About us

Several years has
flown by since we first set foot in Panama. Five friends start swapping travel stories over cold beers and end up on a quest to find the best of the best in Central America. So, with our reality checkbook the group begins the journey. By the way, A panel of judges could not have picked a more diverse group for this mission. The great news is we all agreed this is it.... first place goes to Volcan.

But first, why Panama? For starters, the best infrastructure in Central America is already in place. The roads are smooth, cheap hydroelectric powers the country, and building materials are readily available. Again, the roads are simply hands down better. Anyone who has been to Guatemala, Costa Rica or any Central American country for that fact can attest to the teeth jarring roads throughout the region. The currency used is U.S. greenbacks, while the banking and trade free zones are one of the largest in the world. Tourism is NOT the primary industry here and that's a good thing. The sheer strategic importance of the canal insures stability second to none in Central America. We encourage you to do your homework on Panama and check out some recommended links we have provided here.

Secondly, why Volcan? The top of the list would have to be climate. For me, Winter in North Carolina sets in around mid December, and stays dreadful through
March. Coincidentally, the dry season in Panama falls right in line with this schedule - offering idealic temperatures in the "highlands" . It's important to note however, that Panama has very different "micro climates" throughout the country, thus you can choose to be near the coast on either side of Panama, but you will have hotter and more humid conditions. We found the temperatures in Volcan to be delightful. Daytime highs at our property is around 80 degrees F, falling to a crisp 60 - 70 F range at night. (A fireplace is quite common in the elevations around here).

Interested in gardening? Volcan has some of the best soil in the entire region. Much of the produce for the entire country comes from this region since the soil
is a dark rich color that will grow just about anything. This is in sharp contrast to the reddish clay colored soils elsewhere.


Other things to consider: Within an hours drive you can reach:

• the regional airport in David.
• the hospital in David- one of many good medical facities throughout Panama.
  Excellent paved roads from our property connecting Volcan to anywhere.
  Less than an hour from the beach- less than two hours to Costa Rica.
  20 minutes to the "alpine type" climate region known as "little Switzerland"; nearby rainforest with the most diverse number of bird species anywhere.
• Coffee farms everywhere!
• Horseback riding
• hiking
• white water rafting
  

Why Us? Barrilles Haciendas . We encourage sustainable practices in home design and land use planning.