30 Best Hotels in Chiriqui Province, Panama

The setting here is idyllic: massive trees shade the wooden buildings and lawns, the Río Chiriquí Viejo is a stone's toss away, and everything is surrounded by dense forest. Suites have hardwood floors and living rooms, and even the most basic standards have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, big windows, tall beamed ceilings, and porches with hammocks or plastic chairs and tables. Two-bedroom suites are bigger and brighter and sleep up to eight people; those up the hill offer more privacy and nicer views. The vast property includes 400 acres of forest, part of which can be explored on a hiking trail, and the list of activities includes mountain biking, horseback riding, river tubing, fishing, and a zip-line canopy tour. There are also two swimming pools and a spa with reasonably priced treatments. The restaurant serves international food, including pasta, burgers, paella, and fresh trout. Royal suites can request to have s'mores and hot chocolate brought to their private patio overlooking the river.

This working coffee farm on the eastern slope of Volcán Barú above Boquete has almost 150 acres of bird-replete cloud forest, and birders and naturalists make up the bulk of the clientele here. Rooms are either in the mountainside deluxe section, in the original 1920s farmhouse, or in the cozy suites with indoor-outdoor fireplaces. Deluxe rooms are bright and spacious with hardwood floors, high, sloping ceilings, one king or two queen beds, terrace hammocks, and picture windows with panoramic views. The Scandinavian-style farmhouse has smaller, less expensive rooms with a vintage atmosphere and plenty of character. It's worth splurging for the romantic suites with rich woods, chandeliers, stone fireplaces, and Jacuzzi tubs. All rooms have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, Damana bath products, and Wi-Fi.

Opened in 1914, the Panamonte was long Boquete's only tourist hotel, and a century later, this landmark historical inn is still doing things right. Any visit to Boquete must include a stop at the hotel's charming gardens and restaurant, considered one of the best in Central America. Renovations in 2015 held true to the elegant style without sacrificing any of the property's distinctive qualities like the original hardwood floors, antique furnishings, and French windows. Junior suites are more like small cottages, with large bathrooms and wraparound porches with garden views. Delightfully decorated in vintage creams, standard rooms above the restaurant lack garden views but are perhaps the most charming in the hotel. Honeymooners should request the Ingrid Bergman Suite, with a walk-in closet, massage-jet shower, and patio enclosed in glass. Offering the most privacy are the Garden Terrace Rooms toward the back of the grounds, with front porches and furniture handcrafted by local artisans. Unless you're on a tight budget, avoid the cramped standard rooms in the yellow house across the street. The fireside lounge is a swanky spot to nurse a dram of whisky.

As the name suggests, this small hotel's grounds hold plenty of flowers, as well as trees, a few boulders, and a nature path. The most pleasant area is behind the rooms, along the Río Palo Alto, where a gazebo overlooks the swift-running waters and forest beyond. Guests gather here nightly for cocktail hour at 6—the first beer or wine is on the house. Rooms, named after flowers, are decorated with exotic local art and have small windows (set in bare stucco walls) that give a glimpse of the surrounding greenery. They have kitchenettes in a corner, humidifiers, and most have a double bed plus a single or a bunk bed. An outstanding three-course breakfast is included in the rate.

After a 2014 remodel, Cala Mia's new owner has upgraded this Boca Brava island property with tastefully decorated bungalows, each with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and sunken terraces with couches, hammocks, and tree-shrouded water views. Guatemalan rustic woods decorate the rooms, and natural light floods into the showers inlaid with river stones. The family villas are within their own private area, and have two casitas attached by a common living room and kitchen. Surrounded by walls of windows, the restaurant specializes in fusion cuisine and serves a nightly three-course dinner menu for $40. A suspension bridge leads to a rocky outcrop with a massage and yoga gazebo. Activities include sea kayaking, excursions to nearby islands, snorkeling, scuba diving, and horseback riding. The infinity pool, game palapa, private beach, and self-service bar just might keep you closer to home. Ocean-view bungalows are better ventilated than bay-view ones.

The best thing about this B&B is the service provided by its owner. Then there's the tranquil location at the forest's edge, where a stream runs through the gardens, and birdsong plays from sunrise to sunset. Spacious, well-equipped rooms are decorated with indigenous Panamanian crafts. Brighter end rooms are worth the extra $10 and include a kitchenette. Guests share a cozy lounge with a fireplace, DVD, stereo, and computer, as well as a wide covered terrace with rocking chairs for watching the hummingbirds. You might end up skipping lunch after the magnificent breakfasts of eggs, coffee, and fruit that come directly from the property.

Three charming bungalows on a six-acre shade-coffee farm offer peace, privacy, plentiful bird life, and one of Boquete's best views. Each unit has a kitchenette, sitting room with dining table and TV, and a separate large bedroom. Big windows and ample balconies with lounge chairs frame Volcán Barú and the valley below. Footpaths and benches dot the tropical gardens, filled with coffee plants and forest patches that are home to 133 avian species. On Tuesday and Friday, you can request a delicious three-course dinner ($$–$$$) ranging from roasted duck to grilled fish served by candlelight in your bungalow, though you need to order in the morning. Each fridge is stocked with homemade breads and fresh-roasted coffee to accompany the fruit baskets for do-it-yourself breakfasts. Canadian owners Barry and Jane sell crafts, coffee, and coffee liqueur, all made in-house. The main building has a small library, computer, and lounge area where guests can plan the next leg of their trip with help from the friendly owners. Terrace massages can be arranged upon request. Reserve well ahead of time.

This simple, remote lodge is in a private reserve atop the Cordillera de Talamanca. Swiss expats Herbert Brullmann and Monika Kohler have converted part of their home into three guest rooms and a dining room with a stone fireplace. The rooms are bright and spacious, with big baths, two single beds, and walls decorated with Monika's nature photos. They open onto a terrace with rocking chairs and a small lawn hemmed by bougainvillea. Monika prepares three-course dinners ($16) with ingredients from the organic garden; they also make sandwiches for hikes within their private reserve. Free for guests ($8 for nonguests), the trails are well marked, have benches for resting, and lead to waterfalls, lookout points, and a patch of cloud forest. Children under 12 aren't allowed on the trails.

Rooms are spacious at this central landmark hotel, popular for its facilities complete with a pool, gardens, casino, movie theater, three restaurants, and two bars. Recent in-room upgrades include rainfall showers, soft linens, silk throws, and strong Wi-Fi. Front rooms have views of the large trees that shade the parking area. The garden pool may be the most pleasant spot in David. Its three restaurants include a cafeteria, pizzeria, and an open-air Barbacoa, which serves a small dinner selection of meat and seafood.

This alpine-style resort overlooks sheer rock faces and lush slopes across a wide lawn with fountains. It's a bit timeworn, but rooms are spacious and the ample facilities are family-friendly. Just beyond a forest of towering eucalyptus trees are tennis courts, an indoor-outdoor pool, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna. You can hike a forest trail, go horseback riding, and take day tours, all arranged by the hotel. Rooms have hardwood floors and picture windows, and some standards have bedroom lofts. Remodeled in 2015 were rooms 314, 315, 316, and the 2-bedroom suite 401. Larger groups can request the five-bedroom house beside the hotel. Las Truchas restaurant ($$–$$$) next door specializes in fresh trout and offers everything from pastas to chateaubriand.

This three-story building located kitty-corner from Parque Cervantes has basic rooms with good beds and small desks at reasonable prices. Interior rooms are dark, but corner junior suites have big windows and private balconies, albeit overlooking busy streets. This place is nothing fancy but is well located and a good value.

Build in 1975, the Dos Ríos is an original two-story wooden building fronted by a newer cabin-like lobby. The L-shaped structure encloses a lush yard with a playground and stone footbridge over a stream. Most rooms have wooden floors, a TV, armoire, desk, and chandeliers that suspend over floral-printed beds. The suites, with lime and tangerine hues, are the nicest rooms with lots of light and small balconies looking onto the gardens and Volcán Barú. The cement casitas are cramped and dark but sleep three. A restaurant in front serves Italian cuisine.

Ten kilometers (6 miles) before Santa Catalina is this simple but comfortable and affordable lodge at Playa Lagartero on the Gulf of Montijo. Rustically accented rooms employ driftwood and local resources creatively; each has a patio with hammock. There's a shared kitchen for guests to use, and a restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches, seafood, and pasta. The German-owned hotel runs birding tours along a nearby river and horseback rides on the long, virtually abandoned beach, which is named for the small alligators, or lagartos, that populate the area's rivers.

Three minutes from the center of town, this garden property has six spacious "roundhouses" and seven enchanting suites. Stone pathways wind past a cluster of citrus trees to the brightly painted lodges, each outfitted with a private bath, kitchen, and hammock, as well as cable TV and Wi-Fi. Roundhouses can sleep between four and six people but lack the large balconies of the suites. The Mariposa and Sark suites have by far the best views and design. Centering the property is a purple dome where breakfast is served daily 7–11:30. (It's not included in the room rate.) Pampering can be had in the small spa where massages and facials are available. One of Boquete's best restaurants, Mango, is located next door.

Just a five-minute drive from David's Enrique Malek Airport, this clean hotel has rooms that sleep up to four people, each with cable TV and private bath. Air-conditioning and tile floors keep rooms cool, but don't expect much in the way of decor or views. There are bars over the windows and most rooms are boxy, dated, and overlook tin roofs or busy streets. Request one of the quieter rooms toward the back of the property. For the price and location, the place is still a bargain. Panamanian and Spanish dishes are served in the downstairs restaurant, as is the popular Sunday buffet.

Formerly Boquete Paradise Hotel, this small collection of two-story buildings changed hands in 2014 but still lures guests with its lush gardens, tall trees, and the rocky Río Palo Alto nearby. Rooms are ideal for couples, with one queen and a roll-out bed; suites with lofts and full kitchens work well for families. All rooms have beautiful wood-beamed ceilings, tile floors, and enclosed terraces with great views of the surrounding verdure. Second-floor rooms have high ceilings and the best views. There are several patios in the gardens and a cozy bar where you can sit by the fire overlooking the river. Included in the rate is a lovely breakfast ranging from blueberry pancakes to French toast.

Charming fauna-themed villas showcase the U.S. owners' attention to detail at this small lodge. The Gecko Villa, for example, comes complete with large tiled geckos in the shower and bedroom. Each villa is unique, some with two stories and outdoor showers, and others with kitchens and laundry facilities. In the middle of Santa Catalina's "downtown," La Buena Vida has a vegetarian restaurant ($) that is open for breakfast and lunch. The owners also run the adjacent hostel Boarders Haven, which, due to its small size, can easily be rented in full by a small group of budget travelers seeking a bit of privacy. The garden café, green practices, yoga classes, and massage treatments make this one of the best places to stay in town.

This small, Spanish-style inn with a stirring view of Volcán Barú started out as a horse stable, hence its name, and each room is named after a horse. Standard rooms are nicely decorated in Spanish villa style with terra-cotta tile flooring and gold satin bedding. They have high, canopy-draped ceilings, wrought-iron lamps, rattan and wooden furniture, and small terraces overlooking the coffee bushes. Double-size suites on the second floor have great views but are much more expensive. The working coffee farm includes five charming cottages, built in the style of old area coffee houses. Rates include beer and wine in the evening. A large gym and spa is open to the public, and there's an all-inclusive adventure package for those who want to experience local activities.

You'll find accommodations at this eco-lodge ranging from backpacker dorms and tents to two-bedroom suites and private cabins in the cloud forest. Rooms in wooden buildings have polished hardwood, photos of local birds, and original art. Standard rooms are slightly dark and cramped, but junior suites are spacious and bright, with wood stoves and kitchenettes; larger master suites also have balconies. Suites #16 and 17 have the most character and the best views. At night guests gather in the lounge with wood stoves, couches, and computers. The restaurant ($–$$) serves good pizza, pastas, soups, fresh trout, and organic salads. Breakfasts are as fresh as they come, with homemade butter, cheese, granola, and breads. A gym, spa, bicycles, and horseback riding are available; jeeps transport guests to the reserve each morning for guided hikes. Cabins #8 and 9 in the reserve lack electricity but have gas stoves and lanterns. They recently added cabins near the hot springs.

This small lodge on Boca Brava, just across the channel from Boca Chica, is all about sportfishing, and it has some of the country's best. Customized three- to six-day packages include daily fishing, all meals and beverages, and in-country transportation. Accommodations are in two- to six-person cement bungalows nestled in the rain forest. Meals are served family-style in a circular building at the top of the hill, decorated with the obligatory mounted fish.

This large white house with six luxurious suites, cozy lounge, and stone fireplace seems to come right out of New England. The hotel is decorated with Panamanian art and offers views of the Río Palo Alto. Elegant guest rooms have high ceilings and handsome hardwood furniture, one king or two queen beds with Egyptian cotton linens, and amenities such as satellite TV, sound systems, DVD players, Wi-Fi, and sunken tubs. A few rooms also have lofts with two single beds. Only the master and loft suites have river views, but there is a stone terrace overlooking the river where you can eat breakfast. Continental breakfast is served at the hotel's Rock Restaurant next door.

This hillside hotel sports Mediterranean decor with its arched doorways, terra-cotta flooring, and manicured gardens. The spotless bungalows have high ceilings, hand-painted ceramic sinks, and barrel-tile roofs. They come with satellite TV and other modern amenities, but their best selling points are the terrace views of the forest and bay. There is a tiny pool, and a long stairway that leads past the bungalows to a sliver of beach and a dock where you can leave for island trips or enjoy a drink at the Tiki Bar. The open-air restaurant ($$–$$$$) has the best view on the property, serving light lunches and delightful dinners ranging from grilled tenderloin to shrimp pasta. Expats and travelers alike flock to the Tiki Bar on Saturday night for dancing, drinks, and BBQ specials.

Although lacking the amenities of a full-service hotel, each cottage is privately situated in a dense forest where monkeys, sloths, and plenty of birds can be found. Within the 25-acre property are horses, creeks, trails, waterfalls, and a small coffee farm. Charming two-bedroom cottages have a living room and kitchen and are decorated with colonial-style furniture including rocking chairs and four-poster beds with European duvets; the studio cottage is smaller and similarly decorated. Hardwood floors and exposed-beam ceilings show craftsmanship in design. Breakfast is delivered to the cottages, where guests can admire the ocean view from a private terrace.

This hotel takes pride in reflecting the great American chain hotels with comforts like digital TV, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, coffee makers, iPhone docks, and minibars in the rooms. But it is the European decor that makes this place so stunningly beautiful. Standard rooms have marble bathrooms, hardwood floors, white linens, and satin curtains that frame mountain views from wrought-iron balconies. On the river's edge is a large terrace where meals are served from the hotel's wine bar and international restaurant, Paladar. A play area, game room, and enclosed trampoline make this a popular hotel with families.

The main attractions of this lavish resort are its 9-hole golf course and luxury spa. The property itself is set inside a gated community where Panama's wealthy zip around on golf carts and reside in Spanish villas that resemble the hotel. Rooms have a patio overlooking either the river or fairway and are built around ponds and a replica of a 17th-century Spanish pueblo. Less impressive than the grounds, rooms have dark furnishings, tile floors, flat-screen TVs, and ceiling fans. All the expected amenities are available, as well as a few extras including a beauty center, indoor pool, steam room, and racquetball court. Sabor Escondido, one of the resort's two restaurants, is by reservation only, and the dress code (collared shirts only) is strictly enforced.