In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Finca Lerida

Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation and Boutique 4-star Hotel

Boquete, Panama

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Located 10 kilometers uphill from Boquete in Alto Quiel, you will find a beautifully peaceful hotel, restaurant, coffee plantation and coffee shop. A Norwegian engineer who worked on the Panama Canal built his house and coffee plantation on this land completely by hand in 1929.

Today, it is also a hotel offering 21 rooms for guests.

Entrance sign

We heard an excellent buffet was served on weekends, so we took a bus ride from Boquete up the hill to this coffee plantation. The ride was less than a dollar from town and took about 20 minutes.

Volcan Baru National Park isn't far from here, and the mountains were gorgeous on this wet, drizzly morning.

Which way do we go?

The gardens were luscious and well-maintained. Onward we went to the restaurant, following the sign pointing to the left.

Volcanic stone pathways lead around the complex

There are ocean winds generated from both the Caribbean and the Pacific and they mingle with the altitude of 5200 feet above sea level. This keeps the climate in these mountains holding steady in the range of the 60s all year long.

Breakfast, free WiFi and LCD Televisions are included in the room price range of $179 - $341 per room.

Happy little birdhouses

Hand painted boutique birdhouses are dotted all over this property adding a touch of whimsy to the grounds. Each one is different and some are nestled into corners of the garden.

La Brulerie Restaurant

Spacious, open and airy, LaBrulerie has a deck overlooking the well-maintained landscape below. Brunch was served outside on the deck.

Breakfast menu

This delectable breakfast menu offers items such as flat bread with pear and gorgonzola cheese, herb butter with a basket of breads, Huevos Rancheros, French toast, honey from the mountains of Boquete, Waffles with bacon and maple syrup, fresh natural juice and coffee from Finca Lerida.

Our Brunch

We chose to go with the brunch which offered a full table of choices. This plate has an omelet style brioche, crispy toasted granola, sausages, a variety of cheese, fresh tropical fruits and juice. The cappuccino was extra.

View from the deck

We ate our brunch on the back deck and this was our view. Here you see the lofty mountains of the region with floating clouds softening the the rugged panorama. All the grounds were well-kept, with a variety of trees, bushes, and flowers. There is also a full herb garden which supplies the restaurant.

One can choose to do a tour through more than 10 km of well-marked professionally designed trails of Finca Lerida on paths leading through the coffee plantation and the tropical forest of Boquete. The unique and beautiful Quetzal bird can be seen here because there are many "Aguacatillo" trees which provide the birds with their favorite fruit.

Most of the trails go deep inside the La Amistad International Park where more than 500 species of American Tropical birds can be found.

La Amistad is a natural reserve protected both by Panama and Costa Rica and has been declared a World Heritage Site.

If you are a birder, you have hit the bonanza!

Our bill for brunch

Here you see our three brunches at $14 each, with the Jubilado 25% discount, and 7% tax. The cappuccinos were $1.40 extra per person and we tipped on the total bill.

Coffee berries on the tree

There are tours of the Finca Lerida coffee plantation available also. On this tour you will taste different varieties of coffee and learn how to distinguish between different taste "tones."

Instruction will be given on how to prepare a good cup of coffee by learning about water temperature, time, toasting, grinding and different brewing methods.

A little coffee humor here...

There are several brewing methods when making a cup of coffee. One can use a coffee maker, a French Press, a drip style brew or you can boil the ground coffee. Each method has their advantages.

Meandering paths throughout the grounds

Notice the amazing trumpet tree in full bloom and the small birdhouse on the side.

Yours truly

Had to get a shot of us in there...

The weather was overcast and drizzly, but it really was not cold. We kept our jackets inside the day packs that we carried.

Bedroom at Finca Lerida Hotel

Here you see a typical bedroom at Finca Lerida Hotel. The beds all have down comforters.

Finca Lerida Estate Coffee

Finca Lerida has been exporting coffee since 1929.

Whether you choose to stay the night, take a tour, go bird watching or simply arrive for brunch, Finca Lerida is a must-see when you are in the area of Boquete, Panama.

Finca Lerida

Alto Quiel, 0000 Boquete, Panama

Vía Boquete, Panama

Phone:+507 720-1111, +507 720-2816, +507 720-2285, +507 720-2566

Email: info@fincalerida.com

Website fincalerida.com

For more stories and photos of Panama, click here

About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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