Chiriqui

Chiriqui, Panama

Bordering Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast of Panama is the Province of Chiriqui, an emerging sustainable tourism destination that provides an incredible variety of unique travel opportunities, including an array of nature activities and adventure sports. Its beautiful and undiscovered terrain makes it one of the best places to travel for those seeking Panama adventure opportunities, as well as the ideal place for those who want to live in Panama to purchase vacation properties or real estate.

Offering the most varied scenery in an already diverse country, Chiriqui has a multitude of plant and animal species among its varying ecosystems. Chiriqui's topography ranges dramatically, and includes the tallest mountain in the country, the 11,398 foot (3474 meter) tall Volcan Baru located in the cool cloud forests of the highlands, and over three dozen islands in the archipelagos of the Gulf of Chiriqui.

Most visitors reach Chiriqui by air through David, the third largest city in Panama. Due to the growing real estate and ecotourism markets, this city's newly international airport has recently added regular flights to Costa Rica and charter flights from the U.S. Expansion is underway that will allow for regular direct flights to many U.S. cities.

Recent Infrastructure Improvements

Chiriqui has seen many improvements in its physical, economic, and social infrastructures in recent years. Roads are being built and widened, new high quality health care facilities have been built, and major retailers such as Costco, Target, and Home Depot have opened the Panamanian versions of their stores in the area. Much of this activity is centered in the city of David, Panama's third largest city.

Ongoing improvements include David's airport, Enrique Malek International, whose current expansion will allow direct international flights, which may mark the tipping point for the area in terms of tourism and development. Many local businesses have rallied together to gain flights directly from the US to David, Panama, to stay up to date on their progress, please visit davdirect.org.

The Gulf of Chiriqui

“Mangroves, beaches washed by high surf. Stupendous diving and fishing. Myriad emerald isles strewn like jewels in a sapphire sea.”
- National Geographic Traveler

Sometimes called the "Lost Coast," the Gulf is well known among insiders for its world class sportfishing, surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. The unspoiled and largely undiscovered coastal and marine environments in the area rival the best on the Pacific coasts of Central America and Mexico. From sportfishing to snorkeling, it's hard to run out of things to do in Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui.

Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriqui

Isla Palenque neighbors the Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriqui, a protected archipelago of more than 25 islands and islets where an extraordinary number of marine species make their home, including humpback whales, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and multiple species of sea turtles and rays. This national park offers exceptional opportunities for sportfishing, snorkeling, and hiking, as well as endless chances for island hopping amongst the many uninhabited islands with pristine beaches and forested interiors.

Coiba National Marine Park - A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Just a two-hour boat ride away from your Isla Palenque beachfront property is the Coiba National Marine Park, which boasts the second largest coral reef in the Pacific Ocean and offers the best diving in Panama. Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have proclaimed Coiba an unparalleled destination for discovering new species. "It's hard to imagine, while snorkeling around a tropical island that's [so close to] the United States, that half the animals you see are unknown to science," Smithsonian project coordinator Rachel Collin says. Its unique location protects it from the damaging winds and other effects of El Nino, making it able to sustain the uninterrupted evolution of new marine species including whale and tiger sharks, sperm whales, sea turtles, angel rays and giant schools of fish. It is also the last refuge for a number of threatened terrestrial animals, such as the crested eagle and several sub-species of howler monkey, agouti, and possum.

The Chiriqui Highlands

The Chiriqui highlands offer world-famous coffee plantations, ancient cloud forests, the 11,398', (3,474m) high Volcan Baru, sightings of the elusive resplendent quetzal and numerous other nature- and adventure-oriented activities. The colorful local native tribe, the Ngobe-Bugle, can also be found throughout the region. The established eco-tourism destination and charming mountain town of Boquete is currently a favorite of nature-lovers and retirees. Over the last five years, this Alpine-esque mountain town has emerged as an ideal retirement area for North Americans, topping International Living's and AARP's "top places to retire" lists, making the area a hotspot for both tourists and those looking to purchase Panama real estate.