Hotel Alta Vista

Set in a two story wooden house locals call "La casa de la Maestra Tita," Restaurante Maná and its lodge feel like a piece of the Highlands' past. Maestra Tita was principal of Volcán's only elementary school, back when there was just one. Now there are five or six. Wood was practically free in the area, while concrete blocks hauled over terrible roads from David were too expensive for most uses. It's a good place to eat and to get a sense of the Highlands. The lunch and dinner menu ranges from sandwiches to beef, poultry, and seafood specialties. Proprietor Don Jorge Cedeño returned to Panama after years in the US, speaks both languages fluently, and is glad to share what he knows about the area. His wife Doña Vicky, born in Costa Rica, supervises the kitchen. They're both active in civic affairs. Volcán is growing and changing fast, but this restaurant is a reminder of what it used to be.

The inside has changed a lot after the recent remodel. The staff were great and the service was good.

We were really disappointed and won't come back. The service was terrible, and I don't recommend this place. Bicycles aren't allowed because their tires might scratch the floorboards. Eating in the rooms is also forbidden, and you're not supposed to stomp on the floorboards. The manager scowled at the children, while a woman cleaned the floor where they had walked.

The balcony had great views, and the place was clean, tidy, spacious, and comfortable. The only drawback was having to ask staff to switch on the water heater before we could get hot water for a shower.