We are planning on going to Panama in Feb 2007. We are checking out several things including experience with Ecocircuitos Panama particularly the quality of the birding and Hotel Panamonte in Boquete.

Thanks
alphotodoc

I like the Panamonte very much. Its restaurant is excellent. It is clean and well maintained. You may also want to consider the Coffee Estate Inn also in Boquete.

Thanks for the response.
Al

You are quite welcome. Have you considered Los Quetzales? It is an interesting property with great birding access. Also the Canopy Tower near Panama City has absolutely amazing birding.

We stayed at both the Panamonte and Coffee Estates Inn in February. I wanted to like Panamonte more than we did (historic, locally owned, etc.). But I gotta say that for the $90 we paid, our room, in the little yellow house across the street from the main inn was pretty dinghy and mildewy. The food in the restaurant was OK, not great. We thought the nicest part of the property was the open airish bar in the back (sorry we didn't just eat tapas there - lovely). The other rooms we peaked in didn't look so great either. Desk service was kind of ho hum as well. It is old after all and could do with a little sprucing up me thinks. And we're not picky, resort loving types. Just seemed like a lot of $$$ for what we got. For another $30? stay at Coffee Estates, which is just wonderful. Beautiful spot, extremely helpful service from attentive owners from the moment you contact them till you drive away, lovely grounds. See how everyone goes on about it at tripadvisor.com.

The Coffee Estates owners hooked us up with a local guy named Chago (Panamonte can do this too)to go birding. Speaks very little English, but is known as the go to person locally for finding quetzales, etc. (which he did for us).

Agree with cmcfong - consider spending some time at Los Quetzales on the other side of the mt. from Boquete. We were there also and had a wonderful time. Lots of great hiking and birding around there too. Best is to rent one of their cabins deep in Amistad. But rest of inn is nice (very casual low key) as well. Sorry, don't know anything about
Ecocircuitos .... Have a great time - Chiriqui is a beautiful part of Panama!

Glover, I stayed in a little blue room right on the patio at Panamonte and it was really lovely. Your stay does sound pretty disappointing. I haven't been in about three years so maybe the Coffee Estate Inn is a better choice. Alphotodoc, better check TA.

I'm reading and checking. Thanks for the input.
Al