Rio Escondido is located in the Boquete District near the town of Caldera. This incredible home rests on a bluff overlooking the Chiriqui Nuevo River. The river is about 400 meters from the house. The property is about 30 minutes from the cities of Boquete and David and the town of Caldera is only 5 minutes away. The house has everything you can ask for in a true vacation getaway and the property is a nature lovers dream. Rio Escondido is also a model of Off-Grid living as we are 100% Solar.
Rio Escondido is a modern home that often reminds guests of houses designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is constructed of reinforced concrete, has flat roofs with large overhangs and glass doors that offer incredible views of the surrounding area. It is certainly not what you would expect of a remote property in the jungles of Panama as it offers a full array of amenities including a pool, hot tub, lush gardens, a fish pond, an incredible variety of bird life and 2 km of river frontage.
Rio Escondido is also private and safe - The entry to the property is gated as is the entry to the grounds where the house is located. Our property managers (Walter Kawano) and grounds keepers have been with us for many years and are fully vetted.
Full access is available to the entire home and all social areas of the house - kitchen, dining room, living room, outdoor patios, pool, hot tub, etc. Only one closet is reserved for the owner's personal belongings.
Guests are invited to browse our gardens to find herbs, vegetables or fruits for their use. Depending on the season and growing conditions we usually have a variety of peppers, tomatoes, egg plant, limes, papaya and mango to choose from. Guests may also fish for Tilapia in the pond located on the property. Fishing gear is available on site.
My co-host Walter Kawano is available to provide assistance to guests as needed 24/7 and will be happy to arrange transport services to the house from David or Boquete. Transport for up to 4 people from David is available at a cost of USD$50. Transport from Boquete for up to 4 people is available at a cost of USD$35. Walter can also assist with arranging third-party transport service (paid by guests) to Paso Canoas (Panama - Costa Rica border), Bocas del Toro, Boquete, David, David Airport, Panama City Panama.
Walter is also available to assist guests with their shopping needs. Shopping services cost USD$20.00 per hour when scheduled prior to arrival or when transporting guests to the house. Should you need additional shopping services they can be arranged during a tour for no additional cost. If you need Walter to provide shopping services for you after check-in the rate is USD$20 per hour plus an additional transport fee from either David (USD$50) or Boquete (USD$35) depending on availability and where he is when the request is made.
Walter can also provide private tours for up to 4 people at a fee of USD$25.00 per hour plus the cost of fuel. Private tours require a (four) 4-hour minimum. Walter can also assist you to book tours with third party tour operators in Boquete, Caldera and Hornito in the Province of Chiriqui or Bocas Town in the Province of Bocas del Toro. If tour operators provide referral fees there is no charge. If they do not, you will be asked to pay Walter a 10% commission for his time and effort.
Should you need additional cleaning services these can be arranged at a rate of $30 per visit plus a transport fee from David of $50.
Caldera and its surrounding areas are primarily rural agrarian in nature with many cattle ranches and farms scattered throughout the mountains. Caldera is just now starting to become an off the beaten path rural tourism destination.
The town itself has basic services including a government clinic that works from 0700 am to 0300 pm, Monday thru Friday, not on weekends or holidays, a public school, a light mechanical repair shop (auto and tire shop), a couple of restaurants, a bar and a few small grocery stores.
Our Rio Escondido property and country home is about 5 minutes East of the town of Caldera and is very secluded. The nearest house is about a half mile away and a few homes are scattered on the mountainsides and near the river within a 3-mile range.
The property is composed of approximately eighty-four (84) acres with 2 km of river frontage on the Rio Chiriqui Nuevo River. There are numerous swimming holes, waterfalls and lots of trails to hike on the property.
The property entrance is through a teal green steel gate located beside the Chiriquicito road, some seventy yards past the metal sign that stands on two rounded galvanized steel posts, with green background and faded white letters that reads "Chiriquicito 10 kms". Chiriquicito is the little town some ten (10) kilometers pass our electric teal green steel gate, and the Chiriquicito road also connects to the road that takes you to the Province of Bocas del Toro, Panama's Caribbean Pearl and one of the hottest tourist destinations in the country.
While there is public transportation it is rarely available and is not very reliable or timely.
We recommend renting a vehicle to access the property (four-wheel drive is not required to access the house), tour Boquete, visit places of interest and the surrounding area. Previous guests rented Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Creta, or Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa or Hyundai Accent sub-compact four door sedans. These cars are available from the car rental agancies in Panama City Panama or at Aeropuerto Enrique Malek aka David Airport.
Depending on availability and where he is when the request is made, transportation arrangements with co-host Walter Kawano can be scheduled. Walter is Panamanian, born and raised in Panama City and speaks very good English. Walter has been my closest associate in Panama, and has managed my corporate business and real property in Panama since 2004. I trust him with my life and know that he will take great care of you. The fee for transport services is USD$20.00 per hour plus an auto charge of $USD .15 cents per kilometer for use of a vehicle. Walter will typically drive you around using either our Lexus LX400 or or Nissan Patrol.
Rio Escondido is located about 5 minutes from the town of Caldera which lies in a verdant valley to the southeast of the mountain town of Boquete. Caldera is a quaint, little town that has a few small stores where basic supplies can be purchased. There are two typical Panamanian restaurants in the town - they serve traditional Panamanian country style breakfasts as well as a limited lunch and dinner menu. Because of the limited availability of gourmet food items in the town we recommend that guests who wish to cook bring supplies with them or ask Walter to shop for them prior to their arrival. Walter can also take guests shopping for supplies - in either event the rate is USD$20.00 per hour which includes transportation.
Caldera is also home to a well-known Hot Spring that is visited by thousands of tourists each year. The spring is where the town got its name and is definitely worth a visit. There are also a number of sites in the area that we recommend our guests visit. A personal favorite is the picturesque pedestrian suspension bridge over Rio Chiriqui Nuevo that connects Caldera and Paja de Sombreo. It was built by the Panamanian Government with the assistance of the US Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1970's.
Many species of birds can be found on the property and there are also a number of small waterfalls and hiking trails that are easy to access. Depending on availability and where he is when the request is made, Walter will be happy to take you on tours should you wish to explore the Caldera and surrounding areas, for up to 4 people at a fee of USD$25.00 per hour plus the cost of petrol.
Thank you very much for choosing our secluded off-grid home for your stay in Boquete and the surrounding area. We hope you have a great time in the Provincia de Chiriquí and that you enjoy the culture, history and tropical wonders of Panama.
Children of all ages require supervision outside the house. This is a must because we have a pool and a hot tub on the premises and are surrounded by jungle and water elements such as ponds, creeks and rivers. Also, parts of the property are steep and not suitable for unaccompanied children. All guests should note that poisonous snakes live in jungle and brush areas - we recommend that guests not explore the property after dark when light conditions will make it difficult to see.
Smoking allowed ONLY in outdoor spaces.
We are an off-grid property and are on a septic system. Please do not put any paper products or feminine items in the toilets. Covered cannisters are provided for your use to dispose of toilet paper and any other items that could potentially clog our system.
Guests must wash all kitchen ware - Pots, Pans, Plates, Glasses, Cups and Silverware that they use.
Place all used glass bottles in the black plastic bin in the carport.
Place all kitchen scraps and left over food in the green container next to the kitchen sink.
Place paper and carboard in the trash can in the left cabinet under the kitchen island.
No electric appliances in or around pool or hot tub.
No glass containers in or around pool, or hot tub.
No use of pool or hot tub when raining, or when there is lighting activity.
No running around pool or hot tub. We will explain hot tub and pool operation at check in.
No wet clothing or wet people in the house.
Do not leave clothing on the floor in or outside the house.
Turn off all lights and electric appliances when leaving the house for the day.
Place broken glass, dining ware and glass containers in the white containers next to the the black recycle bin for bottles to avoid injuries and cuts when handling garbage bags.
