El Valle de Anton, located 130 km west of Panama City, is a unique village situated within an ancient volcanic crater. Its abundant hiking trails and rich wildlife make it a must-visit destination. Amidst breathtaking nature, the valley offers various hiking routes with stunning views. The surroundings harbor a wealth of biodiversity, including various birds, butterflies, monkeys, and the sloth! For adventurous travelers and nature enthusiasts, El Valle de Anton is an essential stop during a visit to Panama. In this blog, we delve deeper into the trails you can explore, our favorite accommodations, and the most enjoyable dining and drinking establishments.
HOW TO GET IN EL VALLE DE ANTON?
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME IN EL VALLE DE ANTON
WHAT TO DO IN EL VALLE DE ANTON?
El Valle de Anton is primarily known for its remarkable hiking opportunities along the crater rim of the area. There are a total of four hiking trails to explore. Other activities include visiting the thermal baths and the butterfly garden. Reviews on these two activities vary widely. The butterfly garden is beautiful and educational, but the thermal baths turn out to be man-made, and unfortunately, there is little natural about them.
EVACC FOUNDATION
A unique activity in this area is a visit to the EVACC Foundation and the square tree forest. Here, they carry out a project to protect rare, endangered amphibians. Additionally, the program promotes breeding and ensures that the amphibians can be reintroduced into the environment. Here, you can witness the Golden Frog, among others. The researchers speak English, and they are closed to the public only on Tuesdays. Visit the website for more information about this special project.
THE 4 HIKES OF EL VALLE DE ANTON
In El Valle de Anton, you have the option to choose from 4 hiking trails. Not all paths are fully accessible due to vegetation and/or instability of the trail. You can also choose to walk parts of the route if you don't want to do the entire trail. Below are three maps: the middle one provides a complete overview of the routes in El Valle de Anton, the left one offers a more detailed view of the India Dormida, and the right one shows the El Gaital route from the ranger station. After the photos, we describe each trail in detail.
India Dormida
Distance: 6 kilometer
Duration: 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 812 meter
Difficulty: Moderate
Cost: $3
The India Dormida is the most well-known and also our favorite trail. It is a challenging path with a steep ascent, followed by ups and downs over some smaller mountains towards the India Dormida. The view over the crater valley is breathtaking, and apart from the initial climb, the trail is well-maintained. If you start at the bottom (see the map above), you'll end up at the viewpoint of the India Dormida. You then descend to the official entrance, where you need to pay an entrance fee. At the end of the trail, there is also a small waterfall with a pool where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike.
Because the first part is less accessible, and many people only go to the viewpoint and return at the payment gate, the initial section can be somewhat challenging due to overgrown plants and, during the rainy season, some slipperiness due to the clay layer. On the flip side, you may have the trail to yourself. If the full 6 km is too long, as mentioned above, you can also start at the starting point at the top of the map, walk to the viewpoint, and take the same route back.
Another highlight of this trail is the Piedra Pintada. This rock is carved with ancient drawings and is considered by some archaeologists as a map of the surroundings used for navigation in the area.
Cara Iguana
Distance: 6,3 kilometer
Duration: 3,5 - 4,5 hours
Elevation Gain: 472 meter
Difficulty: Moderate
Cost: Free
The Cara Iguana is a trail that leads to our favorite viewpoint, but it's our least favorite route in El Valle de Anton. This is because it begins with a 2.5 km long, steep climb over a gravel path suitable for 4x4 vehicles. This section is challenging and not exactly a scenic trail. After 2.5 km, you reach the entrance of the reserve, where a cottage with information boards is located. From here, you continue the trail through the woods to the top of Cara Iguana.
This is the highlight of the route because you can continue walking to the extreme point of the mountain, providing a 180-degree view over the village! According to the information boards of El Valle de Anton, the trail continues along the mountain ridge until you reach the intersection with the La Silla trail. This path is seldom walked and is not maintained during the low season. The trail was heavily overgrown, and wearing long pants is highly recommended. Therefore, we are unsure if the trail is maintained during the high season. While this trail was not one of the most enjoyable to walk due to the conditions, it has the potential to be a beautiful trail in El Valle de Anton if properly maintained.
Our original plan was to continue from Cara Iguana onto the La Silla trail, which would bring the total distance to about 16 km. Typically, this would be manageable for a day hike, but due to the humid climate and the densely overgrown path of Cara Iguana, this proved to be too challenging for us, so we had to forgo the La Silla trail.
If you still want to admire the viewpoint but find the entire trail impassable, you can always take the gravel path back and forth to the village to still enjoy this exceptional view.
El Gaital
Distance: 5,8kilometer / 7,6 kilometer
Duration: 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 330 meter
Difficulty: Moderate
Cost: Free
The El Gaital trail is our favorite because of the trail itself. However, the starting point is a bit farther from the center, and if you calculate the walking time from the center, you'll be about an hour and a half longer if you walk round trip. There are two starting points for the trail. The first point begins at a farmer's field, leading through forests and fields to the official starting point of the park ranger, as shown in the photos below.
At the park ranger's office, you'll find the other starting point. You can potentially take a bus from the village to get here and then take the bus back to the village, significantly reducing the walking time, as the last section is not very long. This final part through the woods is also the most beautiful. You can ascend via the slightly steeper path and descend on the gentler side. The park ranger can explain the exact route of this trail. It's notably humid and, therefore, very slippery. Here, you also have a chance to spot the rare Golden Frog in one of the many pools.
At some point, you reach a viewpoint between the two mountains where you have a view over the village. There's a sign indicating that you can only proceed with a guide due to the instability of the trail. However, we heard that you can attempt this trail if you have the right shoes and know what you're doing. Unfortunately, it started thundering nearby for us, and it had already rained significantly, making everything very slippery. Therefore, we couldn't reach the endpoint. As a result, the endpoint, the mirador, wasn't the most beautiful for us. However, we can imagine that reaching the top could make this the most beautiful hike in El Valle de Anton.
La Silla
Distance: 9,4 kilometer
Duration: 5-6 hours
Elevation Gain: Unknown
Difficulty: Difficult
Cost: Free
The La Silla trail can be hiked in two different ways. You can take an early morning taxi to Caparita and walk the path uphill along the radio towers to watch the sunrise from La Silla. Then, you can walk the same way down and arrange transportation back or walk the return journey. Another option is to walk the full trail through the valley and finish in the village. Although we haven't walked this trail, it seemed passable from Cara Iguana, which intersects this trail. The trail appears to mainly go through grasslands without shady spots. With a lot of sun, this can be challenging given the length and duration of the trail.
WHERE TO STAY IN EL VALLE DE ANTON?
Bodhi Hostel - Bodhi Hostel is our favorite backpackers' hostel in Panama. They have branches in both Panama City and El Valle de Anton and Santa Catalina. The atmosphere in this hostel is always pleasant and relaxed, and the prices are fortunately not too high. The central location on the main street is very convenient, so you don't have to walk far for anything. The trails are within walking distance of the hostel, and the main street is full of restaurants and coffee bars. Check for availability and current prices via this link on Booking.
Caracoral Hotel Boutique - This is the best option if you're looking for more luxury in El Valle de Anton. This boutique hotel offers very comfortable rooms and a garden with a pool. A continental breakfast is included with the overnight stay. It's the perfect hotel to fully recover after the challenging hikes along the crater rims. It provides free parking and has a central location in relation to the downtown area. If your budget allows for more luxury, you can view this hotel for additional information on Booking via this link.
Natural Green Eco Camping - This is a fantastic place to stay with your tent or camper. Managed by Mario, a Panamanian biologist, this location offers a unique experience. While the toilets and showers may need some refurbishment, our overall experience was excellent. You camp on his jungle property, and he has extensive knowledge about the surroundings and nature. In the river flowing alongside his property, you can see river turtles lounging every day. Additionally, we spotted the red-naped tamarin and two Panamanian porcupines on his property. With your tent, you can set up under one of the shelters, each equipped with chairs or a picnic table. There are also BBQ areas for cooking. Although there's no shared kitchen, you can, for example, boil water in his kitchen. It's not a true eco-camping experience as the name suggests, but if you're adventurous and traveling with a tent or camper, this can be a unique place to stay. Check this link for more photos and reviews on Google Maps.
FAVORITE EATING & DRINKING SPOTS
Fonda San José - This small fonda, tucked away in a side street off the main road, was recommended to us for getting a well-priced daily special or soup for lunch. For $3, you can usually order the daily special with rice, chicken, beans, and salad. They are only open for lunch and provide many locals with a tasty meal. A great budget tip if you don't feel like cooking yourself, especially with all the expensive tourist restaurants nearby.
Pausa Café - Pausa Café is our favorite spot for coffee and ice cream. This small establishment, run by an Italian man, offers delicious Italian coffee at a reasonable price. The ice cream is of excellent quality; he even claims that his pistachio ice cream has been awarded in Italy. For instance, he sources his pistachios from Sicily. Compared to other coffee shops, we find his coffee the most enjoyable, and the price of $2 is much lower than, for example, the $4 coffees at Kare and Unido. While the atmosphere may be less picturesque, you do save a few dollars per coffee.
Madre Pizza - Next to Bodhi Hostel is Madre Pizza. While it may not have the tastiest pizza in town, it does offer the best value for money. The pizzas are served family-style and cost around $10.
L'Italiano Ristorante - For the most delicious pizzas, you should go to L'Italiano. This typical Italian restaurant serves the tastiest pizzas and wines but is also the most expensive. The pizzas are of average size and cost around $15.
Supermarket Rey - Prefer to cook on your own? At the beginning of the village, you'll find Supermarket Rey. They have everything you need, and you can also buy delicious bread and fruit there.
For tips, questions, more inspiration, or a friendly conversation, feel free to send us a message via the chat!
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