How To Improve Your Spanish in Boquete with Habla Ya

Okay, so you want to ?

Good choice. But I may be biased as that’s exactly what I decided to do upon arriving in Boquete, Panama. I had already spent a week in the country, traipsing through , and I wanted a deeper experience.     When reached out to me about taking Spanish lessons with them, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. And since I have a flexible schedule, I decided to extend my time in Boquete and add a few days of Spanish lessons.    

What Does a Spanish Lesson with Habla Ya Entail?

When I arrived at Habla Ya, they sat me down for a placement test. As I knew about 5 words of Spanish at the time, this was practically pointless, and I was immediately decided a beginner. Fair enough!     Since I only had three days to take lessons, and I had a LOT to learn, they suggested private lessons for me. My teacher, Daybelis, began the task of teaching me some basic Spanish to be able to carry on in Panama as a traveler.     One thing I really appreciate about Habla Ya is their commitment to making Spanish accessible for travelers, with the majority of class being focused on things like directions, eating in a restaurant, and finding a place to stay the night.     A large portion of the lesson was focused on conversation, with Daybelis and I learning more about each other. As one of my main objectives in learning Spanish was being able to get to know the people who live in Panama, it was a highlight of my time with Habla Ya.     Daybelis set me up with a workbook that had lists of common words, phrases, and conjugations. While we only had three lessons, I think a bit more attention to proper grammar would have been nice. Although that may be the perfectionist in me..     I came away from the three days of private lessons with a bit more confidence in my ability to speak Spanish. Or at least more willing to try and risk making a fool of myself!     But the Spanish lessons themselves are only part of the package with Habla Ya. They also organize excursions to do various things around Boquete. There’s a weekly list of activities up and students can write their names down to sign up for them.

Touring a Coffee Farm

You all know by now how much I , right? I think based on the fact that this was my in less than three months, I may be a bit obsessed.       I went on the tour with and our tour guide, Felix, to .       Unlike the other coffee tour I went on that week (Yes, I went on two coffee tours in one week. Don’t judge.) I actually got to meet the man behind the farm, Tito. Tito built Finca la Milagrosa from the ground up using recycled materials.       I keep going on these coffee tours, because I find that each one has something unique to offer. Yes, there’s the requisite tour of the farm and seeing the process that coffee goes through from berry to bean. But there’s also a different focus depending on your tour guide.       Felix chose to focus on the health benefits of coffee and the proper way to both grow and brew it. I learned completely new information such as the fact that when you make coffee the right way, it doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, stain your teeth!       Also, it’s a myth that you need to boil water to make coffee. That’s a remnant from the days when we didn’t have potable water. In fact, coffee loses its’ health benefits when you heat it that much, including leaving it heating all day in one of those large vats of coffee. Brew your coffee one cup at a time and you will see the amazing benefits coffee has to offer! Now that’s my kind of endorsement!     He also had jokes. This was one of my favorites:

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who only speaks one language? American.

It’s funny because it’s true.     Felix roasted the “green beans” (or pre-roasted coffee beans) to different levels so that we could taste the difference. We tried light, medium, and dark roast beans. I found out that my favorites were light and dark.     I was so impressed by the respect and care that Tito and Felix showed for both the earth and the coffee they cultivated. And man did that cup of coffee taste good. I know you’re only supposed to have one cup at a time, but damn…I could have drunk an entire vat-full! The good news is, I got to take some coffee home (Er…wherever “home” is when you’re a perpetual backpacker, anyways) with me.    

Zip-lining Through the Mountains

The activity for the next day was zip-lining through the mountains of Boquete!       I have, so I knew what I was getting myself into.       This time around, there would be no flying upside down. This was a very regimented tour, catering to families, with the youngest in our group being 7!       Not that I minded, it was still exhilarating to look down and see your feet dangling above the Panamanian highlands. Plus, the guys who worked there made everything feel fun and lighthearted. Everyone seemed like they were having a blast!       Habla Ya partners with different tour companies in Boquete, and the zip-lining adventure was run by .       I had an absolute blast zip-lining with Tree Trek, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time. If you’re an experienced zip-liner and adrenaline junkie, though, I’m not sure this would exactly do it for you. For it was just right!

When my week and a half in Boquete was over, I was sad to say goodbye. , I thoroughly enjoyed my time chilling in this mountainous region of Panama. I mean, what’s not to like about a place where you can catch a rainbow every day, drink some of the best coffee in the world, and live in perpetual spring?

Luckily, my time with Habla Ya was not over, and it was onwards to Bocas del Toro to improve my Spanish further, and soak up some sun.

Happy Exploring, Wherever You Are!

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Full Disclosure: Habla Ya contacted me about taking Spanish lessons in exchange for writing about my experience on this website. All opinions are my own!