Business, Beaches and the Best Coffee in the World
Chiriquí is a province of Panama located on the western coast, bordering Costa Rica. It is the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province, and has a population of about 462,000 people. Its capital is the city of David, which is the largest city in Panama that is not part of the Panama City metropolitan area. David is an important commercial center, with industries such as food processing, distilling, and tanning. It also serves as a gateway to the scenic highlands of Chiriquí, where visitors can enjoy the cooler climate, the diverse wildlife, and the world-class coffee
Boquete
One of the most popular destinations in the highlands is Boquete, a small mountain town that lies on the Caldera River, at an elevation of 1,200 meters. Boquete is known for its beautiful scenery, its outdoor activities, and its coffee plantations. Boquete produces some of the finest coffee in the world, especially the Geisha variety, which is a rare and aromatic type of Arabica beans that originated in Ethiopia. Geisha coffee has a complex and fruity flavor, with notes of tropical fruit, peach, and bergamot. It is highly sought after by coffee connoisseurs and often fetches very high prices at auctions. Boquete hosts an annual coffee festival and a jazz and blues festival, attracting tourists and retirees from all over the world
Volcán
Another charming town in the highlands is Volcán, which sits at the base of Volcán Barú, the highest point in Panama at 3,475 meters. Volcán is also a producer of Geisha coffee, as well as other crops such as strawberries, potatoes, lettuce, and flowers. Volcán is the gateway to two national parks: Parque Internacional La Amistad, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers the largest island in Panama and several smaller ones, and Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, which offers hiking trails and stunning views of the volcano and the surrounding area. Near Volcán, there is also a town called Cerro Punta, which is the most fertile land in Panama and where most of the agricultural produce is grown with export quality. Cerro Punta has a patchwork of farmland, dairy farms, and flower gardens, creating a colorful and picturesque landscape