Do you love the climate and natural beauty of Boquete but hate the overcrowded, touristy feel it’s developed of late? Then you should check out Volcan, Panama.

Rich Young

Located just around the corner, on the other side of the Baru Volcano (the country’s highest peak, at 11,400 feet), Volcan offers many of the same inherent benefits as its neighbor.  However, it comes with a simpler lifestyle, a more authentic Panamanian feel, and a considerably lower price tag.

Volcan, Panama, offers a cool mountain climate and incredible weather year round.

Much like Boquete, Volcan’s elevation of between 4,000 to 5,000 feet allows for spring-like temperatures all year long.  With lows nearing 60 and highs that rarely exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s no need for heat, air conditioning (other than a ceiling fan), or multiple seasons of clothing.

You can move to this serene mountain town with just a light sweater for evenings and a rain jacket for the afternoon showers.  Many expats choose it for its quaint pastoral setting, which some compare to a Colorado town without the snow, and the many opportunities for healthy living that are created by the climate and the abundant natural resources.

The area is blessed with rich, fertile soil that’s ideal for growing coffee, flowers, oranges, and many other crops.  It’s also an important area for cattle farming, with 80% of the country’s milk, meat, and vegetables coming from the region.  There are also numerous streams for fishing, and fresh fish and produce are widely available at roadside stands.

D. Delgado

The town is pleasantly less developed than Boquete.

With only about 10,000 inhabitants (of which about 250 are North American expats), Volcan is on the smaller side.  As a result, there are no shopping malls, fast food chains, or movie theaters.  However it still has everything you need to enjoy a simple lifestyle.

There are several large supermarkets, four hardware stores, three banks, pharmacies, bakeries, medical centers, gas stations, internet cafes, and more.  There are also about 30 places to eat.  They’re all small, charming, and locally owned.

For anything beyond your basic needs, up to and including a large hospital, you’ll need to make the 45 minute drive to David.  For many expats, the simplicity and quaintness are worth the trade off.

Despite its size, Volcan has surprisingly good infrastructure.  Even the winding roads that lead up to the town are paved and well-maintained.  The tap water is drinkable.  The electricity is reliable.  And internet and cable are readily available.

Volcan also has a much more laid-back social scene than most of the larger cities.  There aren’t a lot of hopping nighttime hotspots.  However, there are a couple of bars, a disco, and even a pool hall in town.

Adam Mizrahi

Yet Volcan offers just as many amazing natural attractions as nearby tourist hotspots.

One thing’s for sure.  Volcan’s small size certainly doesn’t translate into any fewer ways to enjoy the outdoors, as it offers a wealth of activities to adventure lovers of all kinds.

Sweet-water fishing is a popular pastime of locals and visitors alike.  You can also spend time mountain biking, hiking, or whitewater rafting.  A particular favorite is the hike up to the peak of Volcan Baru, where those who are blessed with a clear day can enjoy views of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.  

The region is also great for birdwatching, as both Volcan Baru National Park and La Amistad Park offer sightings of the elusive resplendent quetzal.  There’s also Sitio Barriles Museum, a pre-colombian archeological site full of ancient remains such as statues, pottery, and other artifacts.

Volcan, Panama is also home to some incredible real estate opportunities.

With its immense beauty, amazing climate, wealth of natural attractions, and close proximity to a major city, you’d expect Volcan, Panama real estate prices to rival those in some of its popular neighboring cities. Guess again.

In addition to its significantly lower cost of living, Volcan also has plenty of homes priced well below the cost to buy a comparable property in most Panamanian towns.  Like most areas, pricing varies widely with properties costing anywhere from $40,000 to $150,000 or more.

There are also plenty of lots available if you prefer to build your dream home on a large tract of land, next to a trout-bearing stream, with sweeping views of the surrounding valley.  If you have closer to $200,000 to spend you can find a North American style home with acreage and all the modern conveniences.

Volcan’s expat population is still small, but word is definitely spreading about this quaint country village.  There’s a growing number of residential developments under construction to accommodate the increasing influx of expats to the area.

The spike in interest has also resulted in several years of steady appreciation of Volcan, Panama real estate.  The newly expanded international airport in David is also having a tremendous effect on property values in Volcan and throughout the Chiriqui Province, as visitors from various cities around the world can now easily access the area’s many attractions more easily than ever.

Rich Young

Now is the time to buy or invest in Volcan.

If the simple, country life sounds appealing to you, then you should definitely check out everything that Volcan, Panama has to offer.  If you think it needs a few more amenities before it would suit your tastes, then you shouldn’t have to wait long.  As the population grows, so will the number of services offered.

Better yet, don’t wait at all.  Take advantage of the opportunity to use your entrepreneurial talents and fill a niche with the expat business you’ve always dreamed of opening.  It could be just the ticket to a lifetime of success and happiness in charming Volcan, Panama.

Map of Volcan, Panama

Volcan, Panama Fast Facts

• Population: About 10,200
• Typical temperature: From 60 to the mid-80s Fahrenheit
• Nearest airport with U.S. flights: Tocumen Airport. Domestic flights to Panama City, Panama and international flights to Costa Rica depart from Enrique Malek International Airport in David
• Nearest U.S. consulate: Panama City, Panama