One of the main reasons I moved from Atlanta to Panama was the potential for excellent hiking year round. On my first trip, I spent a weekend in El Valle de Anton. It’s a place I honestly never get tired of. Depending on your mode of transportation, you can get to El Valle in 3 hours or even less if you’re one of those lucky folks with a car. There are so many reasons I keep going back to El Valle: fresh air, beautiful mountain scenery and a cooler climate than PTY. It’s really a perfect weekend escape. Here, in no particular order, are 10 reasons why you should visit El Valle de Anton.
HIKE LA INDIA DORMIDA
The town of El Valle de Anton actually sits at the bottom of an ancient, extinct volcano. The dramatic ridges that surround the town are what remains of the crater. They make for beautiful hikes unlike any others I’ve ever done. La India Dormida is the most popular hike in El Valle de Anton. It is named for its silhouette that is said to resemble a sleeping Indian girl. The trailhead, called La Piedra Pintada, is located a short distance outside of town. You can walk about 15 minutes or arrive by taxi. The entrance fee is $3. I have done the hike twice with a friend and on my own. Both times I’ve wandered off the actual trail a little as trails are not well-marked here in Panama. With that in mind, we were approached at the start by a young, indigenous guide who offered his services, but we declined and successfully made it to the top to take in the breathtaking views. The hike takes about two hours and can be slippery in spots depending on whether it’s dry or rainy season. Toward the end of the trail, it’s necessary to scale some rocky areas, but then it opens up to rolling peaks and a panorama that’s unbeatable.
EL VALLE TOURS: RESERVE BEFORE YOU GO!
VISIT EL MARIOPOSARIO
The Mariposario El Valle de Anton or Butterfly Haven is a lovely spot for butterfly lovers of all ages. The enclosure is home to an estimated 1,000 butterflies native to Panama. You’ll walk through a small maze of flowering plants and trees marveling at numerous blue morphos, glass wing and zebra butterflies just to name a few. The employees speak English and Spanish and offer up really interesting facts that I never knew about these creatures and their life cycles. The Butterfly Haven is tucked away on a side street in town and costs $7 for foreigners and $5 for residents.
EAT AT LA RANITA GOURMET
I’m not exactly sure why I had never tried this spot until my most recent trip to El Valle, but I am really glad I did. The restaurant came highly recommended from our Airbnb, not to mention we got a free dessert for being guests at Casa India Dormida. My cousin and I perused a varied menu with everything from soups to sandwiches and pasta to schnitzels. The first time, I ate the chicken schnitzel with mushrooms, passion fruit juice and lime pie. It was so amazing we came back for lunch the next day before heading back to the city. I chose homemade tomato soup and bread. It was so simple, but so delicious. I wish I could eat it right now.
WANDER THE MARKET
The market in town is so lovely, bursting with vibrantly colored artisanal items that locals offer for sale. Whether you are looking for a striking mola to take home, a beautiful handmade basket or a rustic cutting board, you’ll be amazed at the quality and prices of the items. Not to mention, the fruits, vegetables and plants are beyond comparison.
PLANT SHOPPING
This has actually become somewhat of an obsession of mine. I am a plant lover and every time I walk through the plant section of the market, I feel like I’ve died and gone to plant heaven. The selection and prices for plants of all shapes and sizes is just unbelievable. It’s so much less expensive to take a trip out to El Valle and come back with numerous plants than it is to buy in the city. Not to mention, it’s such a fun way to spend the day. I have bought monstera deliciosa and variegated alocasia for just $3 or $4 as well as succulents and flowering plants that do well on my balcony.
STAY AT CASA INDIA DORMIDA
I guess I can’t get enough of Casa India Dormida, because I’ve stayed in every part of the house at this point. There are many beautiful places to stay in El Valle de Anton and this Airbnb is no exception. The property is located in the La Pintada area of El Valle and is just steps away from La India Dormida trailhead. The gardens, birds and mountain views make this little gem my favorite spot to stay when I decide to stay overnight.
HIKE CERRO LA SILLA
This is a fantastic hike for so many reasons. It is one of the easiest hikes I’ve done with a great payoff in stunning panoramic views. I was a little confused about where this hike starts, but it is surprisingly easy to find. We took a quick taxi drive out of town heading back toward Panama City to the trail. The trailhead is located on a dirt road to the right across from a bus stop. While it was a very hot, sunny day, the trail itself wasn’t difficult. In fact it would be great for beginners. The trail is wide with no real rock climbing or scrambling involved. It’s just a nice walk as far as you’d like to go out over the rolling ridges.
VISIT CHORRO MACHO
Chorro Macho is probably the most popular waterfall in the area and is just a few minutes away from El Valle by taxi. It’s such a tranquil spot with a well maintained path that leads you through the rainforest across suspension bridges to an impressive waterfall. Stopping along the way to take pictures of rainforest flora and fauna, you can do this easy loop in about 15 minutes. Admission to the falls is $3. Taxis and local buses run by the falls periodically, so you can make your way back into town.
BIRDING
The richness of Panama’s biodiversity is astounding. In fact, there are over 1,000 species of birds in this tiny country. El Valle de Anton is a top spot for great birding. If you are a self-proclaimed bird nerd it’s a great place to spend some time. I have seen toucans, pechiamarillos, kestrels and rufous-vented ground cuckoos just to name a few. Bring your binoculars, camera and birding checklist to tick off a few in El Valle.
APROVACA/ORCHIDS CENTER
For orchid lovers, this is a lovely little stop. Visitors can see vanilla orchids, tropical plants and the national flower of Panama, the Holy Ghost Orchid which is in danger of extinction. Not only does the Orchids Center showcase this gorgeous flower, they also offer rooms in their hostel, Hostel Orchid.
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WHERE TO STAY IN EL VALLE DE ANTÓN
CABAÑA VILLA VICTORIA
Loved by guests, this beautiful property boasts gorgeous tropical gardens, colorful birds and an easy walk into town.
CABAÑA VILLA VICTORIA I BOOK NOW
NOMADA REPUBLIC HOTEL EL VALLE
Modern, off-the-beaten-path hotel in a tranquil setting. Wake to epic mountain views and enjoy top-notch service.
NOMADA REPUBLIC HOTEL EL VALLE I BOOK NOW
THE GOLDEN FROG INN
Well-appointed rooms set against the backdrop of El Valle de Anton’s beautiful mountains. Grounds feature lush gardens and sparkling pool.
GOLDEN FROG INN I BOOK NOW
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
By car: To get to El Valle de Anton from Panama City by car, take the Panamerican Highway for about an hour and a half. Make a right hand turn onto Highway 71 at Las Uvas. You will follow this road until you reach the town of El Valle de Anton.
By bus: You can arrive at the Terminal Nacional de Buses at Albrook by metro or by auto. There you will turn to the right to locate the ticket window for El Valle de Anton. You can purchase your ticket here for $4.25. Then, you’ll proceed to the platform through the turnstile. You need a rapipass card to pass through the turnstile. Each swipe to access the platform costs 10 cents. The rapipass also allows you access to the restrooms and metro transportation. It will take roughly 3 hours to arrive at El Valle from the city. The ayudante, or helper, on the bus will ask where you would like to get off in the town or where you are staying.
Miscellaneous: You need to bear in mind a few things when visiting El Valle. You need to have cash on hand for trails, taxis, public transportation to and from the town and most purchases you’d like to make at the market. It’s advisable to bring a pair of jeans and a poncho for cooler weather and rain.
Do you have a favorite spot or activity in El Valle de Anton that you want to share? Comment below!