Life in the Mountains: Cool Breezes, Cozy Vibes, and Coffee with a View

Mountain towns like Boquete and El Valle de Antón are a world away from the coast — cooler, greener, and a whole lot cozier.

Mornings here are made for coffee — and not just any coffee. We’re talking locally grown, shade-dried, award-winning beans that make you feel like a coffee snob even if you weren’t one before. You’ll sip it from your patio while staring at cloud-kissed hills, surrounded by hummingbirds and flowers you only ever saw in documentaries.

Evenings are calm and cool. Maybe you’re curled up with a blanket and a book. Maybe you’re swapping stories at a wine tasting. Either way, you sleep like a baby — partly from the quiet, and partly because you’re not worrying about traffic, bills, or snowstorms anymore.

The pace is slow, but the calendar’s full. Between hiking groups, Spanish classes, tai chi, and the legendary Tuesday Market in Boquete, your social dance card fills up quickly. Most folks do their shopping early — fresh veggies, artisan bread, local cheeses, and all the plantains your heart desires.

Meeting friends is effortless. You’ll find fellow expats at community meetups, live music events, or enjoying soup and sandwiches at the local café. Some volunteer at animal shelters or local schools. Others are busy building greenhouses, learning watercolor, or just enjoying that main character energy every time the fog rolls over the mountains.