Highlights
- Lush, beautiful countryside and plantation nestled in the mountains.
- Plethora of exotic birds to delight.
- The best coffee I’ve ever tasted.
- Comfortable modern rooms with nature at the doorstep.
Experience
On arrival we quickly checked-in, saw our room then joined the coffee tour. After which, we took a hike on one of the trails throughout the property. That evening we dined at Monniche Restaurant their signature establishment.
The next day we had breakfast before leaving the peaceful environment.
Read the whole experience here.
Location
Finca Lerida is a few minutes drive into the mountains from Boquete town center and can be reached by taxi or bus. The positioning next to national parks and among the coffee plants provides for a unique and tranquil experience. It was one of the deepest sleeps we had on our trip.
Room
Our room was “El Jardin”, a vintage Standard Room in the garden with two double beds. Room featured a large flat screen TV (we didn’t get a chance to use), complimentary water, and fresh flowers. The decor was Scandinavian, but had a rustic yet contemporary feel to it.
Service
Our service experience was excellent. Check-in was very fast and friendly. When we called earlier to ask them to hold to tour for us, the obliged with no questions asked. The guide, Ronaldo, was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He recommended a great self-guided tour and even mimicked bird calls to help us identify species.
Activities
The three primary activities are birdwatching, coffee touring, and hiking. You can take tours with guides for each of the activities. There are so many diverse birds around the property, you don’t really need to even hike into the mountains to see them, unless you are looking for the famed Quetzal.
The coffee plantation tour is highly recommended. With a small group you really get an inside look at everything coffee, from history and production, to tasting and competitions. With the world’s best coffee “Geisha” at your doorstep, how could you miss out on this?
The hiking trails are easy to moderate difficulty, with spectacular views over the valley and property and a chance to see many different kinds of wildlife. At the end of our hike was a waterfall.
Boquete town is a short drive away, so going to explore the town and see the shops and restaurants there is another option.
Dining
The resort has two eateries, the Monniche Restaurant and the Coffee Shop. The Monniche Restaurant served an amazing gourmet meal for dinner and an excellent breakfast with their signature coffee. I don’t exaggerate when I say that this was the best meal of our entire Coast of Riches trip. Congratulations to the chef!
The Coffee Shop is ideal for sitting and having a coffee with a snack after a hike. The wifi signal here is the strongest, so if you need fast internet, this is the place to park yourself.
Summary
Overall we very much enjoyed our time here. We learned about coffee from coffee experts and tasted fine foods, all in a beautiful natural surrounding. I now can fully grasp why Finca Lerida is such “A Unique Experience”.