm located in Boquete, Panama, that is dedicated to providing you with an unforgettable experience. Our socially responsible and bird-friendly practices ensure that our coffee is not only delicious but also environmentally conscious.

Coffee Tours

Our coffee tours provide a unique opportunity to experience all parts of coffee production up close. Our knowledgeable guides will walk you through a series of interactive and engaging activities where you'll learn how we select, process, roast and brew our magnificent coffee. Get ready to touch, taste and experience coffee like never before! ​ Book a tour

Experience the authentic taste of specialty coffee with our roasted coffee beans. Expertly hand sorted, each small batch is carefully roasted to ensure peak freshness. Choose from a variety of roasts to suit your taste preferences and enjoy the rich aroma and taste of our premium coffee beans.

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Looking for a unique gift? Why not lease a coffee tree from our farm to your home? With our virtual farming program, you can have your very own coffee tree in Boquete, Panama. We'll take care of it for you and deliver the coffee it produces right to your doorstep. It's a gift that keeps on giving!​ Tree Leasing

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A Guide to Visiting the Coffee Plantations in Boquete, Panama

The best coffee in the world is produced on coffee farms in Boquete , Panama. Along with the farms are processing plants and tasting facilities with coffee tours welcoming visitors from all over the world. Finca La Milagrosa is one of the most respected producers of Panama ’s 100 percent organic, exclusive specialty coffee .

The rarest, most sought-after, expensive coffee bean called Geisha comes from Panama. Originally known as Esmeralda Boquete Geisha, the Panama Esmeralda Private Reserve Geisha grows on the slopes of the Barú Volcano near Boquete in Panama. It sells for a whopping $140 per pound at international coffee auctions.

It comes as no surprise that Boquete is known as the Bordeaux of coffee . The special soil in Boquete is enriched with volcanic ash combined with the cool mountain air, making it perfect for growing coffee.

The Geisha bean originates from the rain forests of Ethiopia. It did not make its way to the Americas until the 1950s. A farmer by the name of Don Pachi imported the specialty coffee to Panama in the 1960s. His family still owns a plantation in Boquete today.

When visiting the amazing coffee farms of Boquete, be sure to see the most incredible plantations including Finca La Valentina, the Don Pachi Estate, and the Hacienda La Esmeralda. Also on the list of coffee farm destinations to visit include Finca Lerida, Finca Dos Jefes, Kotowa Estates, and Café Ruiz.

Each of the coffee farms has its own unique tour and includes tasting and hands-on experience. Some of the tours are as long as several hours in length, and others are extremely strict about their coffee. The strictness can result in participants needing to come without any scent, be it perfume, lotion, or even sunblock, if it omits an odor that can affect the complexity of the delicate coffee beans.

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How to Go on a Coffee Tour in Boquete, Panama

A small mountainous town at the base of a volcano, Boquete is an ideal location for growing coffee plants. Due to its microclimate, high elevation, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil, this area thrives in production and is home to almost half of the country’s coffee farms. A coffee tour is one of the best things to do in Boquete and a must for all coffee lovers. Even if you don’t drink coffee, like me, this is an informative and interactive tour, and you can try the tea made from its berry. To enhance your coffee plantation experience, combine it with a panoramic tour for a great half-day tour of Boquete.

Thinking about going on a panoramic & coffee tour in Boquete? Here is my honest review of the panoramic & coffee tour with Full Adventures Boquete. 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Full Adventures Boquete. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Table of Contents

Coffee Tour in Boquete, Panama

Home to almost 2000 coffee plantations, the people of Boquete know their coffee. Of the 400 kinds of coffee berries grown worldwide, you can find 50 of those varieties grown in Boquete. Each year from November to March, the berries are hand-picked from the plants and processed. 

During your coffee tour in Boquete, you will learn all about coffee, coffee production and processing, and have a great coffee tasting of the different types offered at the farm. Your guide will break down misconceptions about coffee, inform you about different coffees around the world, and teach you what makes Panamanian coffee special. 

Is Coffee From Panama Good?

Panama is recognized for producing high-quality coffee, producing 1% of the world’s coffee supply. The best Panamanian coffee is grown in Boquete and is loved for its flavour profile.

What Does Panama Coffee Taste Like? 

Coffee from Panama tastes well-balanced, with hints of fruit and dark cocoa. Its fragrance is intense and sweet, with notes of a jasmine-like aroma. The popular Geisha variety is known for its floral and fruity taste, nothing like when you think of coffee.

What Makes Geisha Coffee Special?

Unlike any other coffee in the world, Geisha coffee is what made the Boquete region well-known and is considered some of the best coffee in the world. Aromatic with a distinctive flavour profile, Geisha brew has a fruity flavour, ranging from berry to citrusy and even mango, peach, or bergamot. 

Since being created in 2004, Geisha has quickly gained popularity and status, taking a worldwide stage. This high-quality, sought-after coffee comes with a high price tag, selling from hundreds to thousands of dollars per pound, making it some of the most expensive coffee in the world . With its high price, Geisha is often enjoyed on special occasions rather than as an everyday cup of java.

About Full Adventures Boquete 

Full Adventures Boquete is a tour operator in Boquete, offering and organizing a variety of adventure activities: including horseback riding, white water rafting, nature hikes, coffee tours, and more. The owner Jeimy is very kind, and her staff are very knowledgeable.

Location 

Full Adventures Boquete is located in downtown Boquete on the main highway that passes through this small town. Their shop is next to Big Daddy’s Grill and has a large sign out front that lists some of the adventure activities they offer.

Address: QHG8+6X4, Vía Boquete, Bajo Boquete, Panama

The Scenery

Located in northwest Panama in the Chiriqui Highlands, Boquete is a small town at the base of Volcan Baru. At 1200 m above sea level, you will be up in the cloud forest and experience cooler temperatures than the mainland. During your tour, you will see scenic views of the rolling mountains.

Panoramic & Coffee Tour with Full Adventures Boquete

Here is what it’s like going on the half-day panoramic and coffee tour with Full Adventures Boquete: 

After meeting at the office, we got in the car and started our panoramic and coffee tour. Our guide Felix was friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. We right away knew that we were going to get along well and have a great experience. 

Panoramic Tour 

Still tired from our sunrise jeep tour the day before, our guide modified our private panoramic tour into a scenic drive through the mountain to show us the best views of Boquete from different angles. At every scenic lookout, we would pause and jump out of the car to take photos and admire the view. While driving, Felix shared with us some of the region’s history and answered any curiosities about Boquete we had. 

Our first official stop of the panoramic tour was a coffee shop with the best view in all of Boquete. We arrived just as the cafe was opening, excited to sit on the balcony overlooking the valley below. We ordered a coffee, a cappuccino, and hot chocolate. After finishing our drinks and soaking in the incredible views as long as possible, it’s time to head to the farm for our Boquete coffee tour.

Coffee Tour 

We toured award-winning Finca La Milagrosa , also known as the Miracle Farm. Upon arriving for our tour and tasting, we started outside to learn about the plants. Our guide picked fresh berries for us to sample. To our surprise, the berry tasted nothing like the end product of coffee. Instead, it was fruity. Each berry had a different shape and a different taste. Even the flowers of the plant smelled pleasant.

Learn what goes into coffee production and 4-months of processing, from the berry on the tree to the drinkable product. See the innovative ways that this small family-run farm’s hand-created machines assist them in processing while still keeping a hands-on approach to their specialty coffee. You will be able to learn and taste what makes Panamanian coffee special. 

Watch the beans hand-roast in front of you as you wait for your coffee to be ready. During the tasting portion, you will sample five products: an arabica washed, arabica natural, geisha washed, geisha natural, and a tea made from the coffee berry. The geisha natural was P’s and our tour guide Felix’s favourite variety. Each one had a unique taste and smelled pleasant, different from coffee back home. I enjoyed the tea as it was unlike anything I’d tasted before.

After the tasting, we bought coffee and tea to bring home, finishing our half-day tour. 

Tips for the Panoramic & Coffee Tour 

• Bring cash with you to purchase coffee from the farm. There is no debit machine at the farm. If you do not have money on you, Full Adventures Boquete will accept credit cards via their payment machine at their shop for coffee purchases, which is what I did to buy bags of coffee and tea.
• Wear sunscreen and bug spray. You will be mostly outside during your tour.
• Visit during the harvest season to see the production line and processing machines in busy operation (November-March). For a more quiet/private tour, go outside of harvest time. We visited in October when machines were being repaired to prep for the harvest and had the farm to ourselves.

Panoramic & Coffee Tour with Full Adventures Boquete: Final Thoughts 

I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the coffee tour, even as a non-coffee drinker. Jeimy convinced me to go, and I’m glad she did. While I didn’t drink any coffee, the experience was enjoyable and educational, from learning Boquete’s history to the process of making coffee and misconceptions of coffee from around the world. I recommend doing the panoramic & coffee tour with Full Adventures Boquete.

To learn more about Full Adventures Boquete, and book your panoramic & coffee tour adventure, visit their website or their social media .

I hope this information helps you plan your Panama coffee tour with Full Adventures Boquete.  

Happy travelling!

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Melissa is the founder of My Beautiful Passport. A Canadian who has explored 15+ countries on 4 continents, she enjoys combining adventure and affordable luxury. Through sharing her own experiences, travel tips, and destination itineraries, she helps others plan their unique adventures whether it be at the beach, in the city, or in the mountains.

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WELCOME TO FINCA DOS JEFES,

We are located in Boquete, a small mountain village on the slopes of Volcan Barú in the province of Chiriquí, Republic of Panamá. This seven acre farm is 1400 meters above sea level. Dee Harris and Rich Lipner purchased the abandoned coffee farm in 2003 and began the ongoing process of reclaiming the land and improving the quality of the coffee. They added many new plants and now grow seven varieties of Arabica coffee: Pacamara, Heirloom Bourbon, Gesha, along with the original Caturra, Catuai, Criollo and Catimor.

Farming and Processing Practices

Cafés de la Luna is organically grown, naturally processed, and carefully roasted on the premises. We also farm in alliance with the phases of the moon. During the waning moon, when the earth inhales, we attend to the soil by furnishing organic nutrients. During the waxing moon, when the force pulls upwards, we nurture the trees to foment growth. We believe our return to this ancient farming practice produces the healthiest trees and the highest quality coffee under the moon.

After being hand-picked, the coffee cherries are dried naturally on raised bamboo drying beds with the skin and fruit intact. This 'natural' processing preserves the fruity flavors of the coffee. The cherries are dried to 11% moisture content and then placed in repose for a minimum of three months before they are peeled, resulting in the green bean that is ready to roast.

Browse our site to learn more about our coffee production and guided visits

Boquete Farm Tour

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Giving Back to the Community

Finca Dos Jefes is proud to support the children of the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle. During our first visit in 2007, we became aware of the plight of 12 secondary school children who wanted to continue their education, but were faced with a forbidding three hour walk in each direction. Teachers at the magnet school had begun the process of turning an abandoned copper mine building into a dormitory where students could sleep during the week, however they still needed a way to feed these students. We were, and still are, pleased to fund this food program. The program now has 38 participants and is still growing.

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Coffee: the Pride of Panamá

Panamanian coffee is experiencing a meteoric boom. Discover the mountains and farms that cultivate and roast one of the best-ranked coffees in the world in the districts of Tierras Altas and Boquete . Get to know the processes and people that have achieved the highest standards in the coffee industry and immerse yourself with all your senses in the incredible Panamanian coffee culture.

Coffee Destination

Panamá has a privileged geographical location and the mountains of this area have even more special conditions.

Soils enriched with volcanic minerals, and a humid environment due to the influence of both oceans, appropriate climatic conditions and, above all, vast experience in planting, harvesting and processing. 

The result could not be better: the production of Geisha coffee, the world's most sought-after coffee variety, that has put the country’s name in world rankings.

The farms where this exquisite coffee is produced are located 1,000 to 2,100 meters (3,280 to 6,900 feet) above sea level. They offer the best landscapes in the country’s mountainous region, and are surrounded by natural reserves that add a unique charm to the experience. 

We are world leaders; Best of Panamá (BOP) is an international auction where Geisha coffee and other varietals that have wowed the experts are catalogued and sold. In this auction, the best national and international juries gather to find the true value behind each cup, and the prices at which Panamanian coffee is sold in BOP continue to break world records.

Coffee Culture

Visit our coffee destinations for a better idea of coffee’s quality; above all, of the importance of the land and the hands that cultivate and process this crop.

Panamá’s certified coffee farms have joined together in the Coffee Circuit to offer quality tourist experiences. In their farms you can learn about the careful process behind a good cup of coffee: planting the best beans in the best soil, harvesting at the best time, peeling, washing, pre-drying, drying, aging, peeling again, classifying (by size, shape, density, color and defects), roasting, packing, grinding and filtering. Finally, enjoy the most exquisite cup of coffee, with an incredible view of the Highlands mountains.

The farms in the Coffee Circuit also offer experiences such as horseback riding, hiking , agrotourism , trout fishing, zip lines , hanging bridges, and a series of outdoor activities that will make your visit an unforgettable experience.

When you visit, you will also learn about the efforts to cultivate coffee sustainably and responsibly; the member farms of the Coffee Circuit have taken up this challenge and offer you different ecological visions. 

Another experience that you can have in our coffee farms is meting the Ngäbe-Buglé people, two of the seven indigenous communities in Panamá. They are the harvesting hands in this completely artisanal process, and the coffee farms are having an increasingly positive impact within the community.

No matter what season you come to our mountains, you can always book a tour that includes tasting and hiking in the farms.

If you go from December to March, during the harvest months, the coffee buds will be red and shiny. Then, you will see the landscape dotted with hundreds of workers who handpick each of the beans. It is quite an experience. 

If you come at the beginning of the rainy season, between March and April, you will enjoy a special sight: the foothills are covered with white flowers, as if the tropical mountains were covered in snow. And finally, if you come in the months of May to November, you will find the coffee plantations green and lush. 

Remember that you can find an excellent cup of coffee throughout the country. In Panama City , you can take a tasting tour with baristas specialized in Geisha coffee who will tell you about the best techniques to brew coffee and the importance of the cup’s presentation. 

This experience is not to be missed, whether in the middle of the city or in the mountains, immersed in history, modern architecture, nature, and immense biodiversity, where you will see and taste the efforts of the hundreds of people behind one of the best coffees in the world: Panamá coffee.

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Milagrosa Farm Coffee Tour

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Milagrosa Farm grows a gourmet variety of coffee, in the Jaramillo Mountains that are just outside of Boquete. The volcanic soil provides and exceptional environment for growing coffee beans.

On your tour you’ll learn a little bit about the history of this farm, which started 30 years ago with very little equipment. You’ll also learn about how the coffee plant matures, and your guide will walk you through the process of harvesting and roasting the coffee beans. After the tour you’ll get to participate in a delectable coffee tasting.

What to Bring

Comfortable clothes, walking shoes, bottled water, and a camera.

What's included

Guided tour and coffee tasting.

Transportation

Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.

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Boquete’s rich volcanic soil and temperate climate makes it a perfect place to grow coffee. During this tour, you’ll explore an organic coffee farm and learn about the process of growing, roasting, and distributing coffee.

Have you ever wondered where you coffee comes from? Or maybe how it’s grown? If so, this is the tour for you. During this tour, you’ll explore the Río Crystal Coffee Farm and learn about the entire coffee process, from bean to cup.

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Tips / Destination

Panama produces some of the most sought-after coffee in the world. The volcanic ash of the soil around the Barú Volcano in Western Panama allows locals to grow the delicious — and expensive — Geisha beans. It’s one of the primary driving forces behind the economy in the country and there are numerous tours to try.

Finca Lerida

Finca Lerida is a coffee plantation and hotel hybrid that sits on 500 acres of cloud forest near the base of the Barú Volcano. As such it has exclusive access to some of the region’s most stunning wildlife and hiking trails.

Kotowa Estates

The Kotowa Estates is one of the oldest coffee plantations in Panama. The Macintyre family has run the plantation for three generations, going back nearly 100 years. They offer daily tours of the farm and the surrounding Palo Alto hills.

Finca Dos Jefes

The organic Finca Dos Jefes farm is a rarity among coffee plantations as it allows you to get hands on and pack your own bag of beans. It’s a great reward for getting your hands dirty and the stunning location offers seven acres of beauty to explore.

Janson Coffee Farm

The Janson Coffee Farm in western Chiriqui is close to many spectacular outdoor adventures in the region. Along with the coffee farm, a trip here can also include kayaking in the highest lake system in Panama or horseback riding through the numerous trails around the farm.

Café Ruiz is serious about its coffee, which is why they ask all visitors to refrain from wearing scents of any kind — they want you to get the full aromatic experience. They offer an extensive tasting tour where you’ll learn all about the complexities of coffee and how the process of creating it happens.

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United Airlines keeps soaring to new heights, recently announcing another expansion of its leading global route network. The airline added new non-stop flights between Newark (EWR) and Marrakesh (RAK), Morocco; Tokyo (NRT) and Cebu (CEB), Philippines; and Houston (IAH) and Medellin (MDE), Colombia. That’s not all: United also plans to increase flights to popular worldwide destinations including Hong Kong (HKG); Seoul (INC), South Korea; and Porto (OPO), Portugal. Following the recent agreement to increase flights between the U.S. and Chinese governments, the airline now adds four weekly flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai (PVG).

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Overlooking Boquete

Coffee cherries on a coffee finca (farm)

Specialty coffee cupping in Panama

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Sample tour itinerary.

Arrive in Panama City Private Shuttle to hotel Welcome Dinner

Visit the Panama Canal, Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry, and the Amador Causeway

Tour the Unique Coffee Shops and History of Casco Viejo

 Ferry to the Las Perlas Islands for a Day Trip to the Beach

Flight to David, Panama Private Shuttle to Boquete Coffee Farm Tour #1

Cacao Crafting Class Tour the Mountains of Boquete and Unique Coffee Shops Stay on a Working Coffee Finca (farm) with Trails for Hiking

Coffee Farm Tour #3 Private Specialty Cupping Experience Farewell Dinner

Private Shuttle to David Airport for flight back to Panama City

*Itinerary is subject to change.

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7 nights in Panama

Seven nights in ★★★★ and above

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All fees, tips & taxes for meals/tours

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

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English-speaking tour guides

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• Peak Coffee Season: January - March
• Off-Season: April - September
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Full Of Beans At A Coffee Farm In Panama

Can you believe that in all my travels, I have never been to a coffee farm! Even after visiting the  coffee region of Salento  in Colombia. So being in Central America, I decided to pay a visit to another of the larger coffee exporters – Panama.

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In fact, according to the Cup Of Excellence coffee competition, Panama has the number one coffee in the world – La Esmeralda special which has set an online action record for selling at $350 per pound!

Although it is the smallest producer, Panama also produces one of the most expensive coffees: Geisha coffee, which is so exclusive that it costs $2,500 a kilo.

These award-winning coffees come from the small mountain town of Boquete, which produces 60% of the country’s coffee.

There are more than 35 different brands in Boquete, with over 1000 coffee growers, and each coffee grower independent.

Mr. Ruiz is just one of the producers here. At 93 years old, he hasn’t quite grasped the meaning of retiring and still comes to his farm every day. Owning 11 of the coffee farms in Boquete, he knows a thing or two about coffee beans.

Carlos, my tour guide has been working for  Ruiz Coffee  since the age of ten when his father ran away and he was employed as a coffee picker to support his mother and his eight brothers (the minimum age for a child picker is now 14 years old).

He tells us the story of the coffee farm and the coffee bean’s journey from the farm to the cup at your favorite coffee shop.

Similar to wine, there are different coffee plants for different tastes and the best coffee comes from the oldest coffee trees. Some of the trees on the farm are eighty years old.

The Coffee Process

1. Coffee is actually a fruit and from planting the seed in the ground, it takes five years to get the first fruits. Then the picking begins…

Each fruit is hand picked and there are 450 pickers employed on this farm, many of which are indigenous families who live on site in free housing which Mr. Ruiz provides.

Workers pick for six days a week and harvest from 7am until 5pm working in groups, earning 25 cents per kilo and picking up to 100 kilos per day (which compared to picking onions for $9 a day is nearly three times the wage). Coffee picking season runs from October to March and afterwards many of the families return home to their tribe.

2. Then the floating part of the process begins, and any bean which sinks to the bottom of the water are kept as good ones. According to Carlos, the ones which float are sent to Nescafe.

3. Next is squeezing as there are two coffee beans in each one so this process separates each bean. At this early stage, the beans are sweet and nothing here is wasted as the skin is used to make a tea.

4. Then fermentation which is necessary to break down the sugar within twenty-four hours.

5. When drying each bean, 88% of the water is lost. This part of the farm smells more like a winery, and looking after the beans is a time consuming job with the beans being raked twice an hour over a period of three weeks.

6. Then for the ageing process, where the coffee is put inside a bag for four months before being peeled.

7. Each coffee bean is then peeled using friction. The green coffee bean inside then gets exported after it has been sorted by size, shape, density and color.

8. After being put in vacuum bags – it’s ready to be shipped.

The whole process from planting the coffee seed in the ground takes 5 years – a long time to wait for a decent cup of coffee!

Coffee Facts

• Brazil and Colombia are two of the biggest coffee producers.
• USA and Japan are the largest consumers of coffee.
• Although Mr. Ruiz is a producer of Geisha coffee, it’s not the most expensive coffee in the world. That title goes to: Kopi Luwak, found in Indonesia. These coffee beans are first eaten by an indigenous cat called the Asian palm civet, which are then pooped out and roasted!
• But Indonesia aren’t the only ones to use animals as a way of producing coffee. Thailand have followed suit to create Black Ivory Coffee, a coffee bean collected from elephants feces. Hmm…

I’ve love to get your thoughts. Have you tasted Kopi Luwak or Black Ivory coffee?

About Boquete

I booked my coffee farm tour through Hostel Gaia in Boquete, which cost $35 for a half-day and you get picked up and brought back to the hostel. Hostel Gaia is so peaceful and has more of a homely feel than a hostel. It seemed to attract the quieter, mature traveller instead of those who wanted to party.

Everywhere in Boquete is walking distance and the area is perfect for solos wanting to escape a city and enjoy some mountainous fresh air and the outdoors.

TIP  – Boquete does have a Flower Festival each year in January, which attracts people from the nearby city of David, with its pretty floral displays and evening entertainment. At night the music is so loud that it can be difficult to sleep in the early hours so you may want to avoid this time if you want to get a decent night’s rest.

I travelled to Boquete from David on a yellow chicken bus which took one hour. Buses leave frequently every hour and cost $2.

This article was originally posted on  Girl About The Globe , a travel resource site for solo females. If you love these tips on solo travel, there are plenty more in  A Female Guide to Solo Travel , the most comprehensive travel guide for women travelling alone. Learn how to conquer your fear of travelling solo, how to plan your trip, coping mechanisms for when you’re on the road, and how to overcome to post-travel blues when you return home. Plus there are lots of special discounts to save you money too!

Experience Panama

I'm a travel addict specialising in solo travel. My background in the travel industry has fueled my passion to see the world and since the age of twenty one, I have travelled extensively as a solo traveller, living and working in numerous countries. My mission is to empower women to travel solo with my book, A Female Guide To Solo Travel , the most comprehensive travel guide for women traveling alone.

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THE 5 BEST Panama Coffee & Tea Tours

Coffee & tea tours in panama.

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1. The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour

2. Small Group Coffee Tour (Minimum 2 people)

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Boquete Coffee Tour in Panama

Can you believe that in all my travels, I have never been to a coffee farm! Even after visiting the coffee region of Salento in Colombia. So being in Central America, I decided to pay a visit to another of the larger coffee exporters – Panama .

In fact, according to the Cup Of Excellence coffee competition, Panama has the number one coffee in the world – La Esmeralda special which has set an online action record for selling at $350 per pound!

Although it is the smallest producer, Panama also produces one of the most expensive coffees: Geisha coffee, which is so exclusive that it costs £1600 a kilo. These award-winning coffees come from the small mountain town of Boquete, which produces 60% of the country’s coffee.

A Boquete Coffee Tour

There are more than 35 different brands in Boquete, with over 1000 coffee growers, and each coffee grower independent. Mr Ruiz is just one of the producers here. At 93 years old, he hasn’t quite grasped the meaning of retiring and still comes to his farm every day. Owning 11 of the coffee farms in Boquete, he knows a thing or two about coffee beans.

Carlos, my tour guide has been working for Ruiz Coffee since the age of ten when his father ran away and he was employed as a coffee picker to support his mother and his eight brothers (the minimum age for a child picker is now 14 years old).

Ruiz Coffee Process

He tells us the story of the coffee farm and the coffee bean’s journey from the farm to the cup at your favourite coffee shop.

Similar to wine, there are different coffee plants for different tastes and the best coffee comes from the oldest coffee trees. Some of the trees on the farm are eighty years old.

The Coffee Process

1. Coffee is actually a fruit and from planting the seed in the ground, it takes five years to get the first fruits. Then the picking begins…

Each fruit is hand picked and there are 450 pickers employed on this farm, many of which are indigenous families who live on site in free housing which Mr Ruiz provides.

Workers pick for six days a week and harvest from 7am until 5pm working in groups, earning 25 cents per kilo and picking up to 100 kilos per day (which compared to picking onions for $9 a day is nearly three times the wage). Coffee picking season runs from October to March and afterwards many of the families return home to their tribe.

2. Then the floating part of the process begins, and any bean which sinks to the bottom of the water are kept as good ones. According to Carlos, the ones which float are sent to Nescafe.

3. Next is squeezing as there are two coffee beans in each one so this process separates each bean. At this early stage, the beans are sweet and nothing here is wasted as the skin is used to make a tea.

4. Then fermentation which is necessary to break down the sugar within twenty-four hours.

5. When drying each bean, 88% of the water is lost. This part of the farm smells more like a winery, and looking after the beans is a time consuming job with the beans being raked twice an hour over a period of three weeks.

6. Then for the ageing process, where the coffee is put inside a bag for four months before being peeled.

7. Each coffee bean is then peeled using friction. The green coffee bean inside then gets exported after it has been sorted by size, shape, density and colour.

8. After being put in vacuum bags – it’s ready to be shipped.

The whole process from planting the coffee seed in the ground takes 5 years – a long time to wait for a decent cup of coffee! You can buy coffee from here to enjoy a cup when you return from your trip.

Coffee Facts

• Brazil and Colombia are two of the biggest coffee producers.
• USA and Japan are the largest consumers of coffee.
• Although Mr Ruiz is a producer of Geisha coffee, it’s not the most expensive coffee in the world. That title goes to: Kopi Luwak, found in Indonesia. These coffee beans are first eaten by an indigenous cat called the Asian palm civet, which are then pooped out and roasted!
• But Indonesia aren’t the only ones to use animals as a way of producing coffee. Thailand have followed suit to create Black Ivory Coffee, a coffee bean collected from elephants feces. Hmm…

I’ve love to get your thoughts. Have you tasted Kopi Luwak or Black Ivory coffee?

About Boquete

I booked my coffee farm tour through Hostel Gaia in Boquete, which cost $35 for a half-day and you get picked up and brought back to the hostel. Hostel Gaia is so peaceful and has more of a homely feel than a hostel. It seemed to attract the quieter, mature traveller instead of those who wanted to party.

Everywhere in Boquete is walking distance and the area is perfect for solos wanting to escape a city and enjoy some mountainous fresh air and the outdoors.

TIP – Boquete does have a Flower Festival each year in January, which attracts people from the nearby city of David, with its pretty floral displays and evening entertainment. At night the music is so loud that it can be difficult to sleep in the early hours so you may want to avoid this time if you want to get a decent night’s rest.

I travelled to Boquete from David on a yellow chicken bus which took one hour. Buses leave frequently every hour and cost $2.

More Articles on Panama

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• Solo Travel Panama
• Visit Panama Canal
• Exploring Panama Casco Viejo
• San Blas Islands
• Panama Rainforest Discovery Center
• Bocas Del Toro
• Geo Paradise
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Coffee Farm Tour and Tasting -Panama

We enjoyed a delightful tour of a small family owned coffee farm in Boquete, Panama. This area in Panama is known for coffee and produces “most expensive coffee in the world” Geisha coffee. There are numerous family owned coffee farms around Boquete, but we settled on one that was highly recommended by Trip Advisor, Cafes de la Luna, Finca Dos Jefes , and it delivered nicely. The tour included tastings of four types of coffee produced on the farm.

We were lucky that our tour was led by the owner of the farm (Rich Lipner), since the regular tour guide was on vacation. He is an interesting American man, who discovered Boquete, Panama by accident when he visited a friend with his wife 20 years ago (2003), and ended up buying land to build a retirement home on, which turned out to be an abandoned coffee farm. It provided an excellent retirement project, learning about the coffee growing and marketing business, which he now runs as a second career. Their web site Boquete Coffee Tour | The best coffee tour in Boquete.

Owner “Rich Lipner”, of Cafes de la Luna, Finca Dos Jefes

The taste of the coffee you drink is affected by a wide variety of factors all related to the way the coffee tree is grown. Three major elements include elevation, rainfall frequency, and soil. Aside from explaining how they grow coffee on their farm, he shared amazing insights into the challenges of the coffee business, in ensuring the coffee farmer and its employees can earn a living wage in a very large commodity priced industry, as well as discussing sustainability and organic farming. Their 7 acre farm is located at an elevation of 1400 Meters.

They also pick the coffee cherries in the waxing phase of the moon – which is when the moon is getting brighter from darkness, and “pulling” goodness into the coffee beans. This practice is reflected in the name of the company, where Luna translates to moon.

Our random group of a dozen tourists, included people from Switzerland, Netherlands, USA, Canada and Germany. The tasting included four different types of coffee starting with the milder, more flavorful, tea like Geisha and ending with the dark roast. He also provided insights into types of brewing processes, from French Press, to Espresso and pour over filtered.

Coffee beans come from coffee cherries

Coffee Process

The coffee beans we use at home start their journey on a bushy tree. The harvest season in Boquete is about four months long, and involves picking the right colour of red coffee “cherries” from the bushes by hand. Workers are generally paid per 5 gallon bucket for their work. The red cherries are sun dried outdoors on racks to get them to a specific humidity, they also need to be rolled over as they dry, and when it rains they need to be protected. We tasted the sweet juicy red cherries before they were dried. Once the outer red husk is removed it can actually be used to produce a special tea! The whole beans are stored in large burlap type bags for transport, until ready for roasting.

Growing the trees can be done using Arabica seeds. It takes a few years before they can be productive, and they are generally pruned to make the picking from the ground easier. The soil also needs to have the nitrogen replenished by intermingling other species of trees with them.

How to make good coffee beans

• Plant seeds (usually Arabica) and wait 3-5 years. Be sure to plant them at the right altitude, in a sunny place, that gets regular rain, in the right soil. Manage possible bugs and fungus infestations.
• Pick the red coffee cherries at the right time. Ideally this also takes the phase of the moon into consideration.
• Dry the cherries to the correct humidity.
• Remove the red outer skin husk. The Luna farm uses a technique used in Africa, which is harder, but better than the otherwise water intensive soaking methods. The problem with using water is the disposal of the nitrogen infused water afterwards.
• If you sell just the un-roasted beans, the wholesale price you get will be small, and set by very large worldwide exchanges, which may have no relationship to your market conditions or quality. Many of the small family coffee growers are stuck with this model and can’t make a living wage this way. They are also attracted to the instant cash paid when their beans are delivered to the exchange.
• If you are smart you will find your own market(s) and get paid much more reasonably, but this is not easy. If you ship your product overseas in a container, you will probably need to wait many months for your payment – while having had to pay the workers for their labour.
• Roast your own beans, for local small market sales.

Photo gallery from tour (Click image for full sized version).

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Follow Panama's Geisha Coffee From City Cafes to Fincas and Farm Tours

Coffee lovers can't miss the destination for this delicate, bright cup with its singular translation of high-altitude volcanic terroir.

Through her extensive background in wine, Lauren Mowery discovered that coffee has many of the same organoleptic properties as fermented grapes, from flavor and body to aromas and acidity. In pursuit of unique coffees, she's traveled to origin to taste with growers and roasters from the mountains of Colombia, the volcanoes of Panama, to the jungles of Costa Rica. She's written extensively on coffee for a variety of publications and believes it's an affordable luxury that more people should enjoy.

Getty Images / Joel Carillet

In 2004, a Central American farm left an indelible print on the coffee market. That year, beans revealing a distinct jasmine aroma won the Best of Panama competition. The Peterson family, owners of La Hacienda Esmeralda in the Chiriquí Province, submitted a lot from an unusual variety they’d found growing on their farm. Identified as the Geisha /Gesha cultivar originating in Ethiopia, the delicate, bright cup with its singular translation of high-altitude volcanic terroir would go on to break records for the highest scores and highest prices ever earned for beans at auction. The Lamastus Family would eventually carry the torch, inviting enthusiastic consumers — like wine lovers flocking to Bourgogne — to peek inside the insular world of coffee cupping. 

“As a professional and well-trained taster, I cannot say Panama’s coffee is the best, but it’s special,” says Wilford Lamastus, Jr., a multi-generational owner of Lamastus Family Estates. “However, I can say that the international judges believe it’s the best, and the auction market has agreed,” he adds. To taste all the fuss, here are two ways to explore Panama’s coffee culture. 

Panama City

Start the journey at Sisu Coffee Studio , the most sophisticated café in Panama City’s Casco Viejo, or old quarter. Opened by the Lamastus family, Wilford Jr. has spearheaded the estate’s mission to educate and embrace consumers. He modeled the minimalist vibe of the studio after cafes in Scandinavia. (Sisu is Finnish for perseverance). Visitors can order pour overs of Geisha (spelled with an “i” in the U.S., but with an “e” in Panama), savor tender pastries from chef Ariel Zebede, and book a cupping class, the coffee equivalent of a wine tasting. 

Down the street, Zebede runs the diminutive A to Z restaurant which offers a seasonal multi-course tasting menu of Panamanian products, including coffee. This hidden, speakeasy-style restaurant accommodates 14 guests at the chef’s table on select nights. Zebede serves eight-day fermented Elida Estate Geisha with a dessert course and as a digestif. 

Don’t overlook Casco Viejo’s elegant hotels for great coffee, too. The new Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo has a strong program, offering Panamanian French press in its guest rooms and Café Vera . Tiempos Café at the stylish American Trade Hotel serves pour over Geisha, while La Panadería , the bakery and coffee shop at historic hot spot Hotel La Compañia , sources from Finca Lérida in Boquete.

All Out Press Panama Out

Chiriquí Province

From the volcanic soils to the micro-climate dense with condensation from two oceans colliding in the mountains — the Pacific and the Caribbean — Panama enjoys inimitable terroir. Coffee in the Chiriquí Province grows on the slopes of Baru Volcano between 5,200 and 8,200 feet above sea level, an elevation that lends acidity and delicacy to the local cup. 

For visitors, the key towns of interest are Boquete, which has the most infrastructure, and Tierras Altas, on the opposite side of the mountain. Most travelers arrive by plane in David, the gateway to the region, then rent a car to use Boquete as a base. The Panamonte Inn & Spa on the fringe of town remains a popular choice for its relaxed lush surroundings. In the morning, visit Altieri Specialty Coffee , which opened a café in downtown Boquete to showcase its products. For day trips to fincas, drive yourself or hire a guide, though the roads are in good condition. If you book a tour to Elida Estate , one of the Lamastus family farms, staff provide round-trip transportation out of Boquete. Several other fincas offer farm tours and tastings, such as Finca Don Pepe and Finca Janson .

To wake up among coffee trees and the chirp of songbirds, book a few nights at Finca Lérida . Founded in 1929, the coffee plantation has charming guest rooms, an organic restaurant supplied by the on-site farm, and several experiences beyond coffee, including hiking in the tropical forest nearby. Further afield by several hours, eco-friendly cloud forest hotel Mount Totumas serves award-winning coffee from its farm. If you want to be ensconced in nature, book a private cabin or rooms overlooking the spectacular wilderness reserve, La Amistad National Park.

In fact, Boquete offers travelers myriad opportunities to enjoy nature, from horseback riding and trekking to zip lining, whitewater rafting, and hiking up Baru Volcano to catch the spectacular sunrise above the cloud line. As a world-class birding destination, wildlife lovers should pack their binoculars to spot more than 200 species, including the long-tailed colorful quetzal. 

“Panama has some of the best coffee in the world and the potential to be a world-renowned destination for coffee tourism like any wine region,” says Zebede. From its singular coffees, lively neighborhoods, innovative restaurants, and abundant nature, Panama should be on every coffee lover’s destination list this year.

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Coffee With a Panamanian View?

Welcome to the Chiriqui highlands! In the western part of Panama is a hidden gem of a region that will amaze all visitors. Located at the foothills of the Baru volcano, the highest point in the country, the Highlands are home to the farms that produce the world’s most valuable coffee—Geisha. This region has a fascinating history that brings together indigenous communities, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking nature.

Take a Look From Up High

The Chiriqui highlands are an unmatched destination for travelers who love craft food and beverages. Thanks to the rich volcanic soil that the Baru volcano provides and the winds from the Carribean sea and the Pacific ocean colliding in the valley, the climate creates a land where spring never ends with temperatures usually between 13°C (55°F) and 24°C (75°F) year round. This climate is ideal for farming, giving both the entire country and local restaurants and cafes amazing coffee and delicious fresh produce to put on their tables for you to indulge.

The mild temperatures will also give you the opportunity to experience the region to its fullest at any time of the year. Whether you want to hike, river raft, camp, or spend some time in one of the best bird watching destinations in the Central American region, the Chiriqui highlands are a playground for all sorts of adventures.

Explore Everything That Makes the Highlands Special

The Chiriqui highlands are a great place to immerse yourself in the culture of the indigenous Ngäbe and Bugle. The Ngäbe-Bugle are the original inhabitants of the region and two of the seven indigenous communities still present in Panama. Historically, they have worked as coffee pickers in the highlands but, now, they are also becoming tasters, farmers, tour guides, and roasters.

Indigenous communities in Panama have an ancestral relationship with the land rooted in the respect of nature. That respect has spread to everyone living and working in the Chiriqui highlands. The farmers and the locals know that this is a special place so they use sustainable practices to keep it special for those who live here, as well as those who visit.

Experience the Best of the Highlands

We’ve curated a coffee circuit including an eclectic group of farms open to visitors in Boquete, Volcan, and the greater Chiriqui region. Relatively close to each other, these farms offer a variety of exciting experiences, from fine dining to ziplining and farm tours. They have also been thoroughly reviewed, certified, and are all excited to welcome you.

Boquete Tree Trek

Boquete, Chiriqui

Boquete Tree Trek is a unique farm experience for the ultimate adventure. Come experience a guided tour of the farm and a coffee tasting along with a tea tour that’s unique in Central America. Then, thrill your senses with one of 12 zip lines or 6 suspension bridges.

Café Kotowa Finca Cristal

This award winning coffee farm is located in a unique and pristine environment right next to the National Park, where you can tour and understand their Geisha coffee process as well as their Tea farm where you will learn how to make white, red, green and black tea.

You can visit their Rum Cellar, where 20 year old rums are aging in 50 gallon barrels. Their Hanging Bridges trail and Zipline are a must for nature lovers.

Finca Lerida

Finca Lerida is a great spot for the whole family. Established in 1924 by Norwegian engineer Toleff Bache Mönniche after working on the Panama Canal, it is the first farm that exported Panamanian coffee to Germany in 1929 and introduced this delicacy to the world in the process. The farm offers coffee tours, a close look at every process of coffee production, and even the ability to stay overnight.

Finca Elida

Elida Estate offers packages that include sweeping views of the Elida estate, a tour through the Geisha plantation and the processing plant. It shows you every step to get to the taste of it's famous coffee that you'll be able to taste too! The Lamastus Family Estate coffee, houses the most expensive coffee in the world, holding this title for two consecutive years and the highest scored coffee until this date.

Finca Princesa Janca

Enjoy a tour of the plantations and a coffee tasting session at Finca Princesa Janca. The farm also has on its premises a museum documenting the Arias family’s rich history as it relates to coffee and Panamanian politics.

Starting at the Ruiz Coffee Shop - Villa del Café, you will have the option to pick from a couple of packages - or arrange a customized one. The visit will allow you to dive into the sustainability and biodiversity philosophy of this century-old compact coffee plantation. Learn about artisan ways of processing while getting a taste of the history of coffee and the community. You will also be able to enjoy an array of specialty coffees from the region at its coffee shop.

Finca La Milagrosa

Take a tour of the diverse plantations at Finca La Milagrosa with a coffee in your hands and discover how the farm uses recycled car parts and computers to create their own coffee roasting machines.

Finca Don Pepe

Founded in 1898 by the Vásquez family, this is the oldest farm in the region. It has created amazing coffee varieties like Geishas, Caturra, Catuai, Pacamara, Borbon, Typica & Java, that you can taste and buy on the premises during one of their incredible tours. You will also learn about the life of these plants and why it is considered an organic and sustainable plantation with the environment.

Hacienda Mamecillo

Hacienda Mamecillo offers plenty of experiences for visitors. The list of activities available includes guided tours of the vegetable nursery, rappelling, trekking, five waterfalls to visit, over 300 years old trees, opportunities to watch nature and animals including the Mamecillo tree & the Quetzal, mountain bike tours, coffee tasting, and more.

Finca Janson

Tierras Altas, Chiriqui

A natural paradise in the highest alpine lakes of Panama: a world class birding destination established as a natural reserve overseeing the Baru Volcano. The farm incorporates sustainable practices to ensure the health of the ecosystem while producing world-class coffee varieties, including Geisha and Pacamara, winner at the “Best of Panama 2020” competition.

Finca Ceriana

Finca Ceriana provides visitors with 5 tours that are geared toward families, nature lovers, and explorers. Their experiences include guided tours of the coffee plantations, farm life, horseback riding, classy picnics, trekking, observation of the flora, access to more than 204 species of birds, and more.

Finca Café Eleta

Renacimiento, Chiriqui

Neighbor to La Amistad International Park (PILA), declared as a World Heritage Site for its rich and abundant biodiversity, Café de Eleta is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact. The farm focuses on specialty coffee production in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Activities available include guided tours and tasting sessions.

The Asociación de Productores de Renacimiento (APRE) is an association of 75 member farms located in Renacimiento. It helps local farms process the grain and distribute coffee nationally and internationally. Although the association doesn’t offer tours, some of the member farms do.

Finca Candela

At Finca Candela, you will have the possibility to go on an intricate tour of the coffee plant and witness the process that turns the coffee fruit into coffee beans. The farm also offers coffee tasting sessions for those who want to enjoy a cup or two.

Finca Don Lara

Finca Don Lara offers a tour of the plantation and a lesson on the coffee varieties available in the region given by the owner himself, Mr. Felix Lara. Depending on the season, you can also take part in the coffee harvest.

Ready to See It and Taste It?

Learn more about Panama at tourismpanama.com

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Hydroponics Food Farm Tours

April 17 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm.

Join us for Hydroponics Food Farm tour during Earth Month. During this tour you will learn about vertical farming, CSUN’s goal to help food-insecure community, and will meet the people that manage the HFF!

Find the Hydroponic Food Farm between the Botanical Garden and the Tree Nursery!

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