Santa Fe is truly Panamanian. Rainbows crisscross the powder-blue sky here, high in the province of Veraguas, where lush green hills dot the horizon.
The people are friendly and the buildings are traditional, with sloping wooden roofs, pastel-coloured walls and compact rooms. They will casually greet you as you pass. From up here you can see the rising mountains and gently sloping countryside.
In Santa Fe, local organic produce and delicious fresh coffee encourage a healthy lifestyle. There are many things to do to pass the time: walks through the hills, along the rivers and waterfalls, excursions to the Santa Fe National Park to observe nature, inner tubing, white water rafting, bird watching and stops at coffee and orchid farms.
Around Panama, Santa Fe is famous for its orchids and you can visit gardens to see more than 300 different species of exotic flowers. Wildlife is diverse and abundant. You can explore the beautiful rainforest in the 70,000-hectare Santa Fe National Park on horseback or with a guide. Take a walk along the many rivers, streams and waterfalls and take in the beauty of the scenery and the purity of the air.
Visit a coffee farm to learn more about the rich, steaming beverage that is an integral part of the local culture. In this rich, forested environment, bird watching is a thrill for budding ornithologists, and Cerro Tute is the ideal place to take in the breathtaking valley views.
The town has most of the amenities you need without feeling overdeveloped. There are shops, pubs and restaurants. If you need to travel to the big city, Santiago is only an hour’s drive away.
