Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Boquete, Panama: La Montana y El Valle Coffee Estate Inn
Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, USA, May '08

Price Range: US$160-$180 (gosh darn it!) # of Rooms: 3 Kid-Friendly: no

What makes the La Montana y El Valle so Darn Good? La Montaña y el Valle is a beautiful coffee estate nestled in the lush green Chriqui Highlands. The Inn has three large and comfortable private bungalows, and the owners, Barry and Jane, treat all guests to a delightful and informative tour of the coffee estate which culminates in a coffee grinding demonstration. Hint: Time your stay so that you don’t miss the chance to get a gourmet dinner served to you by candlelight in your bungalow.

Location: La Montaña y el Valle is right outside Boquete, a funky, laid back, and walkable mountain town with many restaurants and cafes. Some of the best Chriqui River rafting expeditions start here, and if you are in the mood for some action adventure, this is the thing to do. We also can't help but recommend a side trip to a nearby garden called Mi Jardin Es Su Jardin. We could try to describe it, but you’d have to see it to believe it.

Rooms: The bungalows are spacious and decked out with all the comforts of home, including comfy king size beds and loveseats, kitchens, and fluffy towels. All bungalows have covered outdoor porches that overlook Baru Volcano.

Food: Each morning, guests are given fresh fruit, baked breads and scones, and of course, everyone is privy to the super-fresh arabica coffee grown right on the estate. One of our favorite memories from the La Montana y el Valle was the delicious, white table-clothed, candlelit meal, which we enjoyed with a bottle of wine in our very own bungalow as the sun went down over Panama. It was a true taste of the good life!

Vibe: Barry and Jane clearly love doing what they do. It shows in the fresh fruit and flowers in the bungalows, the candlelit meals, the well-groomed walking trails meandering through the grounds, and especially the estate tour and coffee grinding demonstration.

Keep in Mind: The Coffee Estate Inn is 1.6 miles from Boquete town center.