Panamá: BAMBÜDA CASTLE

Tucked in the misty highlands of Boquete, Panama, Bambuda Castle rises out of the clouds like something imagined. It feels like a place from another time — one built not for grandeur, but for pause.

But it was the Hobbit Homes that drew me in.

From the outside, it looked like something out of a story — circular doors tucked into the hillside, covered in grass, each one warm and glowing from within. I stayed at one of them to experience it fully. Waking up to the stunning view from the front door was like being held by the earth itself.

Days moved easily here. I worked from the communal dining area, surrounded by the low hum of travelers and the mountain breeze slipping through open doors. When my mind needed a break, I practiced billiards in the lounge, wandered past the chessboard, or stepped outside for air.

In the afternoon, a brief sun shower passed through, leaving the air bright and clean — and then, just for a moment, a rainbow stretched across the valley. It felt like the kind of detail you couldn’t plan, a reminder of how quietly beautiful life can be when you let it unfold.

Bambuda Castle and the Hobbit Homes aren’t about escape. They’re about being exactly where you are — somewhere between play and peace, surrounded by light.

Bambuda Castle & Hobbit Homes

Santa Lucia, Boquete, Panama

Tel. +507 720-2444

www.bambudacastle.com