My wife & I stayed at Coffee Estate Inn for 3 nights in Jan 2012 and it was truly a highlight of our trip through Panama & Costa Rica. Everything about this place is as close to perfect as you could get. The location is stunning, set amid a private coffee estate with lush gardens, abundant wildlife and gorgeous views over Volcan Baru. The accommodations are exquisite. Our bungalow felt enormous: the bedroom was large, with the most comfortable bed we slept in on our travels, the bathroom was stunning (& recently renovated), & even a separate living room. We spent many glorious hours on the private veranda sitting, reading, watching the constant parade of birds coming to feed, sipping a glass of wine and admiring the volcano in the different lights. The photographs make the views look good, but they're even better in reality.

Two nights a week they will prepare a "Date Night" for you (on request), & this comes highly recommended! The home cooked meal was one of the most delicious (& beautifully presented) we've ever had, and the atmosphere they create for you (decorating the room with flowers, candles etc) made for a special night we'll remember always. We'd also recommend the coffee tour offered by Barry. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, wandering through the coffee trees and other plants in the wonderful grounds, learning about the history of the place and how the coffee is grown & processed. So much more personal (& a better experience all round) than taking one of the larger, more industrial coffee tours you can find in the area. And best of all, the freshly roasted beans eventually end up in your room, making for a limitless supply of the best coffee we've ever tasted!

However, it's Barry & Jane who make this place stand out above anywhere else we've stayed before. Even months before arriving, their helpful/prompt replies to our emails made planning our trip so much easier. On arrival we were several hours later than planned, & the traffic (during the Coffee & Flower Festival) was so manic that Barry drove into town to meet us & help us navigate the back roads. From the moment we arrived we were made to feel part of the family, & seemingly nothing was too much trouble. The service was so attentive & personal, yet completely unobtrusive. The useful advice, hints & tips of the local area, restaurants and scenic drives to take added to our experience immensely- we found some beautiful areas we'd never have found by simply reading the guidebooks. Everything they do comes with that personal touch that separates places like this from the competition. When the time sadly came to move on, it felt like saying goodbye to old friends.

There are certainly cheaper places to stay in Boquete, but this is easily the best value for money around- in Europe or the US you'd pay many times more for this level of quality & service. The ONLY potential negative could be that you really do need your own car, as they are found a 7 minute drive up above town which wouldn't be easily walkable; taxis might be an option but we didn't see any come up that far. But without a car you'd miss out on such much of the local area that we'd strongly advise renting one anyway - & as with everything else, Jane & Barry will help with all the arrangements anyway!

Thanks Jane & Barry for an experience we'll never forget (& for all the future holiday tips!). We'll be back soon!

Jane and Barry are excellent hosts and have a gem of a place in Boquete. The bungalows are immaculate with beautiful views of Boquete. Each bungalow has a kitchen that is stocked with milk, fresh roasted coffee, fruit and delicious baking (I'm still dreaming of those cheese scones). The beds are extremely comfortable, with king size mattresses, high quality linens and perfect pillows. The bathroom is large, clean and has heated floors. The grounds are stunning, with a variety of flowers, coffee and fruit plants. My husband and I spent three nights and didn't want to leave. If you are in Boqute, this is the place to stay.

My wife and I were the fortunate guests at the Coffee Estate Inn. The place is a retreat. Our bungalow, the Emerald, was surrounded by beautiful trees and plants that attracted many colorful birds, and had a kitchen, living room and balcony with a picture perfect view of Volcan Baru. There were fresh cut tropical flowers (from the grounds of the Inn) in vases in the living room and bedroom. The main house, where our hosts, Jane and Barry live, has a lending library also equipped with a computer, just as you enter, that is available for guest use. In a last-minute change-of-plans, my sister joined us, and the hosts of the establishment, Jane and Barry could not have been nicer in accommodating our third member. Breakfast is taken in the bungalow, with fresh fruit and fresh baked goods and fresh coffee beans (for grinding in the room as well) from the Inn’s shade grown coffee plantation, supplied daily. Jane and Barry are sociable and helpful in suggesting activities and recommending restaurants. They also provide a very unique service: they will/can prepare a five-star meal (from a menu they provide), along with a wine of your choice (from their menu options). We took advantage of this, and were well-rewarded. Their smoked salmon was superb. Jane and Barry gave us an unforgettable experience in a beautiful hilltop retreat.

The grounds of this coffee plantation are filled with the sounds of songbirds that you can hear and see either from the balcony of your private cassita or at a well - placed feeder nearby. The owners of the Inn, Jane and Barry, are Canadian ex-pats, who've been in Panama since around 1995, and have a very sophisticated taste, without being snobs about it. In addition to the fresh fruit, home baked scones, banana and raisin breads (baked, courtesy of Barry himself) stocked in the fridge of your private apartment every day, there is a notebook in the cassita featuring pages of recommended restaurants and activities. That little notebook also has dinner menu options from Jane and Barry's kitchen, which can be accompanied by excellent wines that they have on hand. In fact, we had dinner in on New Year's Eve (12.31.2011) and the Pinot Noir we chose is one that is now on our list of wines to buy back in NYC. The interaction with Jane and Barry is part of the enjoyment, as they are willing to share their knowledge of the surroundings and recommend ways to pass the time, to the tune of your drum. The attention to detail is exceptional - from the gardens on the property to the gracious hospitality - makes this destination a must see.. gg