finca lerida tour de cafe

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Finca Lerida

• 📍Región Boquete

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Descripción.

Finca Lérida es la muestra de la belleza de Boquete. La historia de la finca está atada a la historia del Canal. La finca fue fundada en 1929 por el ingeniero Tollef Bache Mönniche, el diseñador de las compuertas de seguridad del Canal, al momento de mudarse a Boquete junto a su esposa Julia pararecuperarse de sus problemas de salud. Fue amor a primera vista. A penas vio la belleza de los paisajes de la finca, decide adquirirla de su dueño original, quien le pone como único requisito que la finca conserve su nombre, en honor a la tierra que le dio tantos momentos inolvidables. Finca Lérida se encuentra ubicada entre 1,670 y 2,050 metros sobre el nivel del mar. María Antonella Amoruso, administradora de la finca, ofrece al visitante la oportunidad de disfrutar de aquellas cosas que hacen a Boquete uno de los sitios turísticos más importantes del país: sus majestuosos paisajes que invitan conocer más de la biodiversidad de área, un clima muy agradable, gastronomía variada, y por supuesto experimentar de primera mano todo el proceso del café, desde plantación, cosecha, beneficiado, tueste y el disfrute de una excelente taza de café de calidad de exportación. Puedes hospedarte en medio de una de las fincas cafetaleras más hermosas y con mayor historia de la región, deleitarte de la gastronomía en su restaurante, compartir un café y un dulce de la casa en el coffee shop. Para los más aventureros, le esperan 9 kilómetros de senderos en los que pueden practicar hiking, trail running, MTB, o simplemente caminar para conectar con la naturaleza. Una de las atracciones estrellas de la finca es el Bird Watching; muchas personas de diferentes partes del mundo vienen a practicar el avistamiento de aves ya que es una región privilegiada por su diversidad con aves endémicas y de temporada; como por ejemplo los quetzales y los colibríes. En el futuro la finca busca convertirse en la marca que represente a Boquete como destino turístico. ¡Vive Boquete en Finca Lérida!

Coffee tour - Precio por adulto: $35.00. Precio por niño: $15.00: Este recorrido ilustra la cultura del café de una manera divertida, ayudando al participante a disfrutar mejor de esta legendaria bebida aromática. ¡Después de un recorrido como este, una taza de café nunca sabrá igual!

Duración: 3 Horas

Habitaciones: Casa Centenario $250 Suite $159 Deluxe $139 Vintage Room $119

Experiencias

• Cata del Café
• Pet Friendly
• Desayuno Incluído
• Estacionamiento Gratuito

7:00 am - 10:00 pm

abril 24, 2024 9:29 pm local time

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Todos los derechos reservados 2024 • Circuito del Café

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• Finca Lerida

A secluded boutique hotel surrounded by history, peace, and mountains

Finca lerida overview.

Destinations:

From $148 per night

Couples Families Solo Travelers

If you go 6 miles uphill from Boquete, you’ll find a hidden gem called Finca Lerida Coffee Estate & Boutique Hotel.

Located between the skirts of Baru Volcano and the mountains of Panama’s Central mountain range, this expansive property is a historical coffee plantation full of lush vegetation and peace.

Finca Lerida: A Historical Hideout

One of the best parts of staying in Finca Lerida is to learn about its history, which is closely connected to Panama’s culture.

The plantation’s fame started back when Panama began exporting coffee to Germany in 1929. It was built by Toleff Bache Mönniche, a Norwegian engineer who worked on the Panama Canal in the early 20th century.

When Mönniche retired from being an engineer in the 1920s, he moved to Finca Lerida with his wife. Here he built a house and turned the place into the first coffee plantation by gravity in Panama. He also created and patented what is known as ‘sifon’, a device that separates good from bad coffee beans. The plantation has been working ever since.

The building itself has been turned into a boutique hotel. Originally it was built with a Norwegian style to suit its owners, but now it provides a boutique experience to guests in search of a home-like ambiance in the forests of Panama.

Fine Coffee, Nature & Dining

Finca Lerida borders Amistad National Park, a natural reserve that transcends borders and is protected by both Costa Rica and Panama. This reserve is a safe haven for a wide variety of flora and fauna, and due to its importance, it has been declared a World Heritage Site.

Finca Lerida’s seclusion is a declaration of its peacefulness and unique possibility to disconnect from the world and commune with nature.

There are trails across the property to explore the forest, and there’s even chance to visit a waterfall. Finca Lerida is renowned for its birdwatching as well. Take a pair of binoculars and hike along to discover hummingbirds, flowerpiercers, toucanets, and other jumping and singing birds along the way.

As a guest of Finca Lerida, you are also welcome to participate in a coffee tour that teaches you how a good cup of coffee is made. See every step from plantation to brewing methods, and taste a quality drink Panama style.

The on-site restaurant, La Brulerie, and the Cafe are ideal to relax and enjoy a good meal. The traditional menu is complemented by international twists from the chef and sous-chef.

Experience fresh ingredients and real, local flavors from Panama. Don’t forget to try the maracuja pie one of those afternoons with a cup of coffee.

If seclusion, history and nature sound like your perfect Panama vacation , Finca Lerida is for you. Contact us if you have any questions, and take the first steps towards the escapade of your dreams!

Every itinerary includes:

• Boutique hotel with few visitors.
• A historical location to commune with nature.
• On-site restaurant and café.
• Hiking trails that are also perfect for birdwatching.

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Tour de café - Finca Lerida

• Central America    
• Panama    
• Chiriqui Province    
• Boquete    
• Boquete - Things to Do    
• Finca Lerida

We booked a birding tour of Finca Lérida with César Caballero on the recommendation of our AirBNB... read more

Incredibly informative. We learnt so much about coffee production today, very friendly tour... read more

Tour de café

This tour was interesting and informative, particularly the "Café testing". However it was quite expensive and we have waited for half an hour at the end of the tour just to pay.

We booked our coffee tour with Rolando Vargas. He was very knowledgeable but, unfortunately, not only was his English difficult to understand, he was not feeling well on the day of our tour. But he did his best to keep us interested with a smile on his face. I found the history a little overwhelming at times but, then, perhaps that's just me. The premises were beautiful and the restaurant was good........classy but a little meager on the food portions. As it was just my husband and I, we did learn a lot from Rolando about coffee plants and the lengthy process from picking the ripe coffee beans to roasting the beans and then drinking the coffee. I have one last thought: They have what is called the "Crystal House" which is just a plastic covered very large room which they use for events - and when there is not an event - for drying the coffee beans. As to using it for an event, this "Crystal House" is really just a glorified plastic room and I can't imagine having any event in it. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our coffee tour and eating at the restaurant there afterwards.

We booked a coffee tour for a rather high price at Finca Lerida and it was worth it. Rolando was our very nice guide and fortunately his English is very good. Our group consisted of the of us only. We learned a lot about coffee plants and how difficult it is to process the beans. The Finca Lerida premises are really beautiful and you might even consider to book one of their suites if they are in your (high) price range. After the tour we spent some time watching the boatloads of Hummingbirds (colibris) that were around and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee that is included in the tour price as well as a piece of cake. Thank you Ronaldo, errrmmmmmm Rolando... :)

We took the coffee tour at Finca Lerida. At $35 per person, it seemed very overpriced (and was much more than what our tour books indicated, but they insisted this is their standard price). It was a two hour tour, but it was not very entertaining. There was a lot of standing around and looking at the hotel property, seeing basil and oregano (which I grow at home!)--and not a clear enough description of the coffee processing process. We did see Coffee plants and had a tasting (cupping). The tasting was a bit disappointing since it is not brewed coffee, but I guess the way experts experience the quality of the coffee. The best part of the tour was the cup of coffee at the end (which was good, but not exceptional). We took advantage of access to the Finca trails afterwards and had a nice hike through the jungle and to the waterfall. Some birds--no quetzal. I would have been happy to take a birdwatching tour, but that left 1/2 an hour before we arrived (time of tours is not available on their website--or even information that there are set schedules). The day we went--the birdwatching was at 8:30am, the coffee tours at 9:30am and 1:30pm. We were a group of 9, and no one was thrilled with this experience and we all felt over charged.

Lost in the Right Direction

Finca Lerida coffee plantation tour

coffee coffee tasting

The Boquete area of Panama is trying to make coffee tasting in the region equivalent to what wine tasting is to Napa. What this leads to are fascinating tours and even better coffee. We opted to tour Finca Lerida’s coffee plantation (they also have a great hotel). This was the very first coffee plantation ever established in Panama and still produces coffee exported worldwide. The fascinating nearly 3 hour tour demonstrated everything from how the berries are handpicked, to how they are dried in the sun, shelled, stored, and processed. Enjoy wandering the rows of coffee bushes, the ecology of coffee farming, how the plantation is handling new threats of climate change, and finish with with an incredibly unique tasting experience of 6 types. Make sure to try the Geisha type which is especially renowned. Our guide Cesar was incredibly knowledgeable and told awesome stories. Your tour also includes a pastry and coffee in the cafe on site.

Hours: contact Finca Lerida for tour times

You should also check out

• Casco Viejo Walking Tour
• Panama Viejo
• Miraflores Locks (Panama Canal) and Visitor Center
• Quetzales Trail Trek
• Jungle Hike Popa Dos Indigenous Village

• Finca Lérida
• Lugares Turísticos en Bajo Boquete

¿Qué hacer en Finca Lérida? ¿por qué visitarla?

Recomendaciones:, ¿cómo llegar a finca lérida.

¿Ya viste todos los lugares turísticos de Bajo Boquete?

Que ver y hacer en la ciudad de Bajo Boquete.

Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel

Alto Quiel, 0000 Boquete, Panama – Excellent location – show map

Cleanliness

Value for money

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Beautiful location, beautiful rooms, fantastic coffee

Mr. Staff the manager was great he made us feel like at home

The restaurant was fantastic. We highly recommend it.

I liked the calm and relaxing environment. I liked to be surrounded by nature

The staff at this hotel / finca are amazing. Everyone is friendly and willing to take time to offer advice for things to do and places to see. The restaurant is amazing and Sarah concocts fantastic food. If you want to do a coffee tasting, Gorge is the best person to go to, with details on everything coffee. Roosevelt and the rest of the staff will take care of everything you need. Cesar leads the bird watching tours and he is amazing at what he does and how he can find the birds. Jose runs the coffee tours and shows how the process works so everyone understands.

Good water pressure, loved the location and great service.

Beautiful grounds, clean but simple rooms with nice linens and beds. The staff is friendly and helpful. Obviously the coffee is great as well!

The hotel is located in the middle of a working coffee plantation. The plantation dates back to 1911 and the hotel was established on the plantation in 1955. All of the original buildings have been kept in excellent condition. It’s a beautiful property

Surprisingly good quality restaurant, great service throughout, superb and tranquil location and fascinating coffee tour. Highly recommended.

Everything! The staff is incredible and we love stay here.

Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel – rated 8.7 by recent guests!

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Set on a coffee plantation, this boutique hotel offers a gourmet restaurant and luxurious rooms with spectacular views of the surrounding gardens, rainforest and mountains. Baru Volcano National Park is 2.5 mi away. Decorated in an elegant vintage style, rooms and suites at Finca Lerida offer a safe and a 42-inch LCD TV with satellite channels. Free toiletries are included in the private bathrooms. Birdwatching and coffee tours are available at Hotel Finca Lerida. The Finca’s restaurant serves fresh, seasonal cuisine and offers wonderful mountain views. The café and gift shop sell fresh coffee grown on the plantation. Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel is an ideal base for hiking and birdwatching. The town of Boquete is just a 10-minute drive away. Free private parking is offered on site.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.9 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Free parking
• Family rooms
• Non-smoking rooms
• Room service
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Wonderful Breakfast

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.0)

Want a great night's sleep? This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds.

Breakfast Info

Free parking available at the hotel

Saved to 1419 lists

Availability

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Hotel area info

Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

• Cuisine Local
• Open for Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Amenities of Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel Great facilities! Review score, 8.6

• Outdoor fireplace
• Picnic area
• Shared kitchen
• Themed dinners Additional charge
• Walking tours Additional charge
• Fruit Additional charge
• Wine/Champagne Additional charge
• Kids' meals Additional charge
• Special diet meals (on request)
• Street parking
• Private check-in/out
• 24-hour front desk
• Indoor play area
• Board games/Puzzles
• Daily housekeeping
• Ironing service Additional charge
• Laundry Additional charge
• Fax/Photocopying
• Meeting/Banquet facilities Additional charge
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV in common areas
• 24-hour security
• Smoke-free property
• Public Bath
• Hot tub/Jacuzzi Additional charge

See availability House rules

From 3:00 PM

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in

Until 12:00 PM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 4 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Cancellation policies will be applied to date modifications in your reservation.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

FAQs about Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel

Is hotel finca lerida coffee plantation and boutique hotel popular with families.

Yes, Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel is popular with guests booking family stays.

What kind of breakfast is served at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel?

Guests staying at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 9.0).

Does Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel have a hot tub for its guests?

Yes, there's a hot tub. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel on this page.

What type of room can I book at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel?

How much does it cost to stay at hotel finca lerida coffee plantation and boutique hotel.

The prices at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

How far is Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel from the center of Boquete?

Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel is 3.7 miles from the center of Boquete. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

Does Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel have a restaurant on site?

• La Brulerie

What are the check-in and check-out times at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel?

Check-in at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

What is there to do at Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel?

• Hot tub/Jacuzzi
• Walking tours
• Themed dinners

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Finca Lerida Coffee Tasting and Plantation Tour

Virgin rainforest and misty hills surround rows of coffee trees. Panama’s first coffee plantation, Finca Lerida was founded by a Norwegian engineer after his work on the Panama Canal. It’s still a world leader in developing the finest coffee. Enjoy a private tour of the legendary facility and taste their product.

Tour the fields and learn how soil, micro-climate, and genetics combine to create the perfect cup of coffee. Follow ripe beans all the way to your cup, with the tour culminating at the Tasting Table. 

Sample different varieties of high-quality coffee, tasting subtle notes and learning to discern them, and practice techniques for brewing at home.

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• FINCA LERIDA COFFEE ESTATE

[email protected]  • +507 6748-6295

Boquete Panama

The reputation of Finca Lérida is as old as the first shipment of Panamanian coffee exported to Germany in it’s history, in 1929.

From its spectacular landscape sprang a coffee of such high quality, that soon the consumer countries of the aromatic coffee realized that Panama had other unique attractions, beyond the Canal. One of these was, and remains, Finca Lerida.

In 1924, engineer Toleff Bache Mönniche, along with his wife, moved to Finca Lerida. Here he built his house completely by hand in a Norwegian countryside style, and built the first Coffee Plantation by gravity in Panama.

In 1929, Finca Lerida exported to Germany its first shipment of Panamanian coffee, and this began Panama ́s high reputation as one of the exotic coffees of greater quality in Europe.

Finca Lerida is currently managed by the Amoruso Family, who coordinates the appropriate growth process of coffee, protect the lush virgin forest that surrounds the property and offer a genuine stay for all visitors to the Boutique Hotel Finca Lerida that is located in the middle of the coffee plantation.

Finca Lérida is conformed by 5 farms located in the province of Chiriquí in Panama, specifically in the Boquete region. Ranging between 1500 and 2000 meters in altitude, these farms are:

• Lérida Estate
• Esplendorosa Estate
• Amelia Estate
• El Salto Estate
• Flora Estate

VARIETALS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE

With it’s special atmospheric and topographic conditions, Finca Lérida is able to grow different arabica varietals with qualities that you can perceive in the cup such as fragance, flavor, acidity and body.

Among these varieties you will find:

In the main farm, Lérida Estate and in an altitude above 1900 meters, the experimental micro lots with varieties such as the following are found:

• Orange Bourbon
• Midget Geishas

THE SECRET OF OUR SUCCESS

Picking standars have been set in order to get the most ripped cherries to assure a premium product,

Processes are closely followed throughout the producing season to make sure the beans meet their full potential.

Early in the season, buyers can make a contract to buy an specific amount of coffee processed in their process of preference.

Amongst the procedures the cherries go through are;

• Washed or wet process
• Natural or dry process
• Honey process
• Black Honey
• ASD or Anaerobic Slow Dry

Each of them will take the experience of the cupping through a different path.

By the end of this 2021 crop we would produce 4000 bags of 100 pounds each.

[…] 「FINCA LERIDA」,Specialty Coffee Association of Panama< http://scap-panama.com/2017/04/04/finca-lerida/&gt ; […]

Recent News and Events

• Junta Directiva de la SCA visita por primera vez zonas cafetaleras de Panamá December 11, 2023
• Panamá lidera en precio las subastas electrónicas de café de especialidad September 7, 2023
• Geisha de Panamá impone nuevo récord mundial: 10,005 dólares el kilogramo de café Geisha en subasta electrónica August 30, 2023
• Los imponentes Geishas y Varietales del Best of Panama está listo para la subasta August 24, 2023
• Geisha de Panamá impone su propio récord ahora en Geishas Lavados June 4, 2023
• 30 lotes avanzan a la final del BOP June 1, 2023
• Inició la Cata Internacional del Mejor café de Panamá May 30, 2023
• Con impresionantes resultados culmina Cata Nacional de Café de especialidad de Panamá May 27, 2023
• Inició la Cata Nacional del Mejor Café de Panamá May 23, 2023
• 191 lotes de café de alta especialidad entrarán al BOP 2023 May 3, 2023

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Exploring history, culture and natural wonders

Experience Panama’s Coffee Farming Tradition in the Chiriquí Highlands

A coffee circuit connects 15 farms that offer tours and tastings in what’s been called the “Napa Valley of coffee”

Jennifer Billock

Travel Correspondent

The top of Volcán Barú in western Panama is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to see both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans at the same time. But the spot, with regular rainfall and cloud cover, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil that is naturally good for drainage, is prized for another reason: coffee production. The area’s geisha variety , maintained and handpicked by the Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé communities, is one of the priciest coffees in the world at more than $1,000 per pound unroasted.

“They [the Ngäbe and Buglé] are the ones most in contact with coffee over the last hundred years,” Diwigdi Valiente, a climate and Indigenous activist, told Travel + Leisure in 2021. “The reason the coffee is so expensive is because these farmers are doing all these things right. They’re listening to nature, they are listening to science, and they are also listening to people.”

Coffee first came to Panama in the early 1800s thanks to an English sea captain who brought plants with him when he married a Panamanian woman. At first, the coffee was planted along the coast, but locals soon learned that the microclimate of the Chiriquí Highlands at the base of Volcán Barú was perfect for the coffee to thrive. Coffee farms flourished from that point.

Though the country grows a comparatively small amount— 13 million pounds annually compared to Brazil’s five billion pounds—Panamanian coffee lovers consume more coffee per capita today than most coffee-producing countries. Still, much of the coffee is exported, and the farming of it has spawned a tourist activity. Established by t he Tourism Authority of Panama and the Center for Competitiveness of the Western Region in 2019, the ever-expanding Coffee Circuit connects 15 farms that offer tastings and tours of their fields and production facilities.

“All types of travelers, from families to nature lovers and adventurers, are welcomed to explore the coffee farms that are located in three main regions of the Chiriquí Highlands: Tierras Altas, which includes Volcan, Bambito and Cerro Punta; as well as Renacimiento and Boquete,” Promtur Panama, the official destination marketing organization for Panama, explained in a 2021 statement . The Chiriquí Highlands, after all, have been called the “Napa Valley of coffee.”

Here are five must-see farms:

Finca Lerida, Boquete

The world might not know about coffee from Panama if it weren’t for Finca Lerida . Norwegian engineer Toleff Bache Mönniche moved to the spot (about six miles uphill from Boquete, a small mountain town near the Costa Rica border) in 1924 with his wife, Julia, after he retired from years working on the Panama Canal. The couple built their home by hand and, that same year, started the coffee plantation. In 1929, Mönniche exported to Germany the very first shipment of Panamanian coffee to leave the country.

Today, the 900-acre Finca Lerida has a restaurant, a coffee shop and rooms to rent for overnight stays. The tour of the property starts in the coffee fields, to discuss the local terroir, and ends with a tasting of pacamara, catuai, caturra, typica and geisha varieties and a lesson on best practices for brewing a cup. Visitors follow trails ideal for birdwatching, with the local quetzal bird and more than 500 other bird species in the surrounding landscape.

Finca Café de Eleta, Renacimiento

Neighboring La Amistad International Park , a biodiverse Unesco World Heritage Site at the northwestern edge of Panama, Finca Café de Eleta has a responsibility to keep its coffee production environmentally safe. In 2003, the farm became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact , a volunteer-based initiative that focuses on sustainability, committing them to implementing and measuring sustainability initiatives. All of Finca Café de Eleta’s wastewater is treated organically and returned to the surrounding area, and solid waste gets composted and turned into fertilizer.

Finca Café de Eleta was first established in 1978 as a vegetable and sheep farm. The first coffee plants, of the catuaí variety, were planted in 1995. Now, the farm has more than 457 acres ranging in elevation from 3,937 to 4,921 feet, growing bourbon, catuaí, caturra, geisha, maragogype, pacamara and typica varieties of coffee. Tours through coffee plant nurseries and packaging processes last two hours. Visitors can add an hour-long tasting for an extra fee, or stay the night at the farm.

Lamastus Family Estates, Boquete

The three farms that make up the Lamastus Family Estates —Elida, El Burro and Luito Geisha—produce what’s considered some of the highest quality coffee in the world. Elida Estate is not only the highest in elevation of the three, but also the highest coffee farm in all of Panama, ranging from 5,200 to 8,500 feet above sea level. Coffee planting stops at 6,000 feet, though, due to Panamanian law; the remainder of Elida Estate is an ecological park within Volcán Barú National Park .

Elida started producing coffee in 1918. Due to the high altitude and cloudy rainforest environment, the beans are denser with a higher acidity than most coffees. Every coffee cherry (the coffee bean is the cherry’s seed) is handpicked by Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé, which helps account for its higher-than-average price, up to $1,000 per pound green. During tours at Elida Estate , participants can pick coffee cherries, watch the coffee manufacturing process, taste tree tomatoes (a roma-tomato-sized fruit that grows on trees and tastes like under-ripe tomatoes), and do a coffee tasting with the farm’s owner, Wilford Lamastus, or his son, Wilford Lamastus Jr.

Janson Coffee Farm, Tierras Altas

At Janson Coffee Farm , which lines the slopes of the Tisingal and Barú volcanoes at about 5,000 feet elevation, producing coffee in harmony with the surrounding environment is the main goal. The team grows green tip geisha, catuaí, caturra and pacamara varieties in soil they manage with enzyme microorganisms to maintain the ideal nutrient level. None of the coffee at Janson is grown using pesticides or herbicides; the different plots are separated by steps of forest that both control pests and allow natural flora and fauna to flourish. The farm is powered by 400 solar panels, and all waste is processed to use as either fuel or fertilizer. The farm’s owners are also dedicated to reforestation, growing native seedlings in the nursery to replant outside the coffee fields.

Swedish farmer Carl Axel Janson first started the farm in 1941, raising cattle. When the second generation took over, they opened Janson Coffee Farm. Today, the coffee, now produced by the fourth Janson generation, regularly wins top marks in the Best of Panama and World Brewers Cup competitions. Tours of the farm provide an overview of the different varieties of coffee plants grown there as well as the coffee production process from start to finish, and include a visit to the estate and the nursery. A coffee tasting is an add-on.

Don Pepe Estate Coffee, Boquete

Don Pepe Estate Coffee in the Volcán Barú foothills opened in 1898, making it the oldest coffee farm in the region and the first farm in Panama to specialize in coffee. The Vasquez family, now on the fifth generation of ownership, specializes in geisha coffee, but also in three different processing styles: natural, honey and washed. With the natural process, the coffee fruit dries whole, making the coffee full-bodied with low acidity. The honey process extracts the pulp layer before the coffee is dried, leaving a sweet acidity in the finished brew, and a washed process removes everything, leaving just the bean for a light body and fruit-focused flavor.

Tours at Don Pepe run twice a day and cover the growing and manufacturing of their eight varieties: geisha, java, pacamara, bourbon, typica, catuaí, caturra and a blend. The tour ends with a tasting. Don Pepe Estate also provides transportation—they’ll pick you up and drop you off from nearby accommodations.

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Jennifer Billock | | READ MORE

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com .

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Finca Lérida

• Boquete, Panamá

Cuentos de las Aves y el Café de Gran Altitud... La reputación de Finca Lérida s tan antigua como el primer café que Panamá exportó a Alemania en 1929 . El café de alta calidad producido en el interior de esta plantación excepcional logró que sus compradores internacionales se dieran cuenta de que había algo más en Panamá que sólo su Canal. Esto fue, y sigue siendo, Finca Lérida.

Lérida se estableció en el año de 1917 por B. Tollef Monniche , n ingeniero noruego y graduado en el Royal College de Dresden, Alemania, quien trabajó en el diseño y construcción de las puertas de emergencia del Canal de Panamá.

En el año de 1924, el ingeniero finalmente se retiró junto con su esposa Julia y se trasladó a Finca Lérida.

Allí construyó su casa - totalmente a mano – al estilo del campo noruego y construyó la primera plantación de café en Panamá . Aparte de esto, diseñó y patentó el "sifón", un dispositivo hecho para separar los granos buenos de los malos. Este dispositivo se utiliza ahora en todo el mundo por muchas plantaciones de café y se sigue utilizando en Finca Lérida donde el antiguo beneficio sigue procesando un café de calidad excepcional.

En el año de 1929, Finca Lérida exportó a Alemania su primer embarque de café panameño.

Esto dio inicio a la alta reputación de Panamá como uno de los principales productores de café de calidad exótica en Europa.

Finca Lérida es una de las propiedades tradicionales de café más antigua de Boquete. Situada en las tierras altas de Boquete, con na altitud de 1,550 – 1,850 metros en las laderas del Volcán Barú , con su profundo y rico suelo volcánico, esta hermosa montaña y las plantaciones de café tradicionales ofrecen las mejores condiciones para el cultivo de café de alta calidad.

Las fuertes lluvias y la temporada de sol así como la cosecha seca promueven las condiciones ideales para la producción de sus premiados granos de Arábico .

Los granos de Finca Lérida: Geisha , Caturra y Catuai han recibido varios premios internacionales:

• Una constante en los primeros diez de "Lo mejor de Panamá" en los últimos 15 años
• 2003 - # 1 Concurso SCAA Boston (mejor café del mundo de 118 entradas)
• 2001 - # 1 "Lo Mejor de Panamá"

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LÉRIDA COFFEE ESTATE

Más de un siglo de historia.

Todo comenzó en 1911 cuando Toleff Bache Mönniche, un ingeniero noruego y egresado del Royal College of Dresden, Alemania, viajó a las Tierras Altas de Chiriquí. Navegó por la costa del Pacífico durante 7 días y cabalgó cuesta arriba durante horas para llegar a un lugar que aún hoy es único en el mundo: Finca de Café Lérida. Un espacio mágico en medio de las inmensas faldas del Volcán Barú y las altas crestas de la Cordillera Central.

En 1924, el ingeniero Mönniche finalmente se retiró del Canal de Panamá y, junto con su esposa Julia, se mudó a Lérida Coffee Farm, donde construyó a mano su casa en un estilo rural noruego y estableció la primera plantación de café alimentada por gravedad en Panamá.

NUESTRO EQUIPO

Somos un equipo de 40 colaboradores, en su mayoría locales, que trabajamos incansablemente para entregar la máxima calidad. Nuestro verdadero potencial se refleja en la profesionalidad de cada miembro del equipo y su dedicación diaria. Desde el departamento culinario hasta actividades como la observación de aves, nos enorgullecemos de dar una cálida bienvenida a nuestros huéspedes desde el momento de su llegada.

CAFÉ MEZCLA DE LA CASA

Nuestro enfoque principal en el cultivo de café gira en torno a variedades especiales, siendo Geisha nuestra exportación más destacada. Además, cultivamos otras variedades como Pacamara, Catuaí y Typica, entre otras. Actualmente estamos introduciendo y cultivando activamente nuevas variedades de café en la parte superior de nuestra finca.

Empleamos tres métodos de procesamiento diferentes: lavado, miel y natural. Además, ofrecemos tuestes medios, ligeros y extraligeros, según la variedad específica de grano de café.

Más momentos especiales para coleccionar

Déjate llevar por nuestra programación y disfruta de los eventos que tenemos reservados para ti en Finca Lérida durante todo el año.

DEGUSTACIÓN DE CAFÉ

En nuestra cata especial de café tendrás la oportunidad de probar algunas de sus variedades y aprender a distinguir entre diferentes perfiles de sabor. También le brindaremos consejos para preparar una excelente taza de café, cubriendo temas como la temperatura del agua, el tiempo de preparación, el nivel de tueste, el tamaño del molido y varios métodos de preparación, incluido el café de goteo, la prensa francesa, el vertido y el hervido.

Después de esta degustación, ¡ninguna taza de café volverá a saber igual!

TIENDA DE CAFES

Nuestro café desprende el aroma especial de la tradición cafetera y transmite su cultura a través de decoraciones y souvenirs. Además, encontrará a nuestro equipo de profesionales, brindando siempre un servicio amable y diligente.

SHOP LÉRIDA

Finca Lérida Honey Coffee es una deliciosa y exquisita variedad de café producida en la hermosa finca Lérida, ubicada en las tierras altas de Panamá.

Certificado La Brulerie

El Certificado de Regalo para el Restaurante La Brûlerie de Finca Lérida es un regalo culinario que invita a deleitar el paladar con una experiencia gastronómica única en el corazón de las tierras altas de Panamá.

$ 50.00

Certificado de Regalo Tour de Café

El Certificado de Regalo para el Tour de Café de Finca Lérida es un pasaporte para sumergirse en el fascinante mundo del café en una de las fincas más prestigiosas de Panamá.

$ 35.00

Certificado de Regalo Hotel Semana

El Certificado de Regalo de Hospedaje de Finca Lérida es la invitación perfecta a una experiencia inolvidable en el paraíso natural de Panamá.

$ 258.00 – $ 358.00

Certificado de Regalo Hotel Fin de Semana

$ 308.00 – $ 428.00

Mermelada de Fresas

La Mermelada de Fresas de Finca Lérida es una auténtica delicia que captura la frescura y el encanto de las tierras altas de Panamá.

Alto Quiel, Bajo Boquete Boquete – Panamá

+507 720-1111

[email protected]

Accommodations 

Each of Casa Lerida’s rooms features a television, security box, hair-dryer, and Wi-Fi.

Casa Centenario

Casa Centenario is the hotel’s historic suite, designed and built back in 1908 by Sr. Mönniche. Measuring 646 square feet, this suite features a living room with chimney, dining room, library, a second floor with a second living room, balcony, a terrace, and forest view.

This room is furnished with a king-size bed.

Casa Lerida’s six suites feature a living room with a fireplace and a bathroom with jetted tub and shower. Measuring an average of 431 square feet, the suites also offer a balcony.

Rooms can be furnished with a king-size bed or two queen-size beds.

Deluxe Rooms

Nestled in the middle of the coffee plantation are the Deluxe rooms. Each has a private porch, and is furnished with a king-size bed.

Vintage Rooms

Built in the1920’s, Vintage Rooms were originally used as guest houses for visitors. With 215 square feet rooms can be furnished with either a king-size bed or two double beds.

Among the hotel’s amenities are the La Brulerie Restaurant, coffee shop, terrace, lounge, and gardens.

Exploring Chiriqui

Chiriqui’s highlands are deservedly famous, and most visitors head straight for the cool cloud forests of Baru and Boquete, known for its pine forests, rivers, and near perfect climate. The slopes of the misty Talamanca Mountains are habitat for more than 250 species of birds , including Resplendent quetzals.

Guests can enjoy whitewater rafting trips, zip-line canopy tours, horseback riding, and visits to organic coffee farms. Fishing charters—targeting black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and cubera snapper—can be arranged for half, full and multi-day excursions.

Chiriqui’s diverse microclimates require creative packing. In general, the best time to visit is between January and April. The highlands are characterized by cool evenings, with rain potential from August to November.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A STAY AT CASA LERIDA? LANDED PROVIDES PERSONALIZED, CUSTOM TRAVEL WITHIN CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE ANTARCTIC. WE’LL CREATE A UNIQUE ITINERARY PLAN TAILORED TO YOUR INTERESTS AND DREAMS. EXPERIENCE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME. SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERT TRAVEL PLANNERS TODAY AT 801.582.2100.

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