Rancho de Caldera is a resort in the mountains, 13 miles from Boquete, Panama. By all appearances, it is a luxury resort. Check out the beautiful infinity pool and patio with a commanding view of the mountains. A few steps from the pool is a restaurant in which a residential world-class chef prepares meals similar to (or perhaps better than) what you'd be served in a big-city gourmet restaurant. The resort also has its own stables should you care for some horseback riding through the countryside.
Infinity pools and on-site gourmet fare are not commonly the trademarks of budget travel stops, especially in Central America. But at Rancho de Caldera, an air-conditioned room with a fully-equipped kitchen and a spacious balcony overlooking the picture-book scenery runs less than $150/night. That rate can come down further with discounts offered in the off-season months.
Travelers in search of some luxury would expect to pay more than twice that amount in most parts of the world, and there are places in Panama where you'd shell out a lot more money for similar amenities. But it is possible to find luxury here at a greatly discounted price.
