Panama The canal, islands, culture, richness, tourism
The country, whose Indian name means "abundance of fish" is mostly known for its man-made canal, one of the engineering marvels of the world, but has much more to offer. In total there are 1518 islands off the long coasts and surfers, deep sea fishers, divers as well as sailors have discovered Panama as their heaven on earth. Contrary to Costa Rica, Panama's indigenous population (there are 7 tribes) constitutes a sizeable minority that proudly tries to preserve its traditions. Traditional Spanish Festivals are celebrated often in the interior of the country.
Panama City bus
The history of Panama is full of riches; Peruvian gold was carried by Spaniards from the Panama City to Portobelo on the Caribbean Coast, where it was shipped to Spain. Nowadays, Panama has the highest per-capita income of the Central American countries, but half of the population is living in poverty and by the end of the week has no money in its pockets. Tourism in Panama is booming and many foreigners have already discovered Panama as a wonderful country to travel or retire.
Boquete Beauty in small package, coffee, Guaymís and celebrations Boquete is a small village of only 4000 inhabitants, located at 1060 meters above sea level, nestled in a beautiful green valley. The sparkling river Caldera is running through the village and volcano Barú raises majestically above surrounding mountains. Throughout Panama Boquete is known for its cool and fresh climate and pristine natural environment. During holidays this place is visited by many Panamanians from other parts of the country.
Because of the very fertile volcanic soil, coffee, flowers, vegetables and citrus fruits are growing here abundantly. Especially coffee farms are an important source of income for indigenous people living in the mountains above Boquete. The Guaymís women wear colourful dresses and are commonly seen in the village. The people in this province are known for their friendliness and they are very willing to help you with your Spanish. It's a good place to practice your Spanish since only a few speak English. Volcano Barú is the only volcano in Panama and there is no record of its last eruption. The National Park Barú offers some great hikes to the top of the volcano or along the volcano to Cerro Punta. For birdwatchers this is the place to be. There isn't only one crater but seven. At the top of the volcano you will be able to see the Caribbean as well as the Pacific coast on a clear day. If you plan to climb the volcano you are advised to start early. During the afternoon the clouds are likely to spoil the view. In the second week of January a flower festival takes place. Boquete is known for its flower-lined streets and during this holiday season many Panamanians come to Boquete to admire the flowers and dance during the nights in one of the open air discothèques. In November there are some national holidays throughout the month which are celebrated extensively with parades and dancing during the night.
The school Nestled in green settings, fruit garden, volcano view and lots of birds
Spanish by the River - Boquete, opened its doors in January 2006. It's located 5 kilometres outside Boquete at the entrance to the village Palmira. In Boquete you have a choice of accommodations, restaurants, (pool) bars, coffee shops, banks, internet cafes, a discothèque and some open air dance floors for special occasions. The school is at only 180 metres from the bus stop and the beautiful green fruit garden is a great place to be for relaxing and studying. From the garden you have a great view of volcano Barú and its lush green surroundings.
The hummingbirds like to visit the banana flowers and orange blossoms and many other birds can be seen here. The school is excellent for students who appreciate tranquillity and want to combine learning the language with exploring the outdoors. If you like to go out dancing every day, this is not really a suitable place. The only discothèque in town is open every evening but mostly visited during the weekend.
The other schools
We have two other schools. Spanish by the Sea - Bocas is located in Panama and Spanish by the River - Turrialba in neighboring Costa Rica. Each school has its own beauty and personality within a unique environment, taking advantage of its personality by offering particular excursions and volunteer work. We give you clear, printed instructions at the schools on how to travel. The trip between the Spanish by the River - Boquete and Spanish by the Sea - Bocas goes mainly through the highlands where you can observe waterfalls and a lake that is part of a hydrological project. A boat trip is also part of the adventure to get to Spanish by the Sea. The trip between Spanish by the River - Boquete and Spanish by the River - Turrialba can be done by traveling on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. You can observe pineapple plantations and a beautiful river is also accompanying you for a large part. This trip takes about 10 hours and costs $15.00, but we recommend traveling first to Spanish by the Sea - Bocas and from there to Spanish by the River - Turrialba.
BOQUETE SCHOOL
