Raquel’s Ark
I discovered Raquel’s Ark by pure coincidence while I stayed in a little town called Boquette. This place is completely off the beaten path, remote from any other part of Panama. I found myself trekking here after stumbling upon an incredible airbnb that overlooked the Baru Volcano in the Chiriqui Highlands.
I was looking forward to another epic hike. Instead, I discovered something even more valuable. An hour away from Boquette is an animal rescue founded by a little old lady named Raquel. Unlike most private rescues, she does not require any entrance fee, but solely relies on donations from visitors of any amount to care for the animals, which includes orphaned sloths, and injured raccoons, jaguars, owls, turtles, and capuchin monkeys. While visiting her sanctuary, you are able to feed, clean, and learn about each animal that is currently being rehabilitated.
The goal is to then relocate the animals to a larger sanctuary where they are cared for, and will eventually be prepared for a soft release into the wild. This purpose brings Raquel much joy and you can see this passion just radiate from her eyes and the biggest smile when she’s caring for these animals.
During covid, tourism and donations have gone down to zero, making it extremely difficult to fund her project on a fixed income. Raquel does not ask for much, but any donation would make a huge difference!
Send us an email if you want to visit Raquel’s Ark! I promise your hearts will be changed forever as mine was.
