Tierras Altas, Panama

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.

There are several rain forests in Panama, but the Chiriquí Highlands center around Volcán Barú. The peak of the volcano is 3,475 meters (11,000 feet) in elevation. On a clear day, trekkers willing to make the four-hour ascend can see both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

With increased elevation in the highlands, temperatures are much cooler—a welcomed break from the heat of the lowlands. Jackets are a mainstay against the nearly constant mist that provides frequent opportunities to view rainbows. There are two major areas in the highlands that have expat communities.

Tucked into the west side of the volcano sits the small town of Volcán, and the opposite side is home to the popular town of Boquete. Both areas are beautiful examples of highlands and rain forests but offer two different lifestyles.

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.