© Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 178 Chiriquí...
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CHIRIQUÍ PROVINCE Barú Volcán Chiriquí Golfo de (Quetzals Trail) Sendero Los Quetzales La Amistad Parque Internacional Boquete HIGHLIGHTS Fueling yourself with mountain-grown coffee in Boquete (p188), the town of eternal spring Climbing to the top of Volcán Barú (p197) and spotting both coastlines – if the weather is clear! Hiking through cloud forests along the Sendero Los Quetzales (p197) in search of the elusive quetzal Wondering why you’re the only one around in the pristine Parque Internacional La Amistad (p201) Island-hopping in the national marine park in the Golfo de Chiriquí (p185), the ‘other side’ of Chiriquí Chiricanos claim to have it all and there’s an element of truth to it: Panama’s tallest mountains, longest rivers and most fertile valleys are in Chiriquí. The province is also home to spectacular highland rainforests and the country’s most productive agricultural and cattle-ranching regions. Bordering Costa Rica to the west, Chiriquí is often the first province in Panama encoun- tered by overland travelers and serves as a subtle introduction to Panama’s immense beauty. Although the mist-covered mountains near Boquete have been colonized by waves of North American and European retirees, the town is a good base for adventures like rafting and exploring the flanks of Panama’s highest point, Volcán Barú (3478m). Boquete is also the center of Panama’s coffee industry, which means that a potent cup of shade-grown Arabica is never more than a cafe away. Chiriquí is home to the Parque Internacional La Amistad, which offers excellent hiking through lush rainforests that are largely unfettered by tourist crowds. If you’re a serious white-water rafter, the region boasts more than 20 different runs, yet sees a fraction of the river-runners that descend annually on Costa Rica. On the coast, the pristine Golfo de Chiriquí boasts powder-white sand beaches and a rich diversity of marine life. With so much to offer, it’s no surprise that some chiricanos dream of creating an inde- pendent República de Chiriquí (Chiriquí Republic). Chiriquí Province POPULATION: 422,796 AREA: 8653 SQ KM ELEVATION: SEA LEVEL TO 3478M 178 © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 178 Chiriquí...
CHIR
IQU
Í P
RO
VIN
CE
BarúVolcán
ChiriquíGolfo de
(Quetzals Trail)Sendero Los Quetzales
La AmistadParque Internacional
Boquete
HIGHLIGHTS
Fueling yourself with mountain-grown coffee in Boquete (p 188 ), the town of eternal spring
Climbing to the top of Volcán Barú (p 197 ) and spotting both coastlines – if the weather is clear!
Hiking through cloud forests along the Sendero Los Quetzales (p 197 ) in search of the elusive quetzal
Wondering why you’re the only one around in the pristine Parque Internacional La Amistad (p 201 )
Island-hopping in the national marine park in the Golfo de Chiriquí (p 185 ), the ‘other side’ of Chiriquí
Chiricanos claim to have it all and there’s an element of truth to it: Panama’s tallest mountains, longest rivers and most fertile valleys are in Chiriquí. The province is also home to spectacular highland rainforests and the country’s most productive agricultural and cattle-ranching regions.
Bordering Costa Rica to the west, Chiriquí is often the first province in Panama encoun-tered by overland travelers and serves as a subtle introduction to Panama’s immense beauty. Although the mist-covered mountains near Boquete have been colonized by waves of North American and European retirees, the town is a good base for adventures like rafting and exploring the flanks of Panama’s highest point, Volcán Barú (3478m). Boquete is also the center of Panama’s coffee industry, which means that a potent cup of shade-grown Arabica is never more than a cafe away.
Chiriquí is home to the Parque Internacional La Amistad, which offers excellent hiking through lush rainforests that are largely unfettered by tourist crowds. If you’re a serious white-water rafter, the region boasts more than 20 different runs, yet sees a fraction of the river-runners that descend annually on Costa Rica. On the coast, the pristine Golfo de Chiriquí boasts powder-white sand beaches and a rich diversity of marine life.
With so much to offer, it’s no surprise that some chiricanos dream of creating an inde-pendent República de Chiriquí (Chiriquí Republic).
Chiriquí Province
POPULATION: 422,796 AREA: 8653 SQ KM ELEVATION: SEA LEVEL TO 3478M
178© Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
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179l o n e l y p l a n e t . c o m C H I R I Q U Í P R O V I N C E
