In your first week, go to a Monday Community Chat at the library, join a free Take-A-Hike walk, visit the Thursday market and sign up for the Amigos de Animales volunteer training. Then subscribe to the News Boquete email list and check the eventsboquete.org calendar to hear about everything else.
Monday Community Chats
Every Monday from 11am to 12:30pm, the Boquete library hosts Community Chats: a short talk followed by mingling, for a $2 donation. Topics range from banking to books. Reserve through eventsboquete.org.
Free group hikes
Take-A-Hike Boquete leads free group hikes from different trailheads: advanced walks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8am, and easier walks on Tuesday and Saturday at 8am. It is also the quickest way to learn the neighbourhoods and their microclimates.
Volunteering
Amigos de Animales runs a monthly spay and neuter clinic with more than 75 volunteers, on the last Sunday of each month except November and December. New volunteers train on the Saturday before at 9:45am. Panamanian and expat volunteers work side by side.
Clubs, classes and music
- Club Rotario de Boquete meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, and visitors are welcome. Boquete also has a second Rotary club, the Rotary Sunset Club.
- STUDIO at The Haven in Bajo Boquete runs a $5 community Slow Hatha yoga class on Sundays at 9:15am.
- Live music and classes run several nights a week, from jazz to salsa; Aparthotel Boquete keeps a weekly events list.
Coworking
Remote workers meet at ONDA Boquete, open 6am to 10pm, and at DEKOBE Cowork, at $10 a day. Ask the staff about community chat groups.
Stay informed
- News Boquete: a free daily email list of local news and notices, mirrored on the web at vive-boquete.blogspot.com.
- BoqueteTalks: a discussion list on groups.io.
- eventsboquete.org: the community events calendar, which took over after Chiriquí Life closed.
- Noticeboards at the supermarkets and cafés.
Questions people ask
Do I need Facebook to find out what is happening in Boquete?
No. Many groups use Facebook, but the News Boquete email list, BoqueteTalks, the eventsboquete.org calendar and in-person events cover most of what is happening.
Is there an expat community in Boquete?
Yes, and it mixes with Panamanian neighbours: the talks, hikes, markets and volunteering all bring both together. Amigos de Animales’ monthly clinic alone draws more than 75 volunteers.
Sources
- eventsboquete.org — Community Chats reservations
- Take-A-Hike Boquete
- Amigos de Animales — volunteer
- eventsboquete.org — Community Market
- Club Rotario de Boquete
- Rotary Sunset Club of Boquete
- STUDIO at The Haven — community Slow Hatha yoga
- Aparthotel Boquete — Boquete events list
- ONDA Boquete
- DEKOBE Cowork (workin.space)
- News Boquete (web mirror of the email list)
- BoqueteTalks (groups.io)
- eventsboquete.org — Boquete events calendar