Sunrise on La Barqueta Beach
La Barqueta beach is located on the Pacific Ocean in the Chiriquí providence of the Republic of Panama. Although La Barqueta is now a popular retirement destination the area has been of importance to the Panamanian agricultural sector since the 17th century.
La Barqueta comes from the Latin word for Baraquin, which is a person who travels by boat. The name was selected in 1885 by Antonio Anguizola De La Lastra who raised cattle on the property. At the time the plantation consisted mostly of wetlands and navigation by boat of the flooded riverbanks was favorable to traversing poorly accessible roads.
During the early part of the 20th century Antonio Anguizola Palma, son of Antonio Anguizola De La Lastra managed to develop La Barqueta into one of the largest cattle plantations in the Republic of Panama. A pier was constructed so that cattle could be transported to Panama City for export to North and South America. When Antonio Anguizola Palma died his daughter, Ana Beatriz Anguizola De La Lastra de Araúz inherited La Barqueta. She married Julio Araúz Jované in 1955, and expanded the cattle and dairy farm operations at La Barqueta to include mechanized rice plantations.
During the 21st century La Barqueta became famous for the development of its coastline as a luxury retirement community and its five star hotel, Las Olas Beach Resort.
