Boquete

Where to stay

Budget travelers cluster around Avenida Central and the blocks near Parque Municipal in Bajo Boquete, where most hostels sit within a short walk of the Tuesday market and the bus stop for David. A few cheaper guesthouses sit up the hill toward Alto Boquete, but you'll want a bike or taxi to get back down at night.

Getting around

• The David-Boquete bus runs from the David terminal on Avenida Obaldía and costs just a couple of dollars. Taxis from David charge many times more for the same 45-minute ride, so skip them unless you're arriving after 9pm.
• The Tuesday feria beside the main park is the cheapest meal in town. A full plate from a local vendor runs just a couple of dollars, and you can stock up on coffee directly from farmers at a fraction of what the cafes charge.
• Hostel rates on the weekends of the Feria de las Flores y el Café (usually mid-January) triple and book out weeks in advance. If that window doesn't matter to you, avoid it entirely.

When to go

Beds are easiest and cheapest May through November during the rainy season, while December through April brings dry weather and reliably full hostels, with January and Easter week being the tightest.