Boquete Open for Business (Bocas, Not So Much...)
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Panama continues to recover from the torrential rains and flooding that hit the provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro last month. At this point the rains have stopped, the flood waters are receding, and humanitarian efforts continue. The province of Bocas del Toro, especially the part of the province that's on the mainland, was hit much worse than Chiriquí. The primary road connecting the mainland part of the province of Bocas del Toro to the rest of Panama is only tentatively open and repair work continues. Traditionally, the end of the rainy season in Panama means the start of the tourist season. Hotel and restaurant owners as well as tour operators would like you to know that Boquete and the rest of the province of Chiriquí is up and running and open for business. I received the following information via email yesterday: (more)
Please Distribute This: "I received this from the Panamonte Hotel in Boquete and they have asked that I send to all those who have an impact on tourism…as well Don, this note was sent to me as I inquired about how things were going there…"
- Dear Donna:
- Yes, a bit of a mess but progress is being made and all roads into and out of Boquete are open LADERA and PALO ALTO hit badly ...but all other hotels are fine. The Panamonte did not get touched at all and we are operating as usual. However, the perception out there is one that Boquete is out of business...not so...please visit www.boquetetoday.com and there should be a press release on there advising as to the state of affairs. Yes, the bridge went and now we wait to see what will take place....but, it is not stopping traffic getting to the Inn.
- Thanks for your inquiry very much appreciated.
- Kind regards, David, Panamonte Inn & Spa
- What’s Up in Boquete? Boquete is back on track and the town wants to put the spotlight where it belongs: on its beauty and its people.
BOQUETE, PANAMA: Boquete was in the spotlight this past week, not for its natural beauty, award-winning coffee and friendly people, but because of the damage caused by the Caldera River. The dramatic footage and photos don’t tell the whole story: Boquete didn’t experience long-term flooding. The river grew quickly during a short period of time and affected some structures in its immediate vicinity. The fact is, the majority of Boquete, including the downtown, roads, tours and activity businesses and most restaurants and hotels, were untouched. The people of Boquete and the business community have come together to invite the public to experience Boquete today.
- “Boquete is back on track,” says Charlie Collins, Owner and Executive Chef, Panamonte Inn and Spa. “Of course, it has been a difficult week for the people of Boquete and our hearts go out to the families affected. My family has been in Boquete for three generations and some things never change: the things that Boquete has always been known for—its natural beauty, relaxing environment, fresh air, friendly people and welcoming spirit—were 100% unaffected.”
- Earlier in the week, media, websites and blogs were reporting on the situation in Boquete. But the photos and footage was limited to a very small section of Boquete, the rest of the town was untouched.
- “Everybody saw the photos and footage, but it’s important to remember: the story didn’t stop there,” continues Chef Collins. “The Boquete community rallied together to help the people in the areas affected by the river. The speed at which those vulnerable points were fixed was truly amazing. It speaks volumes about the character and spirit of the people in Boquete.”
‘What’s up in Boquete?’
- Airport service to David and the main road connecting David to Boquete was unaffected
- All the main roads and the downtown were untouched
- Traditional Boquete activities Panamanians have always enjoyed—visiting gardens like Mi Jardin es Su Jardin and El Explorador, stopping for strawberry drinks, enjoying coffee, sharing the beauty with family and loved ones—never stopped
- Great restaurants and hotels are open for business
- All the exciting outdoor activities Boquete is known for are still available: hiking, rafting, ziplining, rock-climbing, horseback riding, bird-watching, hot springs and coffee tours
- "All of the traditional activities that Panamanian families have enjoyed over the years never stopped,” says Lissette Ameglio, Fresas Café. “The gardens of Mi Jardin es Su Jardin and El Explorador. Stopping for a delicious strawberry batido. Enjoying a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Relaxing with your family. Boquete is the perfect place to do this. Now the sun is out and we want people to experience the beauty of our special town today.”
- For more information about what is happening in Boquete, please visit www.boquetetoday.com and come to Experience Boquete Today!
For more information, please call: Jessica Real, 6-615-2965
- Donna Dawson, Master Gardener, Member Region 7 Garden Writers Association, Affiliate Member Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors, Member North American Travel Journalists Association, Member Royal Horticultural Society, http://www.ICanGarden.com, http://www.gardeningtours.com, 2009 Garden Tours - Ecuador, China Spring and Fall, India, Morocco and Chelsea Flower Show London
And There You Have It: As explained in the press release, Chiriqui and Boquete did not experience the wide area and sustained flooding like what was seen in the province of Bocas del Toro on the mainland. They had a whole lot of serious rain in a short period of time as well as some flash flooding, but for the most part the water drained away down the mountain side relatively quickly. Some areas did receive flood damage but most of the region was relatively spared. Most importantly, the province of Chiriqui was never cut off (logistically speaking) from the rest of the country. As a matter of fact much of the humanitarian relief response is being staged out of David with flights across the mountains to bring relief supplies to Bocas del Toro. So, it's perfectly safe (and responsible) to say that Boquete and Chiriqui is "open for business" again, and you should do well to include the land of eternal springtime in your travel plans.
Bocas Del Toro - Hold Off: The same can not be said (yet) for Bocas del Toro. The road from David over the mountains to Almirante and Changuinola was completely washed out in at least four different places and was blocked by about 100 landslides during the worst of the flooding. This road is the logistical lifeline for all of the residents of the province of Bocas del Toro. The road has been tentatively reopened thanks to quick emergency repairs completed by the Panamanian Ministry of Public Works (MOP), but only for smaller pickup trucks and vans carrying humanitarian relief supplies for flood victims. Large articulated cargo trucks carrying containers or tankers carrying fuel still can not pass over this road. Until that road is reopened (all the way) I still would not recommend tourists visit the province of Bocas del Toro - in fact it would be irresponsible to do so. Their presence would add an additional burden to the relief efforts, meaning they would have to eat food, drink water, and burn fuel. The logistical connectivity simply is not there yet. Once it is, I'll be the first to help promote Bocas del Toro for tourism, again.
Am I Wrong? I know the owners of hotels and businesses in Bocas del Toro are going to be hissing through their teeth at me, and maybe I'm missing something. Are tourists showing up anyway? Are more relief supplies and general everyday stuff like food and toilet paper getting through? In short, am I wrong to take this position of saying "hold off" until the road is reopened? If so, please add your comments to this article. A whole bunch of views and opinions are always much better than just mine. And besides, you guys are up there and have a much better view of what's going on than I do...
Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
