Television and Articles

"Living the Dream" (Jane and Barry’s story) was commissioned by VISIONTV for inclusion in the fifth season of the "Recreating Eden" television series. “Living the Dream” has been syndicated and shown on the Knowledge Network in Canada since January 2008.

“Boquete: Panama’s Mountain Haven” LatinWorld June 7, 2010 Jisel Pirella
"Almost Paradise" BCBusiness July, 2007, Valerie McTavish
"Next Stop | Panama, The Costa Rica Experience Moves Next Door" New York Times August 19, 2007, Jeff Koyen
"Winter Escapes” Boston Magazine December 2005, Sascha de Gersdorff
"Places & Prices" of “Tropic of Desire” Condé Nast Traveler February 2005, Alan Weisman
"The Invasion of Panama" Men's Journal February 2004, Claire Martin
“A Budding Affection for Boquete” L.A.Times Travel Section November 2002
"Panama Coffee Farm Bungalows" Follow the Reader, San Francisco Chronicle June 2001
"Panama Highlands" Follow the Reader, San Francisco Chronicle November 1998
"...best hotel in Boquete.." International Living - Jennifer Stevens May, 2000
"Views of Panama" Panorama - Official magazine of Copa Airlines March 2002
"..favorite place for honeymooners..." Business Panama AMCHAM - Nancy Hanna March 2001
"If you Go" The Times Colonist - Janet Fullwood January 23, 1999
"Insider Travel Tips" The Washington Times - Special International Report Panama Countdown to 2000 - Andrea Poelling Nov 25, 1997
"Panama Highlands" The Tico Times - Dan Fawcett November 7, 1997
"Travel News" Cordialidad -Official magazine of Copa Airlines May, 1997
"A Miracle in the Mountains" "Canadian couple create their dream resort near Boquete" The Visitor - Lynn Kane June 6-19, 1997


Older guidebooks:

“Recommended Accommodation” Adventure Guide PANAMA
“Highly Recommended” Adventures in Nature PANAMA
“Selected Accommodation” ULYSSES PANAMA
“Best Hotel in Boquete” Lonely Planet Panama, Lonely Planet Central America

Please click here to view some of our guests' thank you emails.

"Living the Dream"

“Boquete: Panama’s Mountain Haven” LatinWorld June 7, 2010 Jisel Pirella

.... I stayed at the Coffee Estate Inn (www.coffeeestateinn.com), a short drive uphill from mainstreet, which is owned and operated by Jane and Barry, a friendly and helpful Canadian couple who go above and beyond when it comes to making guests feel at home on their property. The Coffee Estate functions as both an inn and a small coffee farm, and there are three, elegant, secluded bungalows, all suite-style with seperate sleeping and sitting areas, and all guests are greeted with Barry’s tasty, homemade breads. At $145 a night, the Coffee Estate is a great deal: The owners don’t cut any corners when it comes to services or amenities and the views are breath-taking. ....
Click here to read the full article.

" Fodor's Choice " Fodor's Panama, 2nd Edition April 2010 - Marlise Kast

These charming bungalows on a 6-acre shade coffee farm offer peace, privacy, plentiful birdlife and one of Boquete's best views. East unit has a kitchenette, sitting room with dining table, and large bedrooms. Big windows and ample balconies with lounge chairs frame Volcan Baru and the valley below. Footpaths and benches dot the tropical gardens which are filled with coffee plants, and forest patches that are home to 130 avian species. You can have a delicious three-course dinner ranging from roasted duck to grilled fish served by candlelight in your bungalow, though you need to order in the morning. Each fridge is stocked with homemade breads and fresh-roasted coffee to accompany the fruit baskets for do-it-yourself breakfasts. The main building has a small library, computer and lounge area where guests can plan the next leg of their trip with help from the friendly owners. Terrace massages can be arranged upon request. Reserve well ahead of time.

Frommer's PANAMA – Jisel Pirella – 2nd edition

The Coffee Estate Inn ***finds Cozy yet spacious accommodations with all the trimmings, gorgeous views of Volcan Baru and truly personalized service are the hallmarks of the Coffee Estate Inn…three contemporary and cheery cabins....... are enveloped in native forest, fruit trees, and flowers that attract myriad birds.

Moon Highlight MoonHandbooks PANAMA - William Friar 2nd Edition November 2008

Some innkeepers have hospitality wired into their genetic code. Meet Jane Walker and Barry Robbins, Canadian expatriates who have turned their 2.5 hectares of forested land above the Boquete valley into the most appealing places to stay in the country......the inn consists of three large, modern, immaculate bungalows set on a hillside just northeast of Boquete……terrific view of Baru and the valley……guests can dine in their cottage by candlelight on fancy meals you wouldn't expect to find outside Panama city……the property is a working coffee farm that produces more than 2,000 kilos of coffee a year. The coffee grows in the shade of a pretty, well tended little forest that attracts more than 100 species of birds and lots of other highland critters……stays include a free, optional tour of the owner's coffee operation from soil to cup. The (Free) coffee you drink here has never been out of the roaster more than two days. They have also concocted a delicious coffee liqueur, called Barubica, which is also for sale. They produce 45,000 oranges a year, so help yourself to as many as you like......Barry and Jane run a tight, gleaming ship. The inn has more in common with a modern first-world country getaway than some bohemian third world tree house. This is a great place to pamper yourself......if you want to be left completely alone, they’ll respect your privacy. This is a popular place with honeymooners.

" Fodor's Choice " Fodor's Panama, 1st Edition March 2008 - David Dudenhoefer

These charming bungalows on a 6-acre shade coffee farm offer peace, privacy, plentiful birdlife and one of Boquete's best views. East unit has a kitchenette, sitting room with dining table, and large bedrooms. Big windows and ample balconies with lounge chairs frame Volcan Baru and the valley below. Use the footpaths and benches in the tropical gardens, coffee plants, and forest patches to spot the 130 avian species here. You can have a delicious dinner served by candlelight in your bungalow some nights, though you need to order in the morning. Friendly Canadian owners Barry and Jane sell crafts and coffee and will help you plan your time in Boquete. Reserve well ahead of time.

"SOMETHING SPECIAL" National Geographic Traveler Panama - Christopher P. Baker -1st edition

Chiriqui's preeminent family-run inn exudes a home-away-from-home appeal. Surrounded by lush forests at 4,200 feet, this coffee and citrus estate proves that a fine jewel is made complete by its setting. The inn offers stupendous volcano views from the cozy, delightfully furnished bungalows, each with bedroom, bathroom and TV lounge and terrace, comfy beds features down-filled duvets and pillows run lovingly by an erudite Canadian couple who pay meticulous attention to guests well-being and comfort. Candlelit gourmet dinners are offered alfresco on your balcony and the owners will prepare box lunches. Free Internet is a bonus and the charming and conscientious owners are a trove of useful tour information. Trails offer fabulous birding.

"Almost Paradise" in BCBusiness July, 2007 by Valerie McTavish

"Barry Robbins and Jane Walker wake up every morning in a paradise 1,300 metres above sea level. In the hills of Panama, surrounded by coffee plants, orange trees and dense rainforest, the former British Columbians have spent the past decade tending to the needs of their plantation - and to those of visitors to this picturesque setting .
Click here to read the full article.

"Next Stop | Panama, The Costa Rica Experience Moves Next Door " in the New York Times August 19, 2007 by Jeff Koyen

"IT'S a Friday afternoon in Boquete, Panama, and the main street resembles Anytown, U.S.A. There is a mom-and-pop coffee shop with round tables, premade sandwiches and a dessert case. Nearby is a tiny video store, with posters advertising “Misión Imposible Tres” and “La Guerra de Los Mundos.” And down the block is a small deli that serves cheeseburgers with rice and beans...
Another upscale hotel, La Montaña y el Valle Coffee Estate Inn (Jaramillo Arriba Road, 507-720-2211; www.coffeeestateinn.com), opened by Canadian expatriates, has three secluded bungalows set among jade green coffee trees and exotic flower gardens for $130. Amenities like high-thread-count sheets and aromatherapy massages have cemented Boquete's reputation as a counterpart to Bocas del Toro, Panama's epicenter for Caribbean-style carousal. Whereas the coast is ideal for the partying singles set, there's nary a nightclub pushing beats into Boquete's fresh night air. After sunset, when most of the tourists have retreated to their luxurious hotels and hillside B & Bs, the town square is as quiet as a church.
Click here to read the full article.

Frommer's PANAMA - Kristina Schreck - 1st edition

The Coffee Estate Inn ***finds
If you're an independent traveler but are loathe to work out the details involved in independent travel, this place is your best bet. The Coffee Estate Inn is owned by a friendly Canadian couple, Jane and Barry, who built their inn to satisfy themselves as travelers - a simple concept but one that rarely occurs to so many budding hotel owners. Cozy yet spacious accommodations with all the trimmings, gorgeous views of Volcan Baru and truly personalized service are the hallmarks of the Coffee Estate Inn...........three comtemporary and cheery cabins contain a bedroom for two to three guests, a living area, a fully stocked kitchen and a outdoor terrace. The cabins are enveloped in native forest, fruit trees, and flowers that attract a myriad of birds.............when you make a reservation here, they'll send you a 30-page information packet with tips and advice about Boquete and traveling in Panama...........they provide maps, directions and contacts for the best guides in the area and anything else you need for a day of adventure...........indulge yourself in the inn's restaurant with a candlelit gourmet dinner.......the owners grow and roast their own coffee....tours of the property to learn more about coffee production and native flora.

Moon Handbooks PANAMA - William Friar 1st Edition September 2005

If you do a lot of traveling, you soon meet innkeepers who have hospitality wired into their genetic code. Meet Jane Walker and Barry Robbins, Canadian expatriates who have turned their 2.5 hectares of forested land into the most comfortable place to stay on this side of the mountain, if not the highlands, period. The inn consists of three large, modern, immaculate bungalows set on a hillside just northeast of Boquete... terrific view of Baru and the valley ... Guests can dine in their cottage by candlelight on fancy meals you wouldn't expect to find outside Panama city... The property is a working coffee farm that produces more than 2,000 kilos of coffee a year. The coffee grows in the shade of a pretty, well tended little forest that attracts more than 100 species of birds and lots of other highland critters... Stays include a free, optional tour of the owner's coffee operation from soil to cup. The (Free) coffee you drink here has never been out of the roaster more than two days They produce 45,000 oranges a year, so help yourself to as many as you like Barry and Jane run a tight, gleaming ship. The inn has more in common with a modern first-world country getaway than some bohemian third world tree house. This is a great place to pamper yourself. The picture on page 367 was shot from the inn property.

“Winter Escapes” in Boston magazine December 2005 by Sascha de Gersdorff

PANAMA Fly 2,362 miles/6 ½ hours Looking for the cure-all for a season of endless soirees, shopping and slush? Jet from Boston to Panama. Venture inland to Boquete’s Coffee Estate Inn, a compound nestled among mountain forest and coffee. While there, hike the quetzal Trail for close encounters with monkeys and quetzals, or stroll through the Finca Dracula orchid gardens, a two-hour drive away.
Click here to read the full article.

"Places & Prices" of “Tropic of Desire” in Condé Nast Traveler February 2005 by Alan Weisman

La Montaña y el Valle Coffee Estate Inn. Here Canadian hosts Jane Walker and Barry Robbins have done everything right, including providing guides for the Quetzal Trail, with quetzal sightings guaranteed. Three cottages share seven garden acres and exquisite views of the volcano. Meals are gourmet caliber, candlelit, and served in your bungalow, and the coffee comes from right outside your window. Reserve well in advance.

Adventure Guide PANAMA – Patricia Katzman 1st Edition 2004

Secluded on a lush mountain hillside, three luxury bungalows, each with a private balcony overlooking the Boquete valley and looming Volcan Baru in the distance. These spacious delightfully appointed quarters have gracious living/dining areas with wide windows for the view, bedrooms with comfortable orthopedic beds and kitchens fully equipped with everything you need, including a supply of freshly roasted estate-grown coffee. There is a vast library of reference books and novels. Trails populated with myriad bird and butterfly species run through the forested hillside property, which is rife with fragrant coffee, banana and orange tress. Attentive Canadian hosts, Jane Walker and Barry Robbins, both gourmet cooks, offer an optional menu of delicious specialties served by candlelight on your private balcony.

Fodor's Central America 1st Edition 2003 (includes chapter on Panama by Patricia Alisau)

A Fodor's featured hotel. These three charming bungalows in the centre of a small coffee estate offer peace and privacy. Units have a spacious sitting room with dining table, fully stocked kitchenette and large bedrooms with dehumidifiers to keep mold and mildew away. Big windows and ample balconies with lounge chairs, frame vistas of the forested valley below and massive Volcan Baru. Bird watchers can follow footpaths through tropical gardens, coffee plants and forest patches. The friendly Canadian owners can serve delicious dinners (vegetarian options) by candlelight in your bungalow.

"The Invasion of Panama" in Men's Journal Feb. 2004 by Claire Martin

"...Back in Boquete I relaxed on my private deck at La Montaña y el Valle - The Coffee Estate Inn, a collection of tidy bungalows run by a Canadian couple with an encyclopedic knowledge of their adopted country. With a pair of binoculars I scoped out my next adventure: 11,410-foot Volcan Baru, Panama's highest peak. My guide Chago picked me up at two the next morning, though I'd barely digested the previous night's dinner of pork tenderloin with sweet Thai chile sauce ."

Special to The L.A.Times Travel Section November 2002

... The cottages are situated for absolute privacy. Ours had a stunning view across the valley to the mountains beyond. A light mist enveloped us as we admired the scene -- the every-afternoon bajareque that Jane described as a "warm blizzard full of rainbows." As if on cue, a perfect rainbow arch touched down on either side of Boquete. .... But lucky guests of La Montaña y el Valle can eat their evening meal in their room, having given warning to Jane and Barry, both gifted cooks.
Click here to read the full article about our Boquete hotel.

Lonely Planet PANAMA - Scott Doggett 2nd edition November 2001

"La Montaña y el Valle - The Coffee Estate Inn is a terrific find, offering three luxury bungalows on a working coffee estate with trails into a lovely patch of forest.", "estate roasted coffee daily and nature tours", "Gourmet dinners prepared by owners Barry Robbins and Jane Walker, two very likable expatriate Canadians."

Adventures in Nature PANAMA - William Friar 1ST edition February 2001

"Well above the other places to stay in Boquete, literally and otherwise, is La Montaña y el Valle ...", "Guests can dine in their cottage by candlelight on reasonably priced, near-gourmet meals you wouldn't expect outside Panama City." "The Canadian owners, Jane Walker and Barry Robbins, are attentive hosts" "They're a great source of information on the area's attractions." "Use the library in the house which has a few volumes on the natural history of Panama and lots of good, trashy mysteries."

Fodor's Costa Rica 2000 (includes section on north-western Panama)- David Dudenhoefer, Justin Henderson

A Fodor's featured hotel. "These 3 charming chalets offer peace, privacy, luxuriant surroundings, and the best view in Boquete. Each chalet has a bedroom and spacious sitting room with a dinner table and fully stocked kitchenette. Abundant windows and a small porch offer vistas of the valley below and of massive Baru Volcano. Footpaths wind their way through tropical gardens and forest patches-prime bird watching territory. The friendly Canadian owners offer vacation planning assistance and delicious dinners served by candelight in your chalet. This place is often full, so reserve well ahead of time."

ULYSSES PANAMA - Marc Rigole, Claude-Victor Langlois 3rd edition November 1999

"For those in search of some peace and quiet, La Montana y el Valle is the ideal location. It features three hillside cabins surrounded by greenery and located on a vast property where orange and coffee trees grow alongside wild vegetatation", "As for meals, the health conscious will delight in such creative dishes as the tasty country style moussaka.." meat lovers can savour the likes of a tender garlic seasoned beef filet.." "..visit the library and pick up one of the more than a thousand English books available to guests."

"Follow the Reader" in San Francisco Chronicle June 2001

A highlight on our recent trip to Panama was the mountains of Boquete, where we stayed in a bed-and-breakfast called La Montana y el Valle. We were treated to freshly roasted coffee that was just amazing (it's for sale by the pound)." Click here to read the full article about our Boquete hotel.

"Follow the Reader" in San Francisco Chronicle November 1998

Last winter, while on an extended visit to Costa Rica, I ventured over the border into Panama's western provinces and found Shangri-La. On a promontory overlooking the sparkling town and the towering presence of Volcan Baru, the highest point in Panama, I found the cottages of La Montana y el Valle. If you can tear yourself away from this idyllic setting, there is much to do in the area." Click here to read the full article about our Boquete hotel.

International Living - Jennifer Stevens May, 2000

"The Best Hotel in Boquete - While you're in Boquete, arrange a room at La Montana y el Valle in one of three small cabins set on a six-acre slope richly landscaped with fruit trees, coffee, orchids, and innumerable other species of green, all of which camouflage a kilometer of hiking trails."

Panorama - Official magazine of Copa Airlines March 2002 "Views of Panama"

We discovered that Boquete, a quiet town of 15,000 inhabitants, with a pleasant temperature of 20 degrees Celsius year round, is ideal for a night of relaxation at The Coffee Estate Inn, a hotel with comfortable chalets offering an impressive view of the valley of Boquete and of the Baru Volcano."

Business Panama AMCHAM - Nancy Hanna March 2001

La Montaña y el Valle, nestled in an orange and coffee farm, is owned and run by a Canadian couple, Barry Robbins and Jane Walker, who are personable and attentive hosts. A mouth-watering gourmet menu is served by candlelight in the sitting room of your bungalow. Because of its isolated beauty, La Montaña y el Valle has become a favourite place for honeymooners and couples seeking a romantic weekend." "Barry Robbins of La Montaña y el Valle also offers excellent personalized coffee farm tours."

The Times Colonist - If you Go - Janet Fullwood January 23, 1999

"Panama's an easy country to negotiate for North Americans. In Boquete, Canadian expatriates Barry Robbins and Jane Walker operate La Montaña y el Valle, three cottage inn with sweeping views."

The Washington Times - Special International Report Panama Countdown to 2000 - Insider Travel Tips - Andrea Poelling Nov 25, 1997

If you need to escape the humidity and the hustle and bustle of Panama City, and you like the cool, fresh mountain air, go check out Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui, and scout out La Montaña y el Valle, a small group of cottages built by Barry Robbins and Jane Walker, a wonderful Canadian couple. This mystical mountain niche is one of the best hinterland spots in Panama, where you will find peace, solitude and spectacular views of the Baru volcano amidst orange groves and coffee plantations."

The Tico Times - Dan Fawcett November 7, 1997

Canadian couple Jane Walker and Barry Robbins consider themselves rat-race refugees holed up in a haven which conjures the image of Tolkien's Shire", "Their resort, La Montaña y el Valle, at 4200 feet, has three luxury chalets", "The 2.5 hectare grounds feature a network of nature trails offering access to orange groves and coffee plants, native meadows and virgin tropical rainforest. Bird lovers have the chance to spot such species as brilliantly colored tanagers, honey creepers, motmots and emerald toucanettes. Walker and Robbins are gourmet cooks"

Cordialidad -Official magazine of Copa Airlines May, 1997 "Travel News"

"La Montaña y el Valle is a highlands retreat comprising 2.5 hectares with three deluxe bungalows, gourmet cuisine and a spectacular view over the Baru Volcano, 3,475 metres above sea level, the surrounding mountains and Boquete town."

The Visitor -"A Miracle in the Mountains" - Lynn Kane June 6-19, 1997
"Canadian couple create their dream resort near Boquete"

"If you've ever wished you owned your own home in the mountains, away from the steamy tropical coasts and city smog - look not further than La Montaña y el Valle this resort is just the thing to cool the body and warm the spirits" The only word to describe this retreat is lush! Canadians, Barry Robbins and Jane Walker, who had camped all over Central America looking for their special place, fell in love with the property, purchased it and have proceeded to work miracles. It now boasts three beautifully appointed cottages and grounds that take your breath away. Barry and Jane escorted us to "The Jewel". We stepped through the French door into a sitting/dining room done in soothing cream and slate blue with terra cotta tile from Chitre and locally crafted furnishings all tastefully offset with Panamanian artwork and track lighting. Off to our right was the ample bedroom and the bath with fluffy towels and plenty of hot water. Each cottage has a kitchen area fully equipped with everything - down to the Oneida flatware and candles for the table - but why cook for yourselves when you can choose from your hosts Epicurean menus? Jane and Barry worked for years as information system business consultants and so are naturals at finding out what people want, then delivering. That coupled with their love of gourmet cooking, lead to two glorious menus, one for omnivores and one vegetarian. For breakfast, one can choose from an array of oven-warm baked goods, and make coffee and fresh juice in the cottage. Dinner selections include such delicacies as Italian lasagne in a sauce simmered for hours, flaky strudels, filet of beef for two, broccoli mousse and many more main dishes, salads and desserts. In the morning we took our breakfast and stepped onto the terrace to inspect THE VIEW. A sweeping vista of the Rio Caldera valley, the Amistad International Park, the Palo Alto Reserve and Volcan Baru looking in the background, the only way I can do justice to it is to say see it for yourself. Later Jane and Barry took us on a tour of the grounds. We crossed streams, spotted exotic birds and butterflies, stopped at a mirador overlooking virgin rainforest, strolled, past profusions of heliconias, orchids and impatiens, in fact, there was so much blossoming and blooming going on that I finally gave up keeping track and simply enjoyed the one-kilometre walk. After another-to-die-for dinner on our final evening and a deep, dreamless sleep, we stuffed down oh-just-one-last-crumb from Barry's bakery and prepared to take our leave of La Montaña y el Valle. Jane handed us a care package for the trip (These people truly do think of everything). There were hugs all around, and we said our goodbyes. For now. For you see, we're found the getaway in the mountains that we've always dreamed of. So can you.