The idea/hope was to spend 3 nights/2 days in the middle of nature, doing some hikes staying in a place that would facilitate this.
Good things about this hotel:
- friendly staff
- restaurant and terrace with beautiful view towards mount Baru
- causy rustic bar with fire place
- good food
- In the middle of nature
It’s definitely colder up there then in Boquete. And more wet.
But we were highly disappointed by:
- rather plain and simple room with view on the parking !!! (rooms 1-5). I don’t understand the point of even offering this kind of room in a hotel that builds its unique selling proposition on the contact with the superb nature all around. And because of that parking outside there was hardly any privacy except with all curtains closed. Definitely overpriced! Even rooms 6-10 have no view down the valley.
- There is a free shuttle service connecting the hotel with Boquete. But arriving after 3pm (last shuttle time every day) in Boquete from our previous location, we had to organize our own taxi. Next day , after finishing our self organized hike, we have been waiting for the shuttle to show up in Palo Alto to take is up to the hotel (4,5km). The shuttle did not show up and , we understood, never left Boquete at 3pm as the schedule promised. So we had to walk up to the hotel.
- 5 tours are suggested every day at 3 different times. They all take 2 hours. Which means you can easily do 2 of them. I still suppose they offer good quality. But we like hiking and a 2h/3km tour is not really what we were looking for. But from the hotel there was not really a good option for us to go hiking except to go back halfway towards Boquete and start the Pianista trail.
- In the causy bar area, they lit the fire in the morning but then it was finished for the day. Sitting there and having a drink in the evening …. No fire ! And once the sun is gone it really got colder compared to Boquete.
Conclusion:
- if you don’t have your own car, don’t stay in the hotel. You will be stuck.
- If you want to join their tours (If that’s your thing, then I suggest you do) you can book them in Boquete and use the free shuttle. That’s what the shuttle is meant to do, not so much to transport hotel guests.
- Don’t rent rooms 1-5. They are not worth the money.
- This is not a mountain resort. It’s an adventure park with a small hotel attached to it. The main business is the tours they organize 3 times a day. And the restaurant that caters to day trippers.