Luxury in a gorgeous natural setting.

This eco-resort is totally off the grid (it uses renewable energy-solar, wind and hydro electric). We had total luxurious comfort with none of the guilt of using up natural resources.

There are many wonderful surprises here like waking up to amazing sunrises and grand views of the lush green countryside, colorful birds and butterflies. Other nice touches are that every cabin has a coffee maker that grinds the great Panamanian coffee beans that they generously provide. They also stock your cabin with chocolate croissants, tropical fruit and very good yogurt.

My husband and I came with our 14 year old and 12 year old sons. The boys especially loved the hiking, horseback riding, infinity edge pool and photo opportunities.

Through conversations at dinner with the owner and the chef, our boys learned about alternative energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable building practices and other valuable information for their futures. These people care about preserving Panama's natural resources.

What an experience to eat gourmet dinners by Craig the chef who specializes in sustainable agriculture. Each meal was so much fun, like one pleasant adventure after another. The restaurant has a rooftop garden where Craig got the marigolds for the marigold iced tea he made for us. Each dish was presented beautifully.

Our 14 year old's advice: "You definitely would want to come to Rancho de Caldera".
Our 12 year old's advice: "You will want to try the chef's food as many meals as you can".

Maryann, July 26, 2009

Cycled 4000 Miles to Get Here!

I was going on a bicycle tour from Atlanta to Panama when my friend showed me Rancho de Caldera's website. Paradise -- It became the end destination for my trip. For four months, I lived very simply -- camping, showering with a basin of water, eating street food -- waiting and waiting for Rancho de Caldera. It was magic. The setting, up in the mountains, makes it seem unreal!! The rooms and service are top-quality luxury, and the food that Craig (the chef) serves is beautiful and exciting... and delicious. Rancho de Caldera was an amazing reward at the end of a long bicycle trip. And it was tough leaving, having to return to reality.

Eoin, July 27, 2009

Spectacular rooms with spectacular views - Intimate, casual atmosphere

My daughter and I traveled to Panama to get some relief from a frigid, ice and snow-covered landscape in Cleveland, Ohio. We decided to try the mountains of Chiriqui (to the west of Panama City) where the climate would be more temperate and we found the perfect place in Rancho de Caldera. The hotel and restaurant officially opened in January 2009, so all facilities and equipment sparkle with newness. Daytime temperatures top out in the 80's and combined with the ever-present breezes, means you don't need air conditioning (although all cabins are outfitted with it).

With only nine cabins in total, the hotel and restaurant feel more like your personal country estate than a hotel. The owner, Gina McCall, is available to eat with you (if you're interested) and she and the staff are available to arrange activities during your visit. The food in the restaurant (open for lunch and dinner 5 days per week) is excellent - the menu offers choices for both meat and pasta lovers (vegetarian options are also offered).

In the seven days we were there, we rode their horses, hiked their 1.2 mile driveway daily, hiked several other trails, went white-water rafting, spent one morning "tree trekking" (known other places as "zip lining") in a harness hanging from a wire cable 100's of feet above the mountainous forest, visited some hot springs tucked away in a remote area, shopped in Boquete on the sides of the 11,500' volcano named Baru, swam in the Caldera River and in Rancho de Caldera's infinity pool, napped on our private decks overlooking the mountains and awoke to rainbows nearly every day.

Other reasons to choose this location: Panama uses US dollars as its currency, is friendly and safe and does not get hurricanes because of its location south and west of Columbia (Columbia gets hit instead). If you go, spend one day in Panama City touring the Canal to make your trip the perfect Panama experience.

Christine C, February 17, 2009

A Magical Place...

Rancho de Caldera is a magical place... I spent 4 amazing days there in mid-September, and haven't stopped raving about it to friends and family ever since. I work for the United Nations and so have had the opportunity to travel to many parts of the world, but Rancho de Caldera is truly special. This is due in part to the natural beauty that surrounds it - one can spend a long time watching the clouds drifting over the mountains, or taking in the view from a quiet spot by the pool, or gazing at the stars on a clear night. But Rancho de Caldera is above all the result of a unique vision - a commitment to making a dream come true in a way that is deeply respectful of the planet and of the surrounding community. Like many places worth visiting, as a friend of mine pointed out, Rancho de Caldera is a short plane ride away from Panama City, but it can reached from New York City the same day. Gina's directions are remarkable - I have rarely felt so certain all logistics of a trip would work out perfectly, and indeed they did. And once at Rancho de Caldera, there is lots to do: horseback riding, hot water springs, visiting the nearby town... Visitors can be as active or as laid back as they wish. My only regret is that I did not have more time to spend there, but I'm really looking forward to my next visit.

Raluca, November 8, 2008

Rancho de Caldera - An Undiscovered Treasure

If you're looking for a relaxing vacation with a personal touch, visit Rancho de Caldera. If you're looking for excitement and adventure, you can still visit Rancho de Caldera. On our recent visit to Panama, we chose this location first because of the personal attention we got as we planned our trip to Panama. The owners Gina and Chris McCall, booked all of our side trips with high quality and safe adventures. From tree trekking to rafting and horseback riding, each day was delightful. They also knew the value of just relaxing and enjoying the view from one of their mountain top cabins. They call them cabins, but we think they are more appropriately called bungalows since they are beautifully appointed units in a European style with lots of room and a "killer" shower! Since one wall is all windows, we awoke each morning to a gorgeous sunrise. The price was so reasonable that we chose their larger unit and it was well worth the few extra dollars. Although the nearby towns had restaurants, we chose a short walk up the hill to the restaurant on site. The food was delicious every single day. If you are considering Costa Rica, please know that Panama has everything you could possibly be looking for and more. It is an undiscovered treasure, just a short plane ride from Miami.

Beverly R, September 16, 2008

Mountain Bliss!

My wife and two daughters (ages 18 and 15) and I recently spent a week at Rancho de Caldera, a brand-new mini-resort nestled in the mountains of Chiriqui Province in western Panama. We were celebrating our daughter's graduation from high school and wanted to do something special for a family vacation.

"Special" would be a gross understatement to describe our experience there. Owner Gina McCall pulls out all the stops to ensure guests enjoy whatever kind of trip they're looking for. If adventure is your goal, there are many activities nearby, including whitewater river rafting, tree-trekking, hiking up a volcano, tours of coffee farms, and a natural hot springs. Horse stables are on the premises, and experienced and not-so-experienced riders are welcome to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the countryside on horseback. The charming town of Boquete, a mere 25 minutes away, offers a number of intriguing shops and restaurants. Gina and staff were delighted to help us arrange our activities in order to make the most efficient use of our time in Chiriqui Province.

If peaceful relaxation is what you're after, Rancho de Caldera is ideal for that, too. Imagine waking each morning to a view of a magnificent valley with several mountain ridges and a broad palette of clouds that seem to change every 10 minutes. And all this from your king - or queen-sized bed in one of the nine "cabins" equipped with every modern amenity -- air conditioning, TV/DVD, expansive porch, luxury bathroom, the works. Some accommodations have full kitchens, and some have smaller kitchenettes, which was wonderfully convenient. But at dinnertime, we took full advantage of the top-flight meals served at the excellent outdoor, under-roof restaurant next to the fabulous swimming pool. An award-winning chef prepares a variety of dishes sure to please anyone's taste buds.

We have been raving about Rancho de Caldera ever since we returned home, and we look forward to another trip there in the not-too-distant future!

Bruce H, Atlanta, GA, Fall 2008