After a relaxing evening last night, we wake up very refreshed today. We have breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel. It is very relaxing and breakfast is very filling.
Since Boquete is known for its coffee, we decide to take a coffee plantation tour today. We toured the Kotowa coffee plantation. It was a very interesting tour. We got to see the coffee bean from the very beginning and then follow the process until it becomes coffee. With it being off season, it wasn't quite time for the coffee harvest to be harvested. So we really didn't get to see the plantation in its prime but it was still very interesting. At the end of the tour, we got to sample some coffee and try to see if we could taste the difference in the different roasts. The tour was a little pricey but I thought it was well worth the cost given all of the information we learned about the coffee business.
The rest of the afternoon, we just explored the town, checked email and relaxed. We were going to try and play golf but it started to rain. The rain is beautiful. It really comes down. Overall, I really enjoyed our stay in Boquete because it was so relaxing.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.