Tierras Altas, Panama

Tierras Altas is poised to become the next Boquete.

Situated in the highlands of western Panama, it features misty hillsides dense with greenery, gardens terraced into slopes, and abundant wildflowers.

It’s cool-weather climate and the outdoor lifestyle it affords are also similar…

But Tierras Altas is also very different from Boquete in important ways.

It’s more affordable. Firstly, everything from the price of property to the price of a burger is less here, while costs in Boquete are closer to those of a mid-size U.S. city. Secondly, Tierras Altas, Panama is relatively unknown, while Boquete is one of the most famous expat communities in the world.

Moreover, Tierras Altas is authentic and down-to-earth, while others complain of the imported American culture that dominates Boquete, Panama.

Tierras Altas is a district in Chiriquí Province, on the east side of Volcán Barú, an inactive volcano. It’s made up of five townships: Volcán, Cerro Punta, Cuesta de Piedra, Nueva California, and Paso Ancho. Each of these has a dozen or more small mountain towns.

The region is situated at a higher altitude than Boquete and with a cooler climate, but these factors vary village to village. Expats choose which village is right for them based on the microclimate they prefer.

The towns and villages that make up the Tierras Altas region are stretched out along an asphalt road system. Volcán is the largest of them, with a population of 13,000. It’s one hour (56 kilometers) from David, the provincial capital and nearest big town, and seven hours (490 kilometers) from Panama City.

Volcán has the lowest elevation in Tierras Altas, sitting at 1,400 meters above sea level. Guadalupe is a favorite destination in the region: It’s one of the last towns on the road and is 2,255 meters above sea level.

Tierras Altas is one of the most affordable places to live in all Panama. It also has the cheapest produce in the country.

A couple could live well on a monthly food budget of US$400 to US$500 shopping at both Romero and the other local supermarkets in Volcán.

A national beer costs just US$1.50 and a glass of wine is US$2.50. A 16-inch family-sized pizza starts at US$8.95.

If you were to eat a more Panamanian-style fare, your monthly food costs would be less. A typical dish with chicken or meat, rice, beans, and a small salad costs US$4 to US$6.

A small apartment building in downtown Volcán has private furnished apartments for US$300 a month, with washing machines, electricity, water, sewage, garbage, and Wi-Fi included.

Apartment Or House Ownership Budget (For A Couple)

Apartment Or House Rental Budget (For A Couple)

Penny-Pincher’s Budget (Bare Minimum Costs, For A Couple)

Bird watching, hiking, and the national parks bring visitors from around the world.

Volcán Barú National Park is located in Tierras Altas. At 3,475 meters above sea level, it’s the highest point in Panama. There are seven different craters visible from trails within the park, including the Quetzal Trail which joins Cerro Punta and Boquete.

If hiking is not your fancy, there are plenty of other outdoor activities in the Volcán area. One example is the Lagunas de Volcán—two wetland lakes that sit at 4,000 feet—the highest lakes in all of Panama. Here you can catch a fresh bass dinner and head home to grill out as you watch the sun set into the cloud bank.

The town of Las Nubes is the gateway to International Park La Amistad (friendship), which is shared with Costa Rica. Established in 1988, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

The 407,000 hectares of forest protect five species of cats: ocelot, puma, jaguar, jaguarundi, and margay. The endangered Baird’s tapir is found here and about 600 species of birds.

La Amistad International Park is home to four indigenous groups—the Naso, Bribri, Ngäbe, and Buglé—who live traditional lifestyles in small communities.

Tierras Altas has a temperate mountain climate due to its altitude in the cloud forest. In fact, the name of one town here, “Las Nubes,” literally means “the clouds.”

In Volcán, the average temperature ranges between 55°F to 75°F. As a result, you’ll find micro-climates here, and at higher elevations… places like Cerro Punta, Guadalupe, and Las Nubes… it can get down to 41°F at night, especially in the dry season, which means frost.

Volcán has temperatures year-round ranging between 79°F and 84°F.

Cerro Punta has high temperatures ranging between 80°F and 85°F.

A small house in Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas, with bright green grass and blue skies, sounds perfect.

Tierras Altas is the breadbasket of Panama thanks to its volcanic soil. Close to 80% of the country’s produce comes from these highlands, making agriculture the driving force of the local economy.

The cool climate, coffee, and produce—especially strawberries—all make Tierras Altas famous.

There are small businesses along the roads offering hot chocolate, coffee, and everything strawberry… shortcake, milkshakes, popsicles, strawberries with cream… you name it, they’ve got it made from strawberries.

You’ll fall in love with this area for the variety of plants, flowers, and succulents that adorn every other house—at least in Guadalupe. Nearly everything grows here… citrus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and of course, strawberries… in addition to the lowland crops, such as bananas.

From citrus to roses and orchids, Tierras Altas, Panama, has it all. You can also enjoy garden tours, including Finca Dracula, a privately owned botanical garden, whose orchid collection is the third largest in the world.

Tierras Altas is a wonderful home for nature lovers, bird watchers, gardeners, hikers, tinkerers (those who can stay busy with hobbies and projects), and relaxed, everyday, down-to-earth people.

If you’re used to large social circles and events, like getting dressed up, nightlife, and fine dining, you may be disappointed here.

You should come see Tierras Altas, Panama, for yourself if you seek simplicity, privacy, a connection with nature, and an unpretentious and welcoming expat community.

White sand beaches and sunny days… No snow to shovel… Leaving behind the stresses of everyday life… These are the things people dream about when considering moving to places like Panama.

After we’re done daydreaming, though, come the questions. Will my savings last? What if I do not speak Spanish? Will I get bored not having a local movie theater, the opera, or Friday night bingo? Honestly, it all depends on how creative you are willing to be. Becoming a “tourist” in your new home is the best way to get to know more about the people and places you have decided to adopt.

Panama has no shortage of places to visit.

One of the most intriguing and tropical day-cations is the secluded Finca Dracula. Hidden in the hills of Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas, this is the official home to Dracula. But not Bela Lugosi’s blood dripping Dracula from the 1930s or Frank Langella’s portrayal from the 1970s, but rather the elusive Dracula Orchid.

The orchid genus of Dracula consists of 118 species and can be found in parts of Central America and the northwest Andes. Although the name Dracula means “little dragon” it is an allusion to the character of novels and movies. The red-blood color of several of the species and their three long tails also give credit to the infamous character.

For orchid enthusiasts Finca Dracula is a must-see attraction in Tierras Altas, Panama. For the rest of the population, this place is an amazing respite from the outside world and home to over 2,000 species of orchids.

Even for non-orchid people, the tour will leave you overwhelmed with the beauty of the world of orchids.

The orchid collection is surrounded by 24 acres of lush gardens.

The gardens are all unique in what they have to offer visitors. One of the most unique ones is the Succulent Garden which opened in 2019.

Here you’ll see a variety of cacti, Echeverias, Kalanchoe, Aloe, Euphorbias and many more. This garden is included in your guided tour of the orchid collection.

Although the orchid collection and Succulent Garden need a guide, the rest of the gardens throughout the property have self-guided trails.

The Light Garden is home to delicate cloud forest species and flowers. The Buddha Garden includes orchids, bromeliads, amaryllises and heliconias. The gardens enclose a beautiful cold-water lake with a dock over-looking the Japanese Garden.

If you still have energy, enjoy the Quetzal Flight Trail. It winds its way up the mountainside through a unique collection of plants and wildlife before rewarding visitors with a vista of the town of Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas.

To find your way to Finca Dracula head to the highlands of Chiriquí, Panama. Take the road to Volcán and continue to Cerro Punta.

The home to Finca Dracula is in the cloud forest of Guadalupe and temperatures can be as low as 59°F in the daytime.

The humidity can get to 95% with frequent rain showers or simple misting, making this the perfect destination for those that need a break from the heat of the beaches of Panama.

Guests of Finca Dracula are urged to book online reservations for your tour: They keep groups to a manageable number and only have certain hours available each day.

Note: Finca Dracula is only open each year from January to the end of April.