Summer starts in the Chiriqui highlands

Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair offers new varieties

Flowers and coffee will lure visitors to the Chiriqui highlands from January 10 to 20 for the Flower and Coffee Fair in Boquete, a wonderful way to begin the new year. This year there are no less than 47 varieties of flowers in the extensive grounds beside the Caldera river.

Yearly, approximately 100,000 tourists visit the fair which has been held for the last 36 years.

Among the flower exhibits, are exquisite varieties from Japan and the U.S., with lots of marigolds and geraniums. Other varieties will be daisies, roses, carnations, sunflowers, violets, gardenias, orquids and petunias, among others.

Thanks to U.S. imported seeds, visitors can enjoy three other new varieties, portulaca, diantos neon and dragonaires, which are now in bloom.

The province of Chiriqui is also famous for the production of coffee, from traditional to gourmet blends. The fair is also a celebration of the coffee harvest. The combination of rich, deep soils, climate and altitude develops a coffee with good body, rich aroma, and sweet acidity. The cherries are hand picked by Ngobe Bugle Indians, who harvest the same trees up to five times per season to guarantee that only the ripe beans are selected.

Boquete is a six and-a-half hour drive from Panama City and about 30 minutes from David, the capital of the Chiriqui province. To get there, visitors can either travel by rented car from Panama City or fly to David, where car rentals are also available. Flights to Chiriqui depart from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in Panama City. Another way is traveling by bus to David, and making the corresponding connection to Boquete. Buses depart from the National Bus Terminal, located in Albrook in Panama City. There are hotels and cabins in Boquete. Excellent accommodations can also be found in David.