The Estate That Changed Coffee Forever—And Why It Belongs on Every Central America Itinerary
They’ve tasted wine in Napa. Savored Champagne in France. If they love coffee—and a story worth waking up inside—send your clients to Finca Lérida next.
A Living Chapter in Coffee History
Before the world spoke of specialty coffee, Finca Lérida was proving it could be extraordinary. Founded in the early 1920s by Norwegian engineer Tolef Monniche, the estate exported Panama’s first premium coffee to Germany in 1929 and was among the first in the region to adopt the washed processing method.
“This is a working coffee estate where Panama’s coffee legacy is still alive,” says As Maria Ruiz explains, Finca Lérida represents the heart of Panama’s coffee heritage.
Today, guests stay within a living estate—surrounded by history, highland fields, and cloud forest trails. Every suite is surrounded by working coffee fields and private cloud forest trails. The aroma of freshly roasted beans drifts across the grounds.
The Signature Experience: Coffee, at Its Source
The estate’s flagship offering—the Lérida Coffee Experience—guides guests through the full journey of a bean: from highland fields to a working processing facility, refined with spring water from Volcán Barú, to a guided tasting of the estate’s most celebrated varietals.
“We’ve had guests who didn’t even drink coffee fall in love with the experience,” says Maria. “It’s about stepping into a story that’s still unfolding.”
Where Nature and Craft Live Side by Side
Finca Lérida is crafted for travelers who appreciate authenticity, privacy, and depth. Here, clients may spot the Resplendent Quetzal at sunrise or hear toucans calling through the canopy, sip estate-grown coffee on their porch, and spend afternoons exploring a 400-acre private reserve bordering both Volcán Barú National Park and La Amistad International Park.
- Private trails for self-guided or expert-led birdwatching
- In-room spa treatments upon request
- Restaurant and café using ingredients sourced from the estate
- Estate-grown Geisha, Pacamara, Catuaí, and Typica coffees available for guided tastings led by knowledgeable experts
A Seamless Addition to Central America Itineraries
Guests can take a one-hour flight from Panama City to David, followed by a scenic 45-minute drive to Boquete. It pairs seamlessly with beach, jungle, or cultural destinations. Finca Lérida is an ideal three-night anchor for clients who want immersion, calm, and a place with a story.
“We don’t try to be everything to everyone,” Maria shares. “But for the traveler who values where things come from—this is where they want to be.”
What Travel Advisors Should Know
- Finca Lérida is the birthplace of Panama’s coffee legacy.
- The estate offers immersive experiences that appeal to both coffee connoisseurs and those drawn to discovery—naturalists, explorers, and anyone who sees travel as a way to understand the world more deeply.
- Suites are intimate, refined, and surrounded by natural beauty.
- It pairs well with both adventure and relaxation itineraries.
Want to see the wide range of Elevated Experiences in Boquete? Download our Experience Portolio
