Boquete’s Host to World Travelers, Since 1914

The Panamonte Inn & Spa in Boquete celebrates 95 years in 2009 with deluxe renovations and new amenities! Guests may now pamper themselves with one of the new, luxurious Garden Junior Suites, or the brand-new Garden Terrace rooms. The Panamonte is famous for its gracious hospitality, antique charm and exquisite cuisine. The Panamonte is not a hotel or a lodge, but the true definition of a country inn: a warm and friendly place for travelers seeking a pleasurable ambiance and personalized attention, a home away from home.

Since 1914, the Panamonte Inn & Spa has hosted travelers and explorers the world over. The Inn is owned and run by the Collins-Elliot family, who for more than 50 years has harmoniously blended their Scandinavian traditions with the friendliness and natural beauty that Boquete is known for. Located at the foot of Barú Volcano, the Panamonte is the perfect base for exploring the Chiriquí Highlands, and it is the only full-service lodging option in Boquete, offering a deluxe SPA, fireside lounge, excursion planning, and a regionally renowned gourmet restaurant.

The Panamonte pioneered in adventure travel and ecotravel in Boquete. Panama Travel Group can plan during your stay river rafting, canopy rides, trekking, bird watching, private visits to coffee farms or sightseeing tours.

After a day exploring the rainforest or sampling coffee at a nearby coffee farm, relax with a massage or sink into an overstuffed couch in the inn’s lounge next to a crackling fire. Whether lodging in one of the new deluxe Garden rooms or the “small and cozy” standard rooms, we’ll leave you well-fed, well-rested and revitalized for your next day’s adventure.

Guests love the fresh scent of the inn’s beautifully tended gardens, and that the Panamonte is on a country road just a 5-minute walk to downtown. It is the ideal base for enjoying one of Boquete’s annual festivals, such as the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival), the Feria de las Orquidea (Orchid Fair), the Jazz Festival or the Cup of Panama Coffee Tasting Competition.

Panamonte Hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

History

Long before Boquete was officially founded in 1911, the Doraz Indians settled this fertile highland valley, followed by Spanish conquistadores and later by 49ers who stopped here on their way from the isthmus shortcut north to California in search of gold. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Boquete valley’s spectacular beauty, fertile volcanic soil and temperate climate drew European and North American settlers, as well as people from other parts of Panama. Their hard work and deep affection for the area allowed Boquete to evolve into a prosperous agricultural center. Many refer to Boquete as the “Breadbasket of Panama.”

Joseph Wright, a spirited Texan and retired railroad conductor, opened the Panamonte in 1914 with just 5 rooms. In those days, the Panamonte was called “Pop Wright’s Hotel,” and Wright hosted weary travelers to Boquete who had made the journey from David by train, ox cart or foot, as there was no road at the time. Wright was known to lure arriving travelers to the hotel with the offer of a cold guava and rum cocktail on the house. During the ensuing decades, the Inn saw its share of notable guests, including Teddy Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh, who dropped in during a flight through Central America. The great explorer Admiral Richard Byrd holed up at the Panamonte to finish writing his memoirs about his Antarctic expeditions.

In 1946, Hans and Vera Elliot purchased the Panamonte Inn and expanded the property to include 10 rooms and a formal dining area. Hans had come to Panama from Sweden in 1924 as a captain aboard a Swedish merchant shipping vessel. He later brought his wife Vera from Sweden to Panama City, and established a successful cargo shipping business. While visiting Boquete to solicit cargo from cattle ranchers, farmers and rum manufacturers, Hans became enamored of the Boquete Valley and moved his family here, eventually purchasing the Hacienda La Esmeralda farm, and the Caldera hot springs, in addition to the inn.

Vera Elliot was a cultured and exceptionally fine hostess, and her attention to detail and respect for perfection and protocol earned the Panamonte Inn an esteemed reputation throughout Panama. It also provided the foundation for the tradition of hospitality the Panamonte is known for today. Vera hung oil paintings by Latin American artists, had the gardens planted with fruit trees and colorful flowers, and polished the cutlery until it gleamed.

During the latter period of the 1900s, the Panamonte was considered the premier retreat for diplomats, VIPs, and the Panamanian elite who came to Boquete to escape the humid heat of David and Panama City. The Shah of Iran visited the Panamonte while searching for an exile address, as did the famous Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman, who enjoyed the Panamonte so much that she came back for a second visit. Even Richard Nixon stopped in for lunch.

Many international travelers and merchants visiting Panama or sailing through the canal made a point of visiting Boquete and the Panamonte Inn, prompting Vera to hang a sign over the front door depicting two puffed-cheeked cherubs blowing trade winds and symbolizing the Panamonte’s role as host and meeting point for visitors from around the globe.

During the past 20 years, the Panamonte has also hosted a new kind of visitor: ecotravelers and birdwatchers who come to envelop themselves in lush, verdant rainforest and view wild fauna and the hundreds of birds that live in or migrate through Boquete, including the Resplendent Quetzal. The Panamonte was a pioneer in the ecotravel market in Boquete, and the first to create adventurous and active tours around the area. In order to provide its guests with maximum relaxation and an antidote to sore muscles, the Panamonte opened a full-service spa with a highly trained staff.

Keeping with the philosophy of personalized attention associated with a family-owned and -operated inn, the Panamonte’s current owner is the Elliot’s daughter Inga Collins, who is often on hand to entertain guests with anecdotes from the Panamonte’s past and suggest activities and sightseeing options in the area. Inga also upholds the tradition of fine hospitality established by her mother Vera before her.

Inga’s son and partner Charlie Collins is an award-winning chef whose focus is on creating a memorable dining experience for his guests. In the true pioneering spirit that defines the Panamonte Inn & Spa, the Collins family is constantly seeking new ways to make certain their guests are relaxed and enjoying themselves, hosting yearly Food & Wine Festivals, holiday events, unique tours, and offering a cozy and comfortable environment that evokes the feeling of a home away from home.

Panamonte’s Gourmet Dining & Fireside Lounge

The Panamonte Inn & Spa is renowned for its gourmet cuisine and its cozy fireside lounge and bar. Condé Nast Traveller has named the Panamonte’s restaurant as one of the best in Central America, and the Washington D.C.-based publication Capital Chef has called the restaurant the best in Panama. People come from near and far to savor the flavorful creations of co-owner and award-winning chef Charlie Collins, who has fused his overseas culinary experience with his passion for Panamanian cuisine to produce a menu that is both international and indigenous.

Boquete is blessed with fertile volcanic soil that is ideal for growing produce, exotic fruits, and some of the best coffee in the world. Trout swim in the region’s crystalline rivers, and cattle graze on Volcano Barú’s grassy slopes. A half-hour away is Panama’s coastline, with delicacies such as lobster, jumbo shrimp, sea bass and yellowfin tuna.

There is no other place in Panama that offers such a rich diversity of fresh products, and Chef Collins takes full advantage of this bounty to offer his guest’s a truly memorable dining experience.

The Panamonte has a more formal dining room and a fireside lounge, where guests may order from the regular menu or opt for a lighter meal from the bar menu. On Sundays the Panamonte offers a special Brunch Menu.

The Panamonte’s Restaurant is open to guests and the public:

•    Breakfast 7am to 10pm (Mon-Fri) and 7:00am to 11am (Sat & Sun)
•    Lunch 12pm to 2:30pm (Daily)
•    Dinner 6pm to 10pm (Daily)

The Lounge is open daily from 12pm to 11pm, closing at midnight on Saturdays. Bar snacks are available throughout the day.

Every year, the Panamonte hosts several Food & Wine Festivals, with invited guest chefs from the finest restaurants in Panama City.

In the true European style, the festivals begin in the cocktail lounge with champagne and hors d´oeurves, followed by a 5-course gourmet dinner in the dining room with meals paired with fine wines for a genuine feast for the senses.

Chef Charlie Collins also offers Culinary  Classes several times a year, please contact us to inquire dates.

Indulge Your Senses with the Haven Spa at The Panamonte

The Panamonte boasts one of the best spas in Panama, operated by the highly respected Haven Spa. Treat yourself to one of their signature hot stone massages, or indulge yourself with a deluxe package. The Haven Spa also offers therapeutic treatments for injured muscles, and there is a steam bath and sauna.

Full-Service Accommodations at the Panamonte

In addition to the Panamonte’s 12 new guest rooms, all of the inn’s rooms have been newly renovated to provide true comfort, yet the inn has been careful to maintain the antique look and feel that evokes charm and a quieter, less hurried era in Panama.

All guestrooms are equipped with newly upgraded bathrooms, telephones, hair dryers, air-conditioning, security safe, Internet connection, and Sky TV;  suites feature fluffy robes and slippers. All rooms are surrounded by beautiful gardens full of birds and butterflies, with lots of outdoor areas for lounging … or napping.

Garden Honeymoon Suite: The Honeymoon Suite is the best room and a favorite with newlyweds, romantic couples, and those seeking to splurge a little and pamper themselves. The Suite boasts a spacious bedroom with a King-size bed, 500-count linens, a light, airy ambiance that opens onto a large private patio surrounded by gardens, and an oversized bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and glass-walled shower. A private fireplace adds to the charm and romance of the setting.

Garden Junior Suites: Three stylish suites tastefully decorated with locally produced teak furniture and an elegant decor reminiscent of the early Panama Canal days. These suites are the inn’s largest rooms, with oversized bedrooms, terraces situated high enough to view the lush mountainous surroundings, plush Queen-size beds with 500-count linens, and deluxe bathrooms with glass-walled showers.

Garden Terrace Rooms: The brand-new Garden Terrace rooms are set back in the gardens of the Panamonte, boasting beautiful mountain views and offering an escape from the fast-paced life. All Terrace rooms are the same size, but slightly smaller than the Garden Suites, yet all are tastefully furnished and exceptionally comfortable, with King-size beds and a small, private outdoor seating area.

El Fresal Apartment: The 3-bedroom apartment, located just across the street from the hotel, is perfect for families or a group of friends. El Fresal sleeps a total of 6 guests, and features one master bedroom with a private bathroom, and two bedrooms with twin beds and a shared bathroom. The apartment has a living area, fireplace, and a small outdoor terrace.

Honeymoon Suite (The Ingrid Bergman Suite): Ingrid Bergman so loved the Panamonte that she visited it twice, and she choose this room as her pied a tierre. An original room of the Panamonte that is slightly larger than a standard, this room is tucked away on the second story with a private entrance. The Bergman suite is perfect for couples who seek to indulge in the privacy of a romantic rendezvous. The suite comes with a king-size bed.

Standard: Small and cozy, these are the original rooms of the Panamonte Inn. Standard rooms come with twins or a queen-sized bed.

Activities: Coffee, Ecotravel & Adventure

Beautiful Boquete. A tropical Shangri-La tucked away in the mountain highlands at the foot of Volcano Barú. Boquete is a storybook village enveloped by jagged emerald peaks capped in cloud forest.

Shade-grown coffee plantations swirl with incandescent birds, and rainbows appear suddenly and with surprising frequency.

In Boquete, spring is everlasting, with balmy temperatures year-round and lush flora that overflows from the side of winding country roads, gardens and flower boxes. Local Ngöbe-Bugle women stride through the streets in billowy, colorful dresses. Trout-filled, crystalline rivers trickle down through the rainforest, and butterflies prance through the air.

Simply put, Boquete is the kind of place that ecotravelers, birdwatchers and nature lovers dream about.

From wild canopy rides to river rafting to trekking through rainforest, catching a glimpse of the famous Resplendent Quetzal to “cupping” fine coffee, Boquete offers plenty to do – and plenty of space to do nothing but relax and soak in the paradisiacal ambiance.

Some popular available activities are:

    Quetzal Trail
    Horseback Riding
    River Rafting
    Caldera Hot Springs
    Coffee Tours
    Paradise Gardens
    Bird Watching
    Waterfall Hike in Volcan Baru National Park
    Tree Trek Canopy Ride over Forested areas
    Whitewater Kayaking
    Sea Kayaking
    Hike the Volcan Baru National Park
    Surfing
    Snorkeling in the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Chiriqui
    Island Tours by Motorboat
    Custom Fishing Charter
    Backpacking & Camping
    Day or Night Hiking
    Sunrise in the Summit of the Baru Volcano

Reserve this hotel: info@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-399-9830 (Panama)   |    1-786-539-4731 (USA)